If you need lead work carried out in Ely, choosing the right contractor from the start will save you money, stress and a repeat job.
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Lead work covers a range of tasks on a roof, all of which require a roofer who has been trained to dress lead by hand to the correct Code and pitch. The most common types are flashings (the strips of lead that seal the join between a roof slope and a wall, chimney, or parapet), valleys (the channel formed where two roof slopes meet), and flat roof coverings finished in lead sheet.
Each type demands different Code-weight lead. Code 3 and Code 4 are typically used for flashings; Code 4 and Code 5 for valleys and stepped flashings; Code 5, 6 or higher for flat areas. Using the wrong Code is one of the most common causes of premature failure, yet it is not something you can check just by looking at the finished job.
Lead must also be dressed in manageable lengths, with proper allowance for thermal movement. Long, unbroken runs of lead will buckle and split over time as the metal expands and contracts with temperature. A competent roofer knows the maximum bay lengths set out in the Lead Sheet Association guidelines and works within them.
Most lead work failures fall into a small number of categories. Understanding them helps you ask better questions before you hire anyone.
A common problem on older properties is that lead was patched rather than replaced when it first started to fail. By the time a homeowner notices a leak inside, the lead and the underlying timber may both need attention.
This is the section most homeowners skip, and it is the most important one. Lead work is a skilled trade. Not every roofer who can lay tiles can dress lead competently, and a poor lead job can cause more damage to your home than the original fault ever would have.
Here is what to do before you agree to any work.
Any roofer who has genuine experience dressing lead will be able to show you photographs of finished jobs. Ask specifically for examples of the type of work you need, whether that is chimney flashings, valley work or a flat lead roof. The photographs should show neatly dressed lead with clean folds, proper step or cover flashings, and visible expansion joints where the bays are long enough to need them.
If a roofer cannot produce any photographs, or shows you images that look rushed or heavily sealed with mastic, that tells you something important.
This question alone will separate contractors who know what they are doing from those who do not. A competent roofer should be able to tell you without hesitation which Code weight is appropriate for your specific job, and give you a reason. For a chimney flashing on a standard pitched roof, Code 4 is a typical choice. For a valley or a flat section, Code 5 or above is more appropriate.
If a roofer looks blank, gives a vague answer, or says it does not matter because they use the same lead for everything, do not hire them for this work.
Flashings are turned in at the top to a mortar joint in the masonry. If that mortar is not raked back and repointed properly with fresh mortar, the flashing will not seal. Ask the roofer directly whether raking out and repointing is included in the price. If they say the old mortar will do fine, they are either cutting corners or they have not looked at the job properly.
Lead expands significantly in heat. The Lead Sheet Association recommends bay lengths no greater than 1.5 metres for most flashings and valleys. Ask the roofer whether they work to these limits. If they tell you they will run the lead in one piece the full length of the chimney or valley without expansion joints, that work will cause problems in time, regardless of the Code weight used.
Before any roofer starts on your lead work, you want a written description of what they are doing. That means: which areas are being replaced or repaired, the Code of lead being used, whether pointing is included, how old lead and fixings will be disposed of, and what access equipment will be used. A detailed written scope means there is no dispute afterwards about what was agreed.
Verbal agreements about roofing work frequently lead to disagreements. A roofer who is confident in their work will have no objection to putting the details in writing.
Lead work quotations can vary considerably because contractors make different assumptions about Code weight, bay length, pointing and the condition of the underlying structure. A low price may reflect cheaper materials, shorter bays without expansion joints, or no allowance for repointing.
Ask each roofer to break their price down so you can see what you are actually comparing. The cheapest quote may not include repointing, may use Code 3 where Code 5 is correct, or may assume existing fixings are still sound when they are not. Comparing like with like gives you a much clearer picture of value.
When lead fails, water often tracks down into the roof structure before a homeowner notices. On valleys and flat roofs in particular, the timber boards or rafters beneath the lead can be damp or soft. Ask any contractor what they will do if they find damaged timber once the old lead is lifted. A roofer who has a clear, sensible answer to this shows they have done the job before. One who cannot answer it, or who says it will not be an issue without looking, may be underquoting.
Lead sheet should be fixed with lead or copper clips at intervals specified in the guidelines for the Code being used. Adhesive-only or mastic-only fixing is not adequate for lead work on an exposed roof. Ask the roofer how they intend to fix the lead in place. This is a reasonable question and a competent roofer should welcome it.
Lead work in Ely, as across most of the East of England, is priced either per linear metre for flashings and valleys, or per square metre for flat lead roofs. Chimney flashing replacement typically runs from around £400 to £900 for a standard chimney, depending on its size and the extent of any pointing or soaker work needed. Valley replacements start at around £300 to £600 for a straightforward run but can cost more if the valley boards underneath need attention. Flat lead roofs are priced by area; expect somewhere in the range of £100 to £180 per square metre for lead sheet, though this varies with the Code specified and site conditions.
These figures are indicative. A proper price can only come from a roofer who has seen the job, not one quoting from a description over the phone. If a roofer quotes you a firm price without looking at the roof, be cautious.
When the work is finished, you should be able to see clean, evenly dressed lead with neat folds at corners and step flashings. There should be no visible mastic filling gaps, no lifting edges, and no mortar joints that look freshly smeared over without being properly raked back. On longer runs of valley or flat lead, you should be able to see the joints between bays, each with a proper overlap or drip. The fixing clips should be tucked neatly behind the lead rather than visible and exposed.
Ask the roofer to walk you through what they have done before they leave, either in person or via photographs if the roof is not safely accessible to you. Understanding what has been done makes it easier to describe any issue to a roofer in the future.
We carry out lead flashing, valley and flat roof lead work in Ely and the surrounding area, including work in nearby Mildenhall. All lead is dressed by hand to the correct Code for the application and properly secured with clips. We include repointing of mortar joints as part of the work where it is needed, not as an optional extra.
If you have a leak you think is coming from lead work, or you want a second opinion on a quote you have already received, call us and we will arrange to look at the roof and give you a clear written description of what needs doing and what it will cost.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
