Leadwork deals with the connections where roofing meets chimneys, walls and other roof features. These details need a considered design and installation approach, with the surrounding covering taken into account. Repair or renewal should address the condition and arrangement of the whole junction, alongside the appearance of the finished work.
Request a roof surveyThe right scope begins with the condition of your property.
Confirm the access, existing condition and any connected work during the assessment. Photographs can help start the conversation.
Different roof junctions call for different details. A chimney on a slope, a chimney at a ridge and a roof meeting a wall are not identical situations. The initial assessment should establish the existing arrangement, identify the relevant components and consider how the surrounding covering and masonry relate to the proposed work.
A flashing repair should be considered with the roof and wall around it. Existing coverings and masonry may need attention to make the proposed detail practical. The quotation should distinguish the leadwork itself from any associated repairs and make clear which adjoining components will be retained, renewed or opened up during installation.
A useful proposal identifies the area, the intended detail and the materials to be used. It should also explain access and any work required to lift and reinstate adjacent coverings. Where more than one approach is possible, the reason for the selected solution should be made clear before installation is agreed.
Close-up photographs can help explain work that is difficult to see from the ground. At handover, the record should identify what was renewed and any adjacent areas that remain outside the scope. Any maintenance advice or cover should relate to the actual work completed and the condition of the surrounding roof.
Lead expands and contracts with temperature. Its layout, individual sheet sizes, joints and fixings need to accommodate that movement. Choosing a thicker sheet alone does not resolve a poorly arranged detail. When comparing proposals, ask which parts are being renewed and how the arrangement suits the particular chimney, valley or abutment.
At a tiled or slated side junction, individual soakers may sit between courses beneath a separate cover flashing. Other coverings use different arrangements. Renewing only the visible strip does not necessarily address the concealed weathering. A useful repair description identifies which components will be inspected or replaced and whether adjacent tiles or slates need lifting.
Agree what is included, what remains uncertain and how any additional work will be authorised.
That depends on the type and extent of damage, the arrangement of the detail and the surrounding condition. A repair may be appropriate for some situations; others need renewal. The recommendation should follow assessment of the whole junction and explain the limits of the proposed work.
The location of damp helps direct the investigation, but it does not establish the cause on its own. The chimney, roof junction and surrounding materials need assessment. A repair proposal should explain the findings rather than assume that replacing flashing will address every possible source.
It should be specified clearly in the quotation. Some projects renew the associated weathering details, while others retain suitable existing components. The document should identify what is included, what remains and any conditions affecting that decision, so the scope is understood before work begins.
The code identifies the sheet thickness. The appropriate choice depends on the application and detailing, including dimensions and movement. Ask the quotation to identify both the material and the work it will form; a code alone is not a complete specification.
A split needs assessment of both the damaged material and why it failed. Suitable local repairs can sometimes be made, but a surface patch may leave movement or surrounding defects unresolved. The proposal should state whether the measure is temporary or a lasting repair.
Whether you have noticed a problem or are planning a larger change, begin with a few details about the property and the work you have in mind.
Tell us what is happening and how urgently you need help. An online enquiry does not confirm attendance or an emergency response.