Diss Roofers provides lead work in Dickleburgh and the surrounding villages, handling everything from chimney flashings and soakers to valley linings and lead flat roofs.
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Lead is used at every point on a roof where two surfaces meet or where a roof surface meets brickwork. The main items are chimney flashings (step, cover and apron), valley linings between roof slopes, soakers behind slates at abutments, and flat roof coverings on porches, bays and extensions. Lead outlasts most roofing materials when it is correctly specified and fitted. When it is not, it fails early - and the water damage it allows is often far more expensive than the lead work itself.
Lead flashings work by directing water away from gaps and junctions and into the gutter or off the roof surface. A flashing that is lifting, cracked or has been filled with mortar rather than properly formed from lead will allow water to track behind it, often for months before any internal sign appears.
This is the question that comes up on most lead work jobs, and the honest answer is: it depends on the condition of the lead and on the cause of the failure. The wrong choice in either direction costs money - unnecessary replacement wastes it, and patching work that genuinely needs replacement just delays a larger bill.
Repair is appropriate when the lead itself is in sound condition but a specific part has failed. Common repairable situations include a short section of step flashing that has been knocked away from the mortar joint, a single piece of valley lead that has been torn by a falling branch, or a length of flashing that has crept out of position because it was not clipped properly but is otherwise undamaged. In these cases, lifting the affected section, re-dressing it or replacing just that piece, and refixing it correctly will give many more years of service from the existing lead.
Repair also makes sense when the lead is of a good grade and has been installed correctly but the mortar pointing around it has failed. Raking out old mortar and repointing the flashing into the joints, with the lead re-wedged in place, is a straightforward job that extends the life of the existing installation.
Replacement is the better choice when the lead itself is the problem rather than just its fixing or pointing. Signs that replacement is needed include:
The cost of replacing a chimney flashing set in Dickleburgh or nearby villages typically runs from £300 to £700 depending on chimney size and access. That cost is straightforwardly justifiable if the alternative is repeated call-outs to patch failing lead every year or two.
Liquid sealant products are widely used as a quick fix on lead flashings. They work for a short period - sometimes a season or two - but they do not bond permanently to lead, and once they start to peel or crack, water finds its way in faster than before because the sealant traps debris and hides the problem. If a contractor proposes sealant as the main remedy for a flashing that has failed more than once, ask what the expected lifespan of that repair is and get it in writing. In most cases, the lead should be stripped and relaid.
A lead valley lining can sometimes be repaired if a single section has failed. But valley lead tends to fail because of age, incorrect grade, or because debris has collected in it and held moisture against the surface for years. When the underlying cause is age or grade, repairing one section often means the neighbouring section fails within a couple of years. A full valley reline, typically priced at £80 to £150 per linear metre, removes the uncertainty.
Lead soakers are individual pieces of lead, one per slate or tile course, that sit beneath the slates at the junction with a wall. They work alongside step flashings and are not visible once the tiles are relaid. When soakers fail or are missing, water gets in behind the step flashing regardless of how well the visible lead looks from the ground. If a chimney flashing is being stripped and relaid, it is worth confirming whether soakers are present and in good condition before the tiles go back on.
Lead flashing creates a weatherproof seal between a roof surface and a vertical structure. Without it, the gap between the tiles and the chimney, dormer or wall allows rainwater to run directly into the roof. Lead is the material of choice because it can be shaped to uneven surfaces, it does not corrode in normal conditions, and a correctly installed lead flashing will typically last many decades without needing attention.
A visual check with binoculars from the ground once a year - ideally in autumn before heavy winter rain - will catch most obvious problems. Look for lead that is lifting, gaps between the flashing and the brickwork, or mortar that has fallen out from around the flashing. Damp patches on a chimney breast or staining on a ceiling near a chimney or valley are a clear sign that something needs attention.
Diss Roofers works across Dickleburgh and nearby places including Long Stratton, Scole, Pulham St Mary, Roydon, Hopton, Banham, Bacton and into Diss itself. If you are unsure whether your lead work needs a repair or a full replacement, call us to arrange a roof survey and we will give you a straightforward assessment and a clear written quote.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
