Lead Flashing and Leadwork in Bristol
Get a Free Quote
Our Services
Lead Flashing That Keeps Water Out for Good
Lead is what keeps water out wherever a roof meets something else: a chimney, a wall, a dormer, a roof window or another slope. When lead flashing splits, lifts or comes loose, water runs straight into the joint, and the leak often shows up some distance away inside the house.
We repair and renew lead flashing in Bristol on chimneys, abutments, valleys, bay roofs and dormers. We use the right thickness of lead for each job, dress it properly to shape and fix it so it can expand and contract without cracking. What we do not do is smear sealant over a failed joint, because that rarely lasts more than a season.
Every job comes with a clear written quote before work starts.
Leadwork We Carry Out
Most leaks we trace on older Bristol roofs come back to the lead. These are the jobs we do most:
- Chimney flashing: aprons, steps and back gutters
- Abutment flashing where a roof meets a wall
- Lead valleys between two roof slopes
- Bay window and porch roofs in lead
- Dormer cheeks and tops
- Flashing around roof windows and skylights
Period homes in Clifton, Redland and Westbury-on-Trym often have original lead bays, valleys and parapet gutters. These are worth repairing carefully, and in conservation areas lead is usually the expected material. On the terraces of Bishopston, Southville and Totterdown, worn chimney flashing and valleys are among the most common causes of leaks.
If your flashing has been patched with sealant or flashing tape before, it is usually a sign the lead underneath needs renewing properly.
Expert Advice
Why Lead Is Still Used
Lead remains the most durable and flexible material for weathering joints on roofs. It can be dressed to almost any shape, it lasts for decades and it suits both period and modern buildings. Lead sheet comes in different thicknesses, described by code numbers, and the right code is chosen for each job, with thinner codes for flashings and heavier codes for gutters and flat roofs.
Good Leadwork Details
Lead must be able to expand and contract with temperature changes. Pieces are kept to sensible lengths, joined with laps or rolls, and fixed so they can move without tearing. Flashings are tucked into cut mortar joints and pointed, stepped flashings follow the line of the tiles, and gutters are laid to fall with drips at each joint. Most lead failures we see come from pieces that were fitted too long, too thin or fixed too rigidly.
Alternatives
Where lead theft is a concern or weight is an issue, approved lead alternatives can be used for some details, but on period homes and in conservation areas lead is usually the right choice.
How We Repair Lead Flashing
Good leadwork is all in the detail. This is how we approach it.
- Inspection: we find where the lead has failed and check the brickwork or slates around it.
- Written quote: you get a clear price, including any scaffold, before work starts.
- Renewal: old lead is removed and new lead is cut, dressed and fixed into properly cut joints.
- Finishing: joints are pointed, the area is checked and the site is left clean.
Leadwork Across Bristol
We carry out lead flashing repairs across the city, including Bedminster, Easton, Henleaze, Horfield, Kingswood and the city centre.
Chimney looking tired as well as the lead? Our chimney repair service can be done at the same time, while the scaffold is up. If your leak is somewhere else on the roof, see our roof leak repair page.
Leadwork is one of the roofing systems we install and repair for homes and businesses. See residential roofing, commercial roofing and our Bath roofing page for heritage leadwork.
Lead Flashing Reviews From Bristol and Bath Customers
Our authenticity promise: we only publish genuine reviews from real customers, with their permission. Every review shown here will include the customer’s first name, their area, the work carried out, the date and where the review was left. We never write, buy, edit or pay for reviews.
Reviews from customers who have had lead flashing and leadwork work carried out across Bristol and Bath will appear here as jobs are completed. If we have worked on your roof, we would love to hear how it went.
Lead Flashing FAQs
How long does lead flashing last?
Properly fitted lead flashing can last for decades. It usually fails early only when it has been fitted too long, too thin or without room to move.
Can lead flashing be repaired or does it need replacing?
Small splits can sometimes be repaired, but if the lead is cracked in several places or has been patched before, replacing it is usually the better long-term answer.
Why not just use sealant?
Sealant and flashing tape are short-term fixes. They crack and peel with the weather and often trap water. Proper lead is the lasting solution.
Is lead theft a problem?
It can be on some buildings. Where theft is a concern, we can talk you through alternatives to lead for certain details.
How much does lead flashing repair cost?
It depends on the length of flashing, the access and whether scaffold is needed.
Does leadwork need scaffolding?
Most chimney and valley leadwork does. Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, roofers must use safe access. If the scaffold stands on a public pavement or road, a scaffolding licence from Bristol City Council is needed first, which can take 3 to 10 days. The scaffold company normally arranges it.
Is lead required in conservation areas?
Often it is the expected material. Like-for-like lead repairs in conservation areas such as Clifton and Redland are usually fine, but switching to a different material may need consent from Bristol City Council.
Why Choose Us for Leadwork
Lead lasts for decades when it is fitted properly, and fails quickly when it is not. We take care over the thickness, the laps and the fixings so your new flashing does its job for years to come.
- Proper lead, not sealant patches
- Right thickness of lead for each job
- Joints cut and pointed correctly
- Clear written quotes before work starts