If you need lead work carried out on your Elveden home, understanding the materials and your options beforehand means you can make a better decision and ask the right questions.
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Lead work is a skilled trade, and the materials used matter just as much as the quality of the installation. This page sets out what those materials are, what the alternatives look like, and what the honest pros and cons of each are.
The lead used in roofing today is milled lead sheet, manufactured to BS EN 12588. It is not recycled lead hammered flat - it is a consistent, quality-controlled product rolled to precise thicknesses. Different thicknesses are referred to by a code number, and choosing the right code for the right application is one of the first decisions a roofer makes.
Lead sheet is supplied in rolls of varying widths and cut to size on site. A skilled roofer will dress (shape) it to fit around complex geometry - a chimney stack, a dormer corner, a valley gutter - using hand tools and a bossing mallet. No heat is needed for most work, though a lead welding kit is used for certain joints on valley gutters or box gutters where a watertight seam is required.
Lead sheet is graded from Code 3 (the thinnest) to Code 8 (the heaviest). The code number is the nominal weight in pounds per square foot. Each application has a minimum recommended code, and using a lighter grade to save money almost always results in premature failure.
If a quote does not specify the lead code, ask. It is a basic quality indicator. A job priced with Code 3 where Code 5 is needed will fail sooner and cost more to fix the second time.
Lead is not the only option for flashings, and there are situations where an alternative is worth considering. Here is an honest assessment of what is on the market.
Traditional milled lead sheet is durable, workable, and when installed correctly it will last for many decades without attention. It can be repaired rather than replaced in its entirety. It is also the material that roofing standards are written around, so any competent roofer knows how to handle it correctly.
The main downside is cost - lead is a commodity metal and the price fluctuates. It is also a target for theft, particularly on churches and larger commercial buildings, though residential work is less commonly targeted.
Leadax is a synthetic alternative made from a polymer core with a bonded surface. It is lightweight, flexible, and comes in rolls. It can be used for flashings, soakers, and some valley applications. The main appeal is lower material weight and the fact that it carries no scrap metal value, reducing theft risk.
The honest caveat is that it is a newer product and does not yet have the same multi-decade track record that lead has in UK conditions. Some local authority planning departments, particularly around listed buildings or conservation areas, will not accept it as a substitute for lead. If your property is listed or in a sensitive location, check before specifying it.
Zinc sheet is used extensively in mainland Europe and is gaining ground in the UK. It is harder to work than lead and requires different techniques, but in skilled hands it produces very clean results. It is most often seen on contemporary new builds or in situations where the visual finish is important. It is not a direct replacement for lead on a traditional pitched roof without careful design, and fewer roofers in this area are set up to work with it routinely.
These products - often sold under brand names and used widely in DIY - are not a like-for-like substitute for dressed lead. They are a temporary measure at best. They lack the durability of metal sheet, they are prone to lifting at edges in temperature extremes, and they cannot be properly formed around complex shapes. They are useful for a short-term patch on a flat surface but should not be used as a permanent flashing solution.
A question worth thinking about before any lead work job is whether a patch repair is appropriate or whether full replacement is the better call. A patch on sound, correctly weighted lead that has suffered one localised failure - a split at a joint, for example - is perfectly reasonable. The repair should be lead welded or lapped correctly, not just covered with sealant.
Replacement makes more sense when the existing lead is the wrong code for the application, when it has multiple failure points, when the mortar chases are in poor condition throughout, or when the lead is so old that further work on it risks creating new splits nearby. A roofer who suggests full replacement on a flashing that has only one small split, with no explanation of why, is worth questioning. Equally, one who patches lead that is clearly undersized or in widespread poor condition is likely to be back within a year or two.
These are straightforward questions any good roofer should be able to answer without hesitation:
We are based in Brandon and cover Elveden and neighbouring villages. If you are trying to decide whether to repair or replace, or want a straight answer on what materials your job actually needs, call us and we will arrange a time to take a proper look at the roof.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
