Brandon Roofers carries out all lead flashing, valleys, soakers and chimney detailing for homeowners in Feltwell.
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Lead is used wherever your roof meets a vertical surface - around chimney stacks, along the sides of dormers, where a lean-to or extension joins the main house wall, and in valleys where two roof slopes meet. When it is installed well, lead can last for many decades. When it is cut short, fixed incorrectly or laid without proper expansion allowance, it fails in a few years and lets water into the building.
All lead flashing should be formed to BS EN 12588, which sets the minimum thickness (code) of lead for each application. Code 3 is the lightest and is used for soakers; Code 4 and 5 are the standard for step and cover flashings; Code 5 and 6 are used for valleys and large flat details. A roofer who does not mention lead codes when quoting is a roofer who may not be following the standard.
Lead work is not the same as general roofing. Slating and tiling take skill; so does lead, but it is a different discipline. The key questions to ask a contractor before you agree to anything are below. The answers will tell you quickly whether you are dealing with someone who genuinely understands the work.
Before agreeing to any lead work, ask for the quote in writing. It does not need to be a formal document, but it should set out the area of work, the code of lead being used, whether old lead is being stripped or dressed over, and what the price covers. A quote that just says "re-flash chimney - £X" tells you very little and gives you nothing to refer back to if there is a dispute.
Be cautious if a contractor is only willing to give you a verbal price on the spot without looking at the job properly. Lead work is detail work, and a proper assessment takes time. Cutting corners at the quoting stage often means cutting corners on the job itself.
Many homeowners in Feltwell and the surrounding area will have had lead work done previously and found it fails again within a short time. Often this comes down to a patch repair being carried out where a full replacement was needed, or a replacement being done without addressing the cause of the original failure.
A good contractor will tell you honestly which of the two you need. If they inspect the lead and immediately recommend a full strip and re-lay without first explaining why the existing lead has failed, ask them to walk you through the problem. Understanding the cause matters, because it affects whether the new work will last.
Once the job is complete, you should be able to see neat, evenly dressed lead that follows the line of the roof or chimney without rippling or lifting at the edges. The top edge should be tucked firmly into the chase and pointed. Step flashings around a chimney or dormer should overlap correctly, with each piece sitting over the one below it so water cannot track back behind them. Valleys should run clean and clear without dips where water can sit.
If the newly installed flashing is already lifting or pulling away from the wall at any point when the contractor leaves, point it out immediately. It should not need settling in - a correctly fixed and clipped flashing sits tight from day one.
As a rough guide, re-flashing a standard chimney stack typically costs between £300 and £700 depending on size and access. A lead valley on a domestic roof can range from £400 to over £1,000 for longer runs. Soakers and step flashings to a dormer cheek are generally priced per linear metre, often in the region of £50 to £90 per metre for supply and fit. These figures reflect current material and labour costs but will vary with the specifics of each job.
Call us to arrange a roof survey in Feltwell so we can assess your lead work and give you a clear, itemised quote before any decision is made.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
