Service
Lead Flashing
New code 4 and code 5 milled lead flashings — chimneys, valleys, abutments, parapet walls and bay roofs — dressed, fixed and pointed in by roofers who serve their full apprenticeship in lead. No silicone, no flashband, no shortcuts.
What's included
- Code 4 (1.80mm) and code 5 (2.24mm) milled lead to BS EN 12588
- Step, soaker, cover and apron flashings to chimneys
- Open and secret valley gutters
- Lead-clad bay and porch roofs
- Parapet wall cappings and cover flashings
- Patination oil applied to prevent staining of brickwork
Lead is the gold standard for weathering details on a UK roof. Properly installed, milled lead lasts 100+ years, weathers to a beautiful soft grey, and self-heals minor scratches with its own oxide. Cheap lead-substitute tapes and bitumen products fail within five years and stain everything below them.
We work to Lead Sheet Association guidelines on every detail: maximum bay sizes, correct lap dimensions, welt and roll spacings, fixings concealed under upper bays so the lead can move thermally without tearing. Step flashings to chimneys are cut and dressed individually, not delivered pre-formed.
On heritage and listed buildings we hand-form rolls, drips and welts in the traditional way. On contemporary work we'll often combine lead with modern single-ply or GRP for the best of both worlds. Either way, every job is finished with patination oil to stop the white carbonate run-off that stains brick and render.
Warning signs
When you should call us in
- Lead at chimney sides or valleys is split, cracked or pulled away
- White streaks running down the brickwork below the lead
- Damp patches on internal walls below a chimney or valley
- Visible silicone or tape where lead should be
- Lead is loose and lifting in high winds
How we work
Our process, step by step
- 1Inspection
Identify the failure mode — fatigue, undersized bays, missing fixings or wrong code.
- 2Quote
Itemised quote with lead code, area in m² and fixing detail.
- 3Install
Strip old lead, prepare substrate, install new lead to LSA standards, point in mortar.
- 4Finish
Patination oil applied, photo report, written 10-year guarantee on lead work.
Frequently asked
Lead Flashing questions, answered honestly.
What's the difference between code 4 and code 5 lead?
Code 4 (1.80mm) is the workhorse for soakers, step flashings and small cover flashings. Code 5 (2.24mm) is heavier, used for valleys, larger aprons and high-exposure details. Using the wrong code is the most common cause of premature lead failure.
Why does new lead leave white marks?
Untreated new lead reacts with rainwater to form lead carbonate, which washes down and stains anything below. Patination oil, brushed onto the lead on installation day, stops this completely.
Can you replace lead theft losses?
Yes — we routinely replace stolen lead on commercial and church roofs, and can fit SmartWater marking and LeadAlert systems where insurers require them.
Verified customer reviews
What customers say about our roofing work.
Hampshire and Dorset homeowners on the work Mike and the team have carried out for them.
"Storm Isha took a dozen tiles off our roof on a Sunday afternoon. Mike answered the phone himself, was on site within two hours, tarped the whole side that night and had the permanent repair done the following Tuesday. He showed me photos before and after, talked me through the insurance claim, and didn't take a penny until I was happy. You don't get service like that any more."
"We had three roofers quote for stripping and re-covering our 1970s detached. Mike was the only one who actually got up on the roof with a ladder, lifted tiles, checked the battens and showed me where the felt had perished. His quote wasn't the cheapest but it was the only honest one. The job took five days, the skip was emptied daily, and the lads even hoovered the loft when they were done."
"Re-roofed our 1930s semi in natural Welsh slate. Mike sourced reclaimed slates that matched the next-door neighbour's roof exactly so the terrace still looks uniform. The leadwork around the chimney is a piece of art. Two of our neighbours have already booked him in."
"Our extension flat roof had been patched four times by the original builder and still leaked. Mike stripped it back to the deck, found rotten OSB nobody had mentioned, replaced it, upgraded the insulation and installed a one-piece EPDM membrane. Two heavy storms since and not a drop. Fair price, immaculate finish."
"Damp patch on the chimney breast turned out to be failed flashing and 60-year-old mortar. Mike rebuilt the top three courses, fitted new code 5 lead step flashing and repointed the whole stack. He even rebedded a wobbly pot I hadn't asked about, no extra charge. A proper tradesman."
"Two surveyors had told us our house was unmortgageable because of the spray foam in the loft. Mike removed the lot in three days, gave us a full written report with photos of every rafter, and the next surveyor signed it off without a fuss. Sale completed last week. Genuinely life-changing service."
Free roof inspection · no hidden costs
Get a proper roof, from people who actually answer the phone.
Covering all of Hampshire, Dorset and surrounding areas.