Leadwork has been used in the industrial, commercial and domestic building industry for a very long time and adorns the roofs of a wide variety of properties, such as churches, offices, factories, public buildings and domestic homes throughout the United Kingdom.
Because of its durability, longevity and the fact that it is Eco friendly, repair services can easily recycle or reuse, it has remained a popular material that builders often prefer to use as apposed to other modern building materials that do not have the distinct advantages of lead.
Lead has long been established as a long-life building material. It is extremely malleable and can easily be dressed as flashings to fit the multi-curved contours of many old and modern building materials, particularly brickwork and chimneys, concrete, slate and clay tiled roofs.
Other common uses include valleys, gulley's, chimney back Gutters, hips, saddles, ridges and wall flashings. However, it is essential to follow a few basic rules while working with lead:
Fixings should hold the lead securely in position without any restrictions to thermal movement. With lead flashings, a regular expansion joint will overcome the restriction caused by lead wedging along one side.
Nails and screws should have a similar life expectancy to that of the lead, therefore copper, brass or stainless steel should be used, but galvanised or aluminium fixings should never be used.
Joints must allow for thermal movement but also remain watertight for the position where they are used. For example, it is a wise rule of thumb never to use welts or laps to join pieces of the Gutters lead lining, the correct use for the joint is to have a drip.
Lead is commonly used for:
- Aprons and cover flashings.
- Lead hips and ridges.
- Gulleys and pitched valleys.
- Weatherings to cornices, parapets etc.
- Lead slates and saddles.
- chimney back Gutters
- Parapet, box and tapered gutter
- Lead Flashings
We care about our professional reputation and want to avoid callbacks. We have achieved this quite simply by always using quality materials that are made to last.
Remember, lead is a fine, long-life material . . . but only when used and installed correctly.