Getting new lead flashing fitted in Hellesdon is only half the job - what you do in the years that follow determines how long it stays watertight and whether you avoid the next repair bill.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
Lead is one of the most durable roofing materials available. Properly installed and correctly specified, it can outlast the roof covering beneath it by decades. But even sound lead work will fail prematurely if the surrounding roof is neglected - and minor problems that are caught early are almost always cheaper to deal with than major failures that have been left to develop.
The flashings on a chimney, dormer, or abutment wall are under constant stress from thermal expansion, wind, and rain. A problem that starts as a loose mortar joint or a slightly lifted edge can become a serious leak within a single wet winter if it goes unnoticed. Simple, periodic checks are enough to catch most of these early.
An annual visual inspection of your lead flashings is a sensible habit, and autumn is a good time to do it before the worst of the wet weather arrives. You do not need to get on the roof yourself - a good pair of binoculars from ground level, or a careful look from an upstairs window if the pitch allows, will reveal the most obvious problems.
From the ground, look for:
If you can see any of these from ground level, it is worth arranging a closer inspection before water finds a way in.
Lead flashings do not fail in isolation. The tiles, slates, or felt around a flashing junction affect how well it performs. A displaced tile immediately above a chimney apron can channel water behind the flashing in ways the lead was never designed to handle. Blocked gutters cause water to back up against abutment walls. Failed underfelt below a valley can allow water to enter even if the lead valley itself is perfectly sound.
When you have your flashings inspected, ask the roofer to look at the surrounding area too - not just the lead itself. The mortar pointing on the chimney stack above the flashing line is worth checking: if it is crumbling, water is soaking into the brickwork and may track down to the flashing junction even if the lead is intact. Repointing the stack at the same time as any flashing work is good practice and avoids a second visit later.
Freshly installed lead has a bright, silvery appearance. Over the first few months it oxidises naturally, developing a dull grey patina that actually improves its durability by forming a protective layer on the surface. This is normal and expected - it does not indicate a problem.
New lead will also move slightly as it settles through its first winter. Thermal expansion in summer and contraction in cold weather is a normal part of how lead behaves. A correctly installed flashing allows for this movement through lapped sections and expansion steps. If you notice a section that appears to have shifted or an edge that has lifted slightly after the first cold spell, report it promptly rather than leaving it.
Moss or lichen growth on lead is worth monitoring. A light coating does no immediate harm, but heavy growth can hold moisture against the surface and, over time, contribute to surface pitting. A light brush-down in spring, done carefully and from a safe position, can help. Avoid pressure washing lead directly - the force can open hairline cracks and dislodge the patina that protects the surface.
The most effective maintenance for lead flashing is keeping the areas around it clear and draining freely. Blocked or overflowing gutters on a dormer or above a parapet can push water against the wall and behind the flashing. Clearing gutters twice a year - spring and autumn - removes debris before it becomes a blockage.
Chimney stacks benefit from having the mortar haunching around the base of the pot checked periodically. If the haunching cracks, rain soaks into the stack and can appear as a damp patch at ceiling level that is easy to confuse with a flashing failure. A roofer who inspects your chimney properly will check both the haunching and the flashings in the same visit.
Where ivy or other climbing plants grow near a chimney or dormer, keep them cut back from the flashing line. Plant roots work into mortar joints and behind lead edges; what starts as an aesthetic feature becomes a structural problem over time.
Do not wait for a visible ceiling stain before acting. By the time water appears inside the house, it has usually been entering the roof for some time and may have saturated insulation or started to affect structural timbers. Early intervention almost always costs less than delayed intervention.
Call a roofer promptly if you notice any of the following:
A lead flashing inspection, where a roofer gets on the roof and reports back in writing on what they found, is a modest cost that can save considerably more in avoided repair bills. Minor repointing of a flashing chase - raking out the old mortar and repacking it around the existing lead - typically costs £80 to £200 depending on how much of the run needs attention. A small section of replacement lead, say a single apron or a short run of step flashing, is generally in the range of £150 to £350. These are typical UK figures; exact costs depend on access and the extent of the work.
If your lead flashing has not been inspected recently, or if you have noticed any of the early warning signs described above, call Poringland Roofers and book a roof survey. We cover Hellesdon and the wider Norwich area and will give you an honest assessment of what, if anything, needs attention before winter sets in.
No obligation · We'll call you to arrange a free visit
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
