Leadwork in Henleaze
Chimney flashings, soakers, valleys, bay roofs and dormer cheeks in rolled lead, sized and fixed so it can expand and contract without splitting.
Lead on Henleaze houses
Chimney stacks
Step flashings, back gutters and aprons around stacks. Diagonally set stacks, which appear on some of the Edwardian houses near the Downs, need more careful cutting than square ones.
Valleys
Where two roof slopes meet, as they do wherever there are cross gables. A split lead valley sends water straight into the room below.
Soakers and abutments
Where tiles meet a wall or tile-hanging, lead soakers under each course carry water away.
Bay roofs and porches
Small lead roofs over bays are often the oldest leadwork on the house and the first to crack.
What makes leadwork last
Right code, right size
Lead comes in thicknesses known as codes. Too thin and it tears; pieces too long split as they expand. We follow the Lead Sheet Training Academy guidance on sizes and fixings.
Patination oil
New lead is treated so rain does not wash white staining down the wall.
Cut into the joint
Flashings are wedged into a raked-out mortar joint and pointed, not stuck to the face.
Theft-aware fixing
Lead on low roofs is a target. We fix it so it is not easy to lift.
Leadwork FAQs
Can you just repair a small split?
Sometimes, by lead welding or replacing a section. A split usually means the piece was oversized, so we look at why it happened.
Do you use lead alternatives?
Where theft is a real risk, or where you prefer it, there are alternatives. In a conservation area, lead is often the expected material.
Leak around a chimney or valley?
We will find the cause and quote to fix it properly.