Coventry Roofing Specialists · Since 1973
Lead Work & Flashing SpecialistsTraditional Craft, CoventryHand-Formed to LSA Standards
Lead is the difference between a roof that leaks in five years and a roof that doesn't leak in fifty. Chimneys, dormers, valleys, box gutters, parapet walls, every abutment on your roof needs lead detailing done to Lead Sheet Association guidelines. We've been forming and dressing lead by hand across Coventry for over five decades.
53 years of hand-formed lead · LSA-standard detailing · Family-run
Service overview
Lead Work & Lead Flashing
, properly explained.
No jargon, no filler. Here's exactly what this service is, who benefits from it, and why we don't take shortcuts on it.
Lead work is the traditional, hand-formed metal detailing at every point on the roof where two surfaces meet, chimney stacks, side abutments to walls, valleys between roof slopes, box gutters, dormer cheeks and heads, parapet cappings, and window heads. Code 4, code 5 and code 6 lead sheet is cut, dressed and welded on site to create a watertight, 50+ year seal.
Homeowners with a chimney or dormer showing damp patches inside, buyers whose survey has flagged lead work, conservation-area properties requiring authentic materials, listed-building owners needing heritage-standard detailing, and anyone whose previous 'lead' turned out to be sealant.
You need lead work when there's damp appearing near a chimney breast, at a dormer cheek or around a valley; when the existing lead is cracked, torn or missing; after lead theft (unfortunately still a factor in some Coventry areas); or as part of a re-roof or new installation.
Lead work is the single most-bodged detail on British roofs. Sealant, mortar, expanding foam and self-adhesive flashing tape are all cheaper than lead, and all fail within 2–5 years. Correctly installed lead to LSA guidelines lasts 50+ years and is one of the most maintenance-free details on any roof.
What happens if it's ignored
The cost of leaving it
or getting it wrong.
The most expensive roofing decisions aren't the ones you make when you call us, they're the ones you make when you don't.
Sealant instead of dressing
Black or grey mastic pushed into a chimney abutment is not a lead flashing, it's a placeholder that hardens, cracks and fails within 18–36 months of UV exposure. The correct fix costs slightly more once and never again.
Over-long lead sheets
Lead expands and contracts with temperature. Sheets over 1.5m long installed as a single piece will crack from thermal fatigue within a decade. LSA guidelines specify maximum lengths and joint spacing, we follow them.
Wrong code for the exposure
Code 3 lead used on chimney flashings tears within a few winters. Chimneys, valleys and box gutters need code 4, 5 or 6 depending on exposure and traffic. Cheaper installs downgrade the code to save cost, and pay for it later.
Cement-in without a chase
Lead flashings that are cement-bedded onto a brick face rather than chased into a mortar joint lift with the first frost cycle. Correct install cuts a 25mm chase, dresses the lead in with hooked clips, and points with lead sealant.
Our process
A repeatable system,
from first call to sign-off.
Step 1
Free Drone Inspection
We fly a drone across the entire roof, ridge, valleys, verges, flashings and gutter line, capturing high-resolution photography. No ladders leaning against your walls, no guesswork, no call-out fee.
Step 2
Written Diagnosis
You receive a written report with annotated photographs showing exactly what we've found: the condition, the cause, and the specific work required to fix it properly rather than paper over it.
Step 3
Fixed, Itemised Quote
An itemised written quote, materials, labour, access, waste removal, VAT, with clear deposit terms. Domestic jobs under £2,000 need no deposit. Stage payments available on larger projects.
Step 4
Clean, Guaranteed Execution
Lyndon and the four-man crew arrive on time, protect your driveway and garden, work to PASMA/IPAF safe-access standards, and leave the site clean each evening. All workmanship is guaranteed.
Step 5
Final Sign-Off
Once the job is complete we walk the property with you, share drone photography of the finished work, and provide a workmanship guarantee in writing. Your invoice is emailed the same day.
Why Coventry chooses us
Concrete benefits
not vague reassurance.
50+ year lifespan
Correctly installed lead outlasts every other flashing material, GRP, plastic, self-adhesive tape, and any sealant-based bodge.
Hand-formed on site
Each lead detail is measured, cut, dressed and welded to your specific chimney, valley or dormer, not cut from a generic pre-formed kit.
LSA-standard detailing
We work to Lead Sheet Association guidelines on sheet size, code, laps, clips, welds and jointing, the same detailing used on heritage and listed buildings.
Heritage and conservation-ready
Suitable for conservation areas, listed properties and period homes where sealant or plastic flashings would be refused planning.
Lead theft deterrent options
Anti-theft roll cores, coded ID marking and where required GRP-alternative detailing for high-risk exposures.
Written guarantee
All lead workmanship is guaranteed in writing.
Deep detail
Materials, methods
& where each applies.
The specifics that separate a roof built to last from one built to invoice. Read it or skim it, either way, it's the answer to "what actually goes on my roof?"
Lead codes and where they apply
Code 3 (1.32mm), small soakers and step flashings. Code 4 (1.80mm), standard chimney flashings, cover flashings, small valleys. Code 5 (2.24mm), larger valleys, box gutters, parapet cappings. Code 6 (2.65mm), heavy-duty box gutters and dormer roofs. Each code is specified per the LSA guidelines for that detail.
Details we hand-form
Chimney back gutters, side flashings, front aprons, stepped flashings and soakers; valley linings for standard and secret valleys; box gutters between abutments; parapet wall cappings; dormer cheek, head and apron flashings; window head and cill flashings; pipe and vent flashings; and lead ridges and hip cappings on heritage roofs.
Methods and detailing
Every sheet is welded (not soldered) at joints, dressed with wooden dressers to avoid stretch marks, patinated to prevent white staining, and clipped with copper clips where wind exposure demands. Chases are cut with grinders to 25mm depth, dressed in with hooked clips, and pointed with LSA-approved lead sealant.
Residential vs heritage/commercial
Domestic lead work is typically code 4 chimney and abutment flashings. Heritage lead work extends to full lead-covered dormers, parapet cappings, box gutters and porches, often on listed or conservation properties. Commercial lead work covers larger box gutters, parapets and pitched-metal flashings on public buildings.
Straight answers
Common questions
before you call.
Can't find yours? Ring us on 024 7671 4341 , Lyndon or Georgina will pick up.
How much does lead flashing cost in Coventry?
A standard chimney re-flash (back gutter, side flashings, front apron) typically £600–£1,200 including scaffold access. A full valley re-line £900–£2,000 depending on length and code. Every quote is itemised with lead code, length and access clearly listed.
How long does lead flashing last?
Correctly installed code 4+ lead flashings last 50+ years, often longer than the tile covering they sit against. Sealant-based imitations last 2–5 years.
Can you match old or heritage lead work?
Yes. We hand-form lead to LSA guidelines and use code 4, 5 or 6 depending on the detail. Suitable for conservation areas, listed buildings and period homes.
What if my lead has been stolen?
We replace stolen lead with new lead (with anti-theft roll cores and ID marking where requested), or with LSA-approved lead alternatives where the risk area justifies it. Insurance claim documentation supplied on request.
How long does a lead flashing job take?
A standard chimney re-flash: 1–2 days including scaffold. A valley re-line: 1–3 days. A full lead-covered dormer: 3–5 days.
Do I need scaffold for lead work?
Most chimney and dormer lead work requires scaffold access for safety and quality, trying to hand-dress lead from a ladder produces poor detailing and is an HSE risk. Scaffold cost is included and itemised in every quote.
Is your lead work guaranteed?
Yes, all lead workmanship is guaranteed in writing.
Do you offer emergency lead work?
Yes, after storm damage, lead theft, or lightning strike, we attend same-day where possible for make-safe, then quote for permanent lead replacement.
Related services
While we're on the roof,
we handle all of this too.
Chimney Repairs
Chimney repair work covers everything above the roof line: brick repointing or rebuilds, replacement of cracked flaunching (the mortar cap around the pot), pot replacement, cowl fitting, lead flashing renewal, and where the stack is compromised, a full below-roofline rebuild. Each is a distinct fix, we identify which of them your chimney actually needs.
View service
Roof Repairs
A roof repair addresses a localised failure: slipped or missing tiles, a leaking valley, a failed lead flashing, cracked cement ridge bedding, blocked or split gutters, damaged verges, or a failed skylight seal. The work is targeted, we don't quote for a re-roof when a repair will genuinely last another 15 years.
View service
New Roof Installations
A new roof installation is a complete pitched-roof system fitted to a new build, extension, dormer, garage conversion, or a property being fully re-covered. It includes the timber structure where required, breathable membrane, counter-battens and battens, insulation upgrades, ridge and hip system, verge detailing, valleys, lead flashings, ventilation, and the final tile or slate covering.
View service
Ready when you are
Get a free drone survey
for your lead work & lead flashing.
Written report. Itemised quote. No call-out fee, no obligation. We'll tell you honestly whether you need this service, another service, or no work at all.
- Free drone survey
- No call-out fee
- £15m fully insured
- Which? Trusted Trader
"Excellent service. Lyndon explained the damage and the work needed and their quotes were reasonable. Honest, open communication and did everything they said they would."
, Naheed Khan, Google review