Leadwork & Pointing in Surrey and North Hampshire

Leadwork

Lead is the classic material for making tricky roof joins watertight. It bends to shape, it's tough and it can last for decades. But it has to be fitted properly. Lead that's too thin, badly fixed or bent the wrong way will split.

• Flashings where the roof meets a wall or chimney
• Valleys, where two roof slopes meet
• Chimney trays and back gutters
• Dormer cheeks and roofs
• Bay window and porch roofs
• Small lead flat roofs

Lead comes in different thicknesses, called codes. We use the right code for the job, because a valley needs heavier lead than a small flashing. If lead has been stolen or torn off in a storm, we can replace it — let your insurer know as well.

Signs your leadwork has failed

• Damp patches on walls or ceilings where the roof meets a wall or chimney
• Splits, cracks or holes in the lead
• Lead that has lifted, curled or is hanging loose
• Gaps between the lead and the wall
• Old cement or mortar fillets that have cracked or fallen out

That last one is common. Cement fillets crack over time, and lead is a much better long-term fix.

Roof pointing

Pointing on a roof means the mortar that holds ridge tiles, hip tiles and verge tiles in place. Up there it takes a lot of weather. When it cracks or falls out, tiles come loose and wind and rain get underneath. We rebed loose ridge and hip tiles on fresh mortar and repoint the joints. It's a routine repair that stops bigger problems. If your ridge tiles look uneven, or you find bits of mortar in the gutters, it's time to have them looked at. We can also fit dry ridge and dry verge systems. These hold tiles with fixings instead of mortar, so there's less to crack. We'll tell you whether it's a good fit for your roof.

Why small jobs matter

Leadwork and pointing repairs are small jobs compared with a new roof. Ignore them, though, and water gets into the roof timbers and the walls. The costs go up fast. Fixing them early is usually the cheapest choice you'll make.