Leeds & District Roofing Services
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We have been carrying out Lead Work for over 30 years
Step Flashings
Where a vertical surface meets a sloping roof plane, a step flashing is applied. When flashing material is installed in successive courses up a roof slope up against a wall or chimney, the result is called a Step Flashing.
Step Flashings
Stepped lead flashings are applied when a vertical surface meets a sloping roof plane. Step flashing describes a material installed in successive courses up a roof slope against a wall or the chimney lead work .
Chimney Lead Work
The joint between the chimney stack and the roof tiles is a common location for lead work.
Inadequate leadwork is a recognised weak point in the design of most roofs and may cause leaks.
Valley Lead Work
We have been repairing valleys in the Leeds area for over 30 years. Our expertise, great customer service and skilled tradespeople can get your leaking valley back to how it should be.
Lead Flashings
Lead flashing should be between 1.2 and 1.5 metres and always be in place before the glazing materials are fitted but may be installed after the glazing bars. These glazing bars should be equipped with sufficient drainage channels, and this flashing should only be used with materials like brick. Meanwhile, the horizontal joints should be regularly spaced, and each individual flashing must overlap by at least 70 mm. Lastly, cutting a groove into the stone and installing the lead is the best way to navigate stonework.
Lead Apron
The front lead apron's objective is to seal the chimney's intersection with the roof's surface. Before installing a lead apron, it needs to be cut into a mortar course to determine the required height of the apron. For installation, the mortar course must be removed via a compact angle grinder. Following this, folded lead tacks or wedges are hammered into the excavated mortar course ahead of the permanent pointing of the apron. The lead apron must be reinstalled on both sides of the chimney, resulting in a watertight chimney.
Lead Soakers
Lead soakers are used to ensure that water doesn't leak in between tiles. They are often used to fill the space between roof tiles and protruding elements like chimneys, skylights, ventilation pipes, and other similar structures. Soakers are installed beneath the surrounding tiles to prevent water from entering the attic. When properly installed, water drains off the tiles and gutters, protecting the roof from the elements.
The thickness and functions of lead soakers are determined via codes. Code 3 lead sheets (1.3mm thick) are the industry standard, although code 4 lead sheets (1.8mm thick) are also acceptable.
Lead Back Gutter
A chimney back gutter is there to collect and reroute the water, so it does not damage the structure. The amount of water collected is directly proportional to the length of the back gutter and the roof area. The greater the projection, the more depth and width will be required in the rear gutter to accommodate the flow of water from the roof. The roof tile heads, side laps, and flashings can be overwhelmed by excessive water, especially on low-pitched roofs. Internal outlets or open lead gutters may be required to direct the water to the eaves in such cases. Water from the rear gutter should be directed into a hopper rather than onto the tiles in areas where a chimney is located at a gable wall. Alternatively, you might build up the lead flashing to form an upstand and divert the water away from the gable.
Lead Roof Valley
When a pitched roof is poorly built, the valley is one of the first places water will find its way. Because water will be channelled towards rather than away from this space, careful planning and execution are required before construction.
The mortar bedding is sometimes misunderstood to be there just to keep water out. A valley, however, should function well even without masonry. Some valleys, like those made from double-lapped plain tiles or slate, don't even need mortar.
Single-lap tile valleys are often laid without mortar in Leeds. So, how does one go about making a valley? It's crucial to start with the foundation beneath the valley. Instead of just resting on top of the rafters, the valley boards should be securely positioned. Despite this, the tiles aren't required to extend over the valley's rim. As the boarding must be trimmed to fit between the rafters, support timbers must be fastened to the sides of the rafters to ensure the valley boards are set flat. When installing a lead-lined valley, thin plywood linings are placed over the valley boards to maintain smoothness.