Repairs & emergencies
Leadwork
Flashings, valleys, soakers and chimney details formed and fitted properly, because most roof leaks start where two surfaces meet rather than in the middle of a roof.
Where roofs actually leak
Detailing That Keeps Water Out
Lead is what seals the joins — around chimneys, along valleys, against parapet walls and where a roof meets an extension. Done well it lasts for decades. Done badly, or patched with mastic, it fails quickly and takes the surrounding roof with it. We form and fit leadwork to established sizes and lap allowances so it moves with the building instead of splitting.
- Formed, Not Bodged
- The Right Code For The Job
- Common Failure Points
Why choose us
What you get with A-List Roofing
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Formed, Not Bodged
Lead is dressed and fixed correctly rather than sealed over with mastic, which cracks within a few seasons.
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The Right Code For The Job
Lead thickness is matched to the detail and the exposure, so it does not fatigue and split prematurely.
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Common Failure Points
Chimneys, valleys, abutments and parapets are where we find most leaks. We fix the cause, not the damp patch.
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Tied Into The Roof
New leadwork is integrated with the surrounding covering so the whole detail sheds water as one.
Signs of failure
What Failing Leadwork Looks Like
Damp patches on a chimney breast, staining where an extension meets the main roof, or water appearing after driving rain but not after light showers all point to failed detailing rather than a hole in the roof. Visible signs include cracked or curled lead, mastic smeared along a joint, and lead that has slipped out of its chase in the brickwork.
Get in touch
Request a free quote for leadwork
Tell us what’s happening and we’ll arrange a free survey. If it can be repaired rather than replaced, we’ll say so.
- Free survey and written quote
- Honest advice, no pushy sales
- Covering Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire and South West London
Prefer to talk? Call 0800 066 3380 or 07766 761202.
Request your free quote
Three quick questions and we'll come back with honest advice and a clear price.
- 1 What you need
- 2 Time scale
- 3 Your details
Our process
How We Approach Leadwork
Leadwork is usually part of tracing a leak rather than a job people ask for by name, so we start by finding out where water is actually getting in.
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Trace The Leak
We inspect the roof and the inside of the property to establish where water is entering, which is often some distance from where it shows.
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Explain The Fault
We show you what has failed and why, whether that is split lead, missing soakers or a previous repair done in mastic.
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Form & Fit
New lead is cut, dressed and fixed to suit the detail, then bedded and pointed into the surrounding structure.
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Test & Check
We check the finished detail sheds water correctly and make sure the surrounding covering is sound.
All you need to know
Leadwork FAQs
Common questions about leadwork. If yours isn't here, just ask — we're happy to talk it through.
How long should leadwork last?
Correctly sized and fitted lead has a very long service life. Most failures we see are caused by lead being cut too long, fixed too rigidly, or patched with mastic rather than replaced.
Why does my chimney leak when the roof looks fine?
Chimneys are one of the most common leak points on any roof. Water usually enters through failed flashings, soakers or a cracked haunching rather than the roof covering itself.
Can leadwork be repaired rather than replaced?
Sometimes. If the lead is sound and simply needs re-dressing or re-pointing into the wall, we will do that. Split or fatigued lead needs replacing to be reliable.
Is mastic a permanent fix?
No. Mastic is a temporary measure at best. It hardens, cracks and lets water back in, often hiding the underlying fault in the meantime.
Do you carry out leadwork as part of a wider repair?
Yes, it is usually part of a repair or a re-roof rather than a standalone job, and we quote for it as part of the overall work.
Where we work
Leadwork across Surrey and beyond
Based in Windlesham and working throughout Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire and South West London.
- Bagshot
- Camberley
- Chobham
- Egham
- Englefield Green
- Frimley
- Guildford
- Lightwater
- Staines-upon-Thames
- Virginia Water
- Weybridge
- Windlesham
- Woking
- Ascot
- Bracknell
- Maidenhead
- Reading
- Sandhurst
- Sunningdale
- Windsor
- Wokingham
- Alton
- Basingstoke
- Blackwater
- Farnborough
- Fleet
- Hook
- Yateley
- Fulham
- Kingston upon Thames
- Richmond
- Twickenham
- Wandsworth
- Wimbledon
- Amersham
- Beaconsfield
- Gerrards Cross
- High Wycombe
- Marlow
- Slough
- See full coverage
Free, no-obligation quote
Let’s get your roof sorted
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll arrange a free survey. If it can be repaired rather than replaced, we’ll say so.