North Walsham Roofers installs and repairs lead flashing across Cromer and the surrounding area, using the right materials and methods for every roof junction.
Lead is the standard weatherproofing material at the vulnerable junctions on a roof: around chimneys, up dormer cheeks, along abutments where a roof meets a wall, and in valleys where two slopes meet. It has been used in British roofing for centuries because it is soft enough to be dressed tightly to masonry, durable enough to outlast most other roofing materials when correctly installed, and resistant to persistent weathering.
When lead flashing is sound, it sits invisibly in the background and does its job without needing attention. When it is not, the results - damp patches, ceiling stains, timber decay - can be expensive to sort out. Choosing the right material and having it installed to the correct specification makes the difference between a job that lasts and one that needs revisiting in a few years.
Lead is not a single product - the thickness, the way it is cut, and how it is fixed all vary depending on where it is used. The British Standard for lead sheet assigns Code numbers from Code 3 to Code 8 (and beyond for specialist applications), where the Code number relates directly to the thickness and weight of the sheet.
Using the wrong Code for a location is a genuine problem in the trade. A roofer who installs Code 3 where Code 5 is needed is cutting costs at your expense - the thinner sheet will fatigue and fail sooner, particularly in areas that carry water or are subject to thermal movement over a large span.
Almost all lead used in modern roofing is milled lead sheet, rolled to a consistent thickness and supplied in rolls or sheets. Cast lead - poured into moulds and allowed to solidify - is still occasionally specified for heritage or conservation work because it has a slightly different texture and appearance that suits traditional buildings. For most domestic properties in and around Cromer, milled sheet is the correct and practical choice.
Both types are pure lead. The difference is in the manufacturing process and the resulting surface quality, not in durability or weathering performance.
Lead is not the only material used for roof flashings, and it is worth understanding what the alternatives are and where they stand.
Zinc is occasionally used in place of lead, particularly on some modern buildings. It is lighter, slightly less expensive per square metre, and has a distinctive blue-grey appearance. However, zinc is harder to dress tightly around complex shapes, and in areas where runoff from the zinc contacts other metals or certain masonry, compatibility needs to be considered. Zinc is less commonly stocked by roofing suppliers and requires a roofer who knows how to work with it. For standard domestic chimney and dormer work, lead remains the more practical choice.
Aluminium flashing is sometimes used in a self-adhesive, rubberised form. It is easy to apply, cheap, and widely available. It is also a short-term fix. Adhesive flashings do not perform the same function as properly cut and dressed lead - they are not fixed into the masonry, they are not lapped and dressed in the correct sequence, and they will fail in a few years. If a previous roofer has used self-adhesive aluminium flashing on your chimney, treat it as a temporary repair and plan for a proper lead installation.
EPDM rubber is a valid material for flat roof surfaces and upstands, but it is not a substitute for lead at chimney stacks, dormer cheeks, or tile-to-wall junctions. Its use in these locations is a false economy.
Lead, correctly installed, remains the preferred material for flashing at roof junctions on domestic properties. When properly detailed and fixed to the right Code for the location, lead will outlast most other roofing materials - commonly 50 years or more, though this depends on the exposure, the Code specified, and whether the installation was done correctly in the first place.
Specifying the correct Code is not guesswork - it follows published guidance (the Lead Sheet Association's manual is the trade reference) based on the width of the sheet, the pitch of the roof, and the exposure of the location. Each piece of lead should be cut to a length that allows for thermal movement without buckling or cracking. A piece that is too long will expand in summer heat until it buckles, or crack along its fold lines after repeated cycling.
The chase cut into the brickwork to receive the top edge of a flashing needs to be deep enough to hold the lead securely, and the mortar used to point it needs to be the right mix - too hard a mortar will crack as the masonry moves; too soft and it will not hold. These are details that separate a job done properly from one that will need attention again in a few years.
A well-installed lead flashing should look clean and tight. The lead should be dressed firmly against the surface it is weathering, with no visible gaps or lifted edges. On a chimney, the stepped soakers should be lapped correctly with the tiles or slates, and the cover flashing should overlap each step by at least 65 mm. At a valley, the lead should be dressed down into the valley with correct laps and no exposed nail heads. The mortar pointing in the chase should be full and flush - not cracked, not missing sections, not topped up with mastic.
If you are getting quotes for lead work on your property, ask the roofer what Code they intend to use and why. A roofer who can give you a straight answer about Code specification, lap dimensions, and chase depth knows what they are doing. One who cannot or will not answer is worth questioning further.
From our base in North Walsham, we carry out lead work across Cromer and throughout Norfolk, including Horning, Marsham, Lenwade, Rollesby, Martham, Trunch, and Norwich. The lead work we carry out includes:
All lead is cut, dressed, and fixed on site. We do not use mastic or adhesive products as a primary seal - if a joint cannot be made weathertight with correctly detailed lead, we look at why and fix the underlying cause.
If you have a leak you think may be related to lead flashing, or if you have noticed lifted or cracked lead on your chimney or dormer, call us for a roof survey. We will inspect the flashing, assess what Code is in place and whether it is correct for the application, and advise you honestly on whether repair or full replacement is needed. We serve Cromer and all surrounding areas of Norfolk from North Walsham.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
