Leadwork & lead flashings

The detail that keeps a roof dry

A pitched roof sheds rain off its open slopes easily. The hard part is everywhere it doesn't — the valley where two roof planes drain into each other, the line where the roof runs into a gable wall, the four faces of a chimney, the apron under a dormer window. These junctions are where leaks start, and where hand-formed lead earns its keep. Properly dressed sheet lead is malleable enough to mould around any awkward shape, then holds that shape for decades.

We form lead on site to Lead Sheet Association detail — the recognised standard for how lead should be sized, laid, lapped and fixed. That means correctly graded sheet, bays kept to the right length so the metal can move with temperature without splitting, and proper clips, welts and lead wedges rather than relying on mortar alone. The difference between leadwork that lasts six decades and lead that fails in six years is almost entirely in that detailing.

Where we use lead

Lead does jobs no other material does as well on a traditional Scottish roof. We renew and repair it across both heritage stock and modern builds, sizing the code to each location — Code 4 for soakers and smaller flashings, Code 5 for valleys, chimneys and exposed work.

• Valleys — the lead-lined channels where two roof slopes meet and drain together
• Chimney leadwork — front aprons, stepped side soakers, back gutters and cover flashings, wedged and pointed in
• Abutment flashings — where a roof runs into a wall, gable or neighbouring property
• Soakers — the hidden lead pieces interleaved with slates at wall junctions
• Dormer and bay leadwork — aprons, cheeks and tops on dormer windows and projecting bays
• Ridge saddles, hips and parapet gutters on the more complex roofs

What's included

• Survey and diagnosis of where water is actually getting in
• Hand-formed Code 4 and Code 5 lead to Lead Sheet Association detail
• Full chimney lead sets, not single-face patches
• Raking out, re-wedging and repointing of all lead chases
• Matched detailing on listed and conservation-area roofs
• Patination oil finishing to prevent staining and white run-off
• Photo work report on completion

Heritage leadwork in Edinburgh

Edinburgh's tenements, terraces and villas were built to be lead-detailed, and much of the city falls within a conservation area or involves listed buildings. Sympathetic leadwork is one of our specialisms: we match the look and method of the original work so a repair disappears into the roof rather than standing out as a patch. Where new lead sits beside stonework that's also failing — a cracked chimney head, eroded pointing — we handle the stonework and repointing as part of the same visit, so the whole junction is made good together.

For a wider view of how period roofs are repaired properly, see our guide to heritage roofing in Edinburgh, or compare coverings in slate vs tile. When you're ready, book a free survey and we'll tell you honestly whether your lead needs renewing or just re-dressing.