Lead is the most durable and versatile roofing material — properly installed, it lasts 100+ years. We fabricate and install lead flashings, valley linings, flat roof coverings, chimney back gutters, dormer cheeks and decorative details across West London. All work uses minimum code 4 lead to BS EN 12588.
Lead is the most durable and versatile roofing material — properly installed, it lasts 100+ years. We fabricate and install lead flashings, valley linings, flat roof coverings, chimney back gutters, dormer cheeks and decorative details across West London. All work uses minimum code 4 lead to BS EN 12588.
Every lead flashing job in West London is specified for the thermal conditions it will face. Code 4 lead (1.8mm) for standard flashings, code 5 (2.24mm) for valleys and flat areas. Maximum sheet lengths sized for expansion — a detail that cheaper contractors ignore until the lead cracks.
The most common lead failure we see in West London is thermal fatigue cracking — London's heat island drives extreme expansion and contraction cycles that fatigue fold lines. Poor original specification (code 3 lead, oversized sheets) accelerates failure. We also see significant lead theft from accessible roofs in inner areas.
Lead remains the gold standard for flashings and valleys — nothing else matches its durability, workability and self-healing properties. Modern alternatives (GRP, proprietary flashings) have a place on budget projects but typically last 15-20 years versus 80-100+ years for lead.
Leadwork across West London: £200–£2,500 depending on scope, access and materials. We provide free, written, no-obligation quotes for all work. Call 0203 302 2547 for a quote.
Free quotes, no call-out fees, same-day emergency service.
📞 Call Now: 0203 302 2547"Complete gutter and fascia replacement — called on a weekday and they were out within days. Professional, tidy, and the price was exactly as quoted. Highly recommend."
"Valley gutter replacement that stopped 5 years of leaks — called on a weekday and they were out within days. Professional, tidy, and the price was exactly as quoted. Highly recommend."
"New roof on our garage — grp flat roof — called on a weekday and they were out within days. Professional, tidy, and the price was exactly as quoted. Highly recommend."
A standard chimney re-flash in West London costs £300–£600. Step and cover flashings on an abutment wall run £200–£500. Lead valley linings cost £400–£1,200 depending on length and access.
Properly specified and installed lead flashing lasts 80-100+ years. The key factors are correct code specification, adequate expansion allowance, and secure fixing. Poorly installed lead can fail within 10-15 years.
Lead fatigues through repeated thermal expansion and contraction. Cracking occurs at fold lines and where sheets are oversized (too long between fixings). The solution is to replace the failed section with correctly sized sheets.
Yes — lead on your roof poses no health risk to occupants. Lead is inert when installed and does not release harmful substances under normal conditions. The environmental concern with lead relates to manufacturing and disposal, not to its use on roofs.
Yes — we colour-match new lead to the patina of existing work using patination oil. On conservation properties in West London, this ensures new lead does not stand out against aged sections.
Lead code refers to thickness — code 3 is 1.32mm, code 4 is 1.8mm, code 5 is 2.24mm. Higher codes are thicker and more durable but cost more. We specify code 4 minimum for all flashings and code 5 for valleys and flat areas.
We can install covert marking systems and use lead alternatives in high-theft-risk locations. For period properties where lead is essential, we advise on security measures including CCTV positioning and anti-climb provisions.
Every job follows our standard quality process: free inspection and assessment, written quote with full scope of work, professional installation by our own team using specified materials, post-completion inspection with photographic record, and a written guarantee. This process applies to every job regardless of size — a £200 repair gets the same professional approach as a £15,000 re-roof.
We specify materials based on the specific conditions of your property — its age, construction type, exposure and the performance requirements of the job. We never use the cheapest available option as default — we use the right option for your situation and explain why. All materials are sourced from established manufacturers with proven track records.
All work carries our written workmanship guarantee. The guarantee period depends on the scope of work — from 2 years on minor repairs to 10 years on full installations. Guarantees are transferable if you sell the property. Materials carry the manufacturer's own guarantee in addition to our workmanship cover.
Lead failures show up as damp patches on walls at chimney breasts, bay windows or roof-to-wall junctions.
When it is not the answer: If the lead has a single crack at one fold but is otherwise sound, a patch overlay is cost-effective.
Every lead junction checked from scaffold — chimneys, abutments, valleys, bays, dormers.
Lead code, sheet sizes, expansion provision documented.
Old lead removed, chase cut, new lead dressed and fixed.
Edges pointed with wedges and sealant. Patination oil applied.
Offcuts collected for recycling. Site cleared.
| Job | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Chimney reflashing | 1 day |
| Step/cover flashing | Half day |
| Valley lining | 1-2 days |
| Bay window top | Half day-1 day |
| Dormer cheeks | 1-2 days |
Lead dressing is manual work. Complex shapes take longer. Weather delays minimal.
Scaffold or tower. Lead work needs a stable platform — ladders are not adequate. Scaffold is specified for: all lead work — the material is heavy and tools require stable positioning - always itemised in your written quote, never a hidden extra, and we arrange it.
Victorian terraces across Fulham, Kilburn and Willesden mean rear-access scaffold and pavement permits on busy residential streets. Pavement scaffold and skip permits go through the relevant borough council; allow a few working days on streets like Fulham Palace Road, Kilburn High Road, King Street Hammersmith, Askew Road where space is tight.
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chimney reflashing (Code 4) | £350-£650 | Step, cover, apron, back gutter |
| Step/cover flashing | £250-£500 | Per wall junction |
| Valley lining (Code 5) | £500-£1,400 | Per valley |
| Bay window top | £300-£600 | Lead flat + drip edges |
| Dormer cheeks | £400-£1,000 | Per dormer |
| Lead flat (small) | £120-£160/m2 | Code 5 minimum |
Worked example: Chimney reflash on a Victorian terrace on Chapter Road, Willesden: tower £340, Code 4 step/cover/apron £380, back gutter Code 5 £180 — total £900.
No deposit. Payment on completion. Offcuts recycled. VAT included.
Covering W3-W14, SW6, SW13-14, NW2-10, TW1-13, UB1-10, HA0-9 and surrounding postcodes.
10-year workmanship. Correctly specified lead (Code 4+) lasts 80-100+ years.
If a fault appears in covered work, we come back and put it right. No quibbling, no re-charge.
Minimal internal disruption. External scaffold 1-3 days. Some noise from lead dressing. You do not need to stay home for external work - we just need power and access agreed in advance.
Lead is dressed cold so weather rarely stops work. Pointing needs dry cure conditions. Thames corridor humidity slows drying on riverside properties; Harrow Hill faces 15-20% higher wind loading than lowland areas.
No call-out fees. No obligation. Just an honest quote from a local West London roofer who turns up when they say they will.
0203 302 2547 📞 Call Now: 0203 302 2547