Leadwork in Bedford
Code 4 and Code 5 lead flashings, valleys, aprons and welded gutters across Bedford, the joints that keep water out where a roof meets a wall, a chimney or another slope.
Phones answered 7 days a week
Free quote · no obligation
- We look first and show you what we find
- An itemised quote, in writing
- Leaks answered any time
How it works
Getting it sorted is simple
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Step 1
Tell us what the roof is doing. About 30 seconds.
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Step 2
Let us come and look.
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Step 3
Say yes or no to the written price.
Then leave it with us
We do the hard part
- Photos of what we find, so you can see it too
- A straight answer, and no work the roof does not need
- Scaffold, skip and materials all itemised on the quote
- Building Control sign-off arranged on a re-roof
- A written company guarantee on the work
Our work
Photos from our recent jobs
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A full re-roof with new timber soffits and fascias
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An old polycarbonate workshop roof, rebuilt with four opening skylights
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A full re-roof and a large chimney stack taken down
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Welded leadwork round a chimney, done the traditional way
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Spray foam out and a new roof on, with TLX Gold insulated membrane
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A natural Spanish slate roof with lead valleys and a Code 5 box gutter
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A returning customer: the side roof, matched in man-made slate
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A slate hip roof, finished
“The finished roof looks great, and is an excellent match to the original which is important in Letchworth.”
Before you ask
Questions people ask
What is the difference between Code 4 and Code 5 lead?
Thickness. Code 4 suits most flashings and step flashing. Code 5 is heavier and goes in box gutters, valleys and places that take more water.
Can split lead be repaired, or does it need replacing?
A small split can sometimes be dealt with, but split lead is usually a sign it was fitted too long or has worn out. In most cases we replace that piece properly.
Why is my side extension leaking where it meets the house?
Very often it is the step flashing or apron at that joint. We check the lead and the mortar joint it sits in before quoting.
Ready when you are
It takes about 30 seconds to ask, and you are not committing to anything.
More about leadwork in Bedford
Where lead does its job
Tiles and slates are good at shedding water across a slope. They are no good at the joins. Wherever the roof meets something else, lead takes over. Lots of the leaks we trace in Bedford come down to lead that was fitted badly or has simply reached the end.
- Chimney flashings around the stack
- Step flashing where a roof runs up a wall, such as a side extension
- Aprons under a window or where a lean-to meets the house
- Valleys where two slopes meet
- Box and parapet gutters on period houses
Code 4 and Code 5
The code is the thickness of the lead. Code 4 is the usual choice for flashings and step flashing. Code 5 is heavier and goes where lead takes more water or foot traffic, such as box gutters and valleys. We have relined box gutters in Code 5 on natural slate roofs, and we pick the code for each part of the job rather than one for everything.
Why lead fails
Pieces fitted too long
Lead grows and shrinks with heat. A piece that is too long has nowhere to move, so it buckles and splits. Proper leadwork is cut into lengths with laps between them.
Pulled out of the joint
Flashings are tucked into the mortar joint of the brickwork. When the pointing goes, the lead works loose and lifts.
Covered over instead of renewed
We often find old lead smeared with sealant or patched with tape. That buys a few months at best.
Welded lead gutters and aprons
Where a gutter or apron has corners and joints, we can weld the lead into one piece. A welded joint has no seam for water to find, and it makes for very tidy detailing that the lads take real pride in.
What your quote shows
- Photos of the existing lead and what is wrong with it
- Each piece of work, with the lead code used
- Repointing of the chase where the lead is tucked in
- Access and any tiles or slates that need lifting and relaying
- Photos of the finished lead, so you can see the laps and joints you cannot see from the ground
Other work in Bedford: Roof Replacement · Roof Repairs · Flat Roofs · Tiled Roofs · Slate Roofs · Chimney Repairs · Roof Inspections · Moss Removal & Roof Cleaning · Soffits, Fascias & Gutters · Spray Foam Removal · Cavity Wall Insulation Removal