Lead flashing and leak repairs
Roof repairs in Chelmsford.
Where a Chelmsford roof meets a chimney, a wall or an extension, it relies on lead to keep water out. When the lead splits or pulls away from the brickwork, the damp often looks like a roof tile problem when it isn’t. We check those joints first and repair the flashing properly.
- Lead workflashings, soakers and valleys
- Freequotes, no obligation
- Honestrepair or replace advice
How flashings fail
Lead moves slightly with temperature, so over many years it can fatigue and split. The mortar holding it in the brick joint also weakens, letting the lead lift away from the wall. Once there is a gap, rain runs behind the flashing and down inside the roof.
- Lead lifted away from a brick joint
- Splits or cracks along a flashing
- Loose pointing above the lead
- Damp on a chimney breast or along a party wall
Which repair the lead needs
If the lead is sound and has only come out of the joint, it can often be dressed back and repointed. Split, thin or badly patched lead should be replaced with new flashing and soakers where necessary. Sealant or tape over a failed flashing tends to be a short-term measure, so we’d tell you if that is all your roof has had.
- Lead re-fixed and pointed where it is sound
- New stepped flashing against brickwork
- Soakers renewed beneath the tiles
- Old tape and sealant repairs removed
Where to look on Chelmsford homes
Older terraces around Moulsham have chimneys and rear additions that bring plenty of lead junctions. Springfield, Great Baddow and Broomfield have many estate houses, where extensions and porches often tie into the main wall. Chimneys are a common source of trouble on both, and any loose stack needs dealing with at the same time as the flashing.
- Chimney stacks on older terraces
- Rear additions meeting the main wall
- Extension roofs tied into brickwork
- Porches and bay roofs with small flashings
How the job works
- 1Check every abutmentWe work around the chimney, walls and any extensions, looking at the lead and the pointing above it.
- 2Rule out the stackCrumbling mortar or a failed chimney can mimic a flashing leak, so we check that too.
- 3Show you the optionsPhotos and a written price set out whether the lead can be re-fixed or needs renewing.
- 4Dress, fix and pointLead is shaped to the roof and wall, fixed into the joint and pointed so rain sheds clear.
Why choose us in Chelmsford
- Photos of your flashings close up, since they are hard to see from the ground.
- A clear written price before any lead work starts in Chelmsford.
- Straight advice if the leak turns out to be something simpler than the lead.
Common questions
Why is my chimney breast damp when it hasn’t rained for days?
Brickwork holds moisture and can stay damp long after rain has stopped. The cause could be flashing, pointing or the stack itself, so it is best checked from the roof instead of guessing from inside.
Can sealant fix a leaking lead flashing?
It can slow a leak for a while, but it rarely lasts. The better repair is to re-fix sound lead or replace damaged sections, so water is shed properly.
How do I spot failed flashing from the ground?
Look for lead that has lifted from the brickwork, dark streaks below a chimney or missing pointing above the flashing. Binoculars help, and you don’t need to climb up.
Ready for a free, no-obligation quote?
Speak to our team today. London, Essex, Kent, Sussex and the Cotswolds.