Leadwork in Easton
Parapet and box gutters, chimney flashings, back gutters and valleys dressed in code lead. The details where most leaks on Easton’s older houses start.
Lead on an Easton house
Parapet gutters
The concealed gutters behind front parapets on older Easton and Lawrence Hill terraces. We re-line them in lead of the right code, with properly formed drips (steps) so each length can expand without tearing.
Chimney flashings
Stepped flashings, aprons and back gutters on Pennant stone and brick stacks, chased into the joints and pointed, not stuck on with mastic.
Valleys
Lead valleys between a main roof and a rear addition or dormer, re-laid on boards with correct lengths and laps.
Abutments
Where a roof meets a wall: rear additions, porches and bay roofs.
Bay and porch roofs
Small lead-covered roofs over bays and entrances, re-covered where splits have opened.
Patching vs replacing
Old lead often fails from thermal fatigue at over-long lengths. We tell you whether a local repair will hold or whether the run needs replacing.
How we fit lead
Right code for the job
Lead comes in thicknesses (codes). Gutters and flashings need different codes; using the thinnest available is a classic cheap-job shortcut.
Lengths that can move
Lead expands and contracts. We limit lengths and form drips and laps so it moves without splitting.
Fixed into the masonry
Flashings are chased into mortar joints and pointed, which suits Pennant stonework far better than surface sealants.
Patinated
We apply patination oil so new lead weathers evenly and doesn’t stain the wall below.
Leadwork questions
My chimney flashing has been sealed with mastic. Is that OK?
It may stop a leak for a while, but mastic fails in sunlight and frost and traps water behind it. Properly chased lead flashing is the lasting fix.
Do you use lead alternatives?
We can, and they are sometimes useful where lead theft is a concern. On a traditional Easton terrace or in a conservation area, lead is usually the right material.
Can you fix just one section of parapet gutter?
Yes, if the rest is sound. We check the whole run and outlet first, because one failed joint is often a sign of others.
Leak by the chimney or front wall?
It is often the lead. Call for a free inspection and written quote.