Leadwork and Lead Flashing in Jersey

What the job involves

Leadwork starts with identifying exactly where a roof needs flashing, typically at chimney stacks, roof valleys, abutments against walls or parapets, and around dormer windows and rooflights. We assess whether the existing lead can be reused, dressed back into place, or needs replacing entirely.

Installation involves cutting and dressing lead sheet to the correct code and profile for the location, forming step flashings, cover flashings and soakers as needed, and dressing the lead securely into raked joints in brick or granite so water can't track behind it. Valleys are formed with the correct fall and width for the roof pitch and the volume of water they'll need to carry.

On repair jobs we often find the surrounding slate or tile has moved or deteriorated too, so we repair those areas at the same time to make sure the whole junction is watertight rather than just replacing the lead in isolation.

Common problems we fix

Lead failures tend to concentrate around the same junctions and features on Jersey roofs.

• Chimney flashing pulled loose from raked joints in granite or brick
• Cracked or split lead from thermal movement or age
• Valley leadwork perished or undersized for the amount of water it carries in storm conditions
• Wind-driven rain forcing water under lifted flashing edges during Atlantic gales
• Salt air corrosion accelerating wear on coastal chimney stacks
• Lead theft or vandalism leaving temporary and unsafe repairs in place
• Poorly detailed abutments where a flat roof or extension meets an older slate roof
• Nail sickness in surrounding slates causing movement that displaces adjacent flashing

Materials and standards we use

We use code 4 and code 5 milled lead for the vast majority of flashing, valley and soaker work, selecting the code based on the exposure and span of each detail. All leadwork is installed following Lead Sheet Association guidance on lap lengths, fixing and expansion allowance, which is the recognised reference for good practice in the UK and Channel Islands.

Where leadwork adjoins slate or tile coverings, that surrounding work is completed to BS 5534, so the whole roof junction, not just the metal itself, is fixed and lapped correctly for Jersey's wind exposure.

How much does it cost in Jersey

Leadwork pricing is driven mainly by the number and complexity of details on a roof. A single chimney flashing is a relatively small job, while a roof with multiple valleys, abutments and dormers needs considerably more lead and labour time.

Access affects cost too, especially for chimney work where scaffolding or a tower is often needed to work safely at height. The condition of the surrounding slate or brickwork once we're up there can change the scope, and freight costs for lead sheet delivered to the island are factored into material pricing. Registered buildings sometimes require specific detailing to match historic profiles, which can add time.

We always provide a free, written quote so the scope and price are agreed before any lead is cut.