Roofing

Leadwork Installation & Repair Northampton

A surprising number of roof leaks have nothing to do with the tiles themselves and everything to do with the lead flashing around chimneys, valleys and abutments. Leadwork is a specific skill within roofing, and it's usually where the most water-resistant, and most easily got wrong, details on a roof are found.

We install and repair leadwork across Northampton and Milton Keynes, as standalone repair work or as part of a wider reroof or repair project.

Where Leadwork Is Used

Lead is used in these areas because it's flexible enough to be dressed tightly around irregular junctions while remaining durable for decades, provided it's fitted correctly in the first place.

  • Chimney flashing, where the roof meets a chimney stack, one of the most common sources of leaks on an older roof

  • Valleys, where two roof slopes meet and a large volume of water needs to be channelled away cleanly

  • Abutments, where a roof meets a wall, such as at an extension or dormer

  • Soakers and step flashing around smaller roof penetrations and junctions

Common Leadwork Problems

  • Cracking, usually from lead that's been fixed too rigidly and has split as it naturally expands and contracts with temperature

  • Lifting or displaced flashing, often from age, wind, or fixings that have failed over time

  • Poor original installation, where lead has been dressed loosely or undersized for the junction it's covering

  • Corrosion or thinning on very old leadwork that's simply reached the end of its working life

What Repair or Replacement Involves

  1. An inspection to identify whether the problem is the lead itself, the fixings, or the surrounding tiling

  2. Removing and replacing damaged sections, or refitting lead that's lifted but otherwise sound

  3. Dressing new leadwork properly to the junction, allowing for natural movement rather than fixing it rigidly

  4. Checking surrounding tiles and pointing while the area is exposed, since leadwork problems often go hand in hand with nearby tile or mortar issues

Why Choose Bridgework

  • Leadwork carried out by roofers who understand it as a specific skill, not an afterthought to tiling

  • Proper diagnosis of whether the lead, the fixings or the surrounding roof is the actual problem

  • One point of contact whether this is standalone repair work or part of a larger project

  • A clear quote before work starts

Areas We Cover

We cover Northampton and Milton Keynes, and within roughly 30 miles of both, including Wellingborough, Kettering, Rushden, Towcester, Daventry, Buckingham, Brackley, Bicester, Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard, Dunstable, Luton, Bedford, Newport Pagnell, Olney, Stony Stratford, Bletchley, St Neots, Biggleswade and Corby.

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Leadwork FAQs

Leaks that appear near a chimney, valley or where the roof meets a wall are more often a flashing issue than a tiling one. An inspection can confirm this, since the entry point isn't always obvious from the ground.

Properly installed lead flashing can last many decades, since lead itself is a durable material. Most problems come down to installation quality, fixings, or age-related wear rather than the material failing outright.

It depends on the extent of the damage. Localised cracking or lifting can often be repaired, while widespread corrosion or poor original installation is usually better addressed with full replacement of the affected section.

No, lead flashing is still standard practice on new roofing work at chimneys, valleys and abutments, since it remains one of the most reliable materials for these junctions.

Get a Quote for Leadwork

If you've got a leak near a chimney, valley or abutment, or leadwork that needs attention, get in touch for a proper inspection and a clear quote.

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Emergency and same-day callouts outside these hours.

07749 606444