5.051 Google reviews5.0 on Yell from 213 ratings
Leadwork and lead flashing in Brighton
Tired lead around chimneys, in valleys and over bay windows is behind a lot of the leaks we see, and our leadwork in Brighton stops them at the source. Every piece of lead we dress is fully guaranteed, and it costs you nothing to have us come and look.
Get your lead sorted
Pick the job. It takes about 30 seconds.
Or call 01273 115938. No deposit, no call-out charge.
5.0 on Google51 reviews, all 5 stars
5.0 on Yellfrom 213 ratings
Expert Roofer VerifiedEvery check passed, see our profileWhere failing lead gives itself away
Lead fails quietly, so look for these before the ceiling tells you.
Flashing pulling out of the wall
Lead flashing tucked into the mortar joint of a chimney or wall works loose as the mortar crumbles. When that happens, rain finds the gap and soaks into the wall.
Cracks and splits in the lead
Lead laid in pieces that are too long can't expand and contract with the seasons, so it splits. A crack in a valley or on a bay roof lets water straight in.
Mastic or tape over the lead
Silicone, mastic or flashing tape smeared over the lead marks a cheap past repair. It hides the problem for a season, then fails again.
Damp around the chimney stack
Damp patches on the chimney breast upstairs, or in the loft around the stack, point to failed flashings or soakers where the stack meets the roof.
Leaks at dormers or bays
Water staining around a dormer window or on the ceiling of a bay points to the lead cheeks, aprons or bay roof covering.
Lead dressed by hand, no mastic
Good leadwork is cut, bossed and dressed by hand to fit the shape it covers. We use the right code of sheet lead for each job, heavier for valleys and bay roofs, and keep every piece within safe lengths so it can move with the heat without splitting. Flashings are chased into the mortar joint, wedged with lead and repointed, and step flashings follow the brick courses up the side of the stack.
Soakers go in under each slate or tile where the roof meets a wall or chimney, with the step flashing dressed over them, so water has two lines to get past. Valleys are laid on a boarded base with proper laps. Bay window roofs and dormer cheeks are clad in new lead and finished with patination oil so they weather evenly. There's no mastic in our leadwork, and every piece is fully guaranteed.
- Sheet lead dressed by hand
- Right code for each job
- Flashings chased and repointed
- Soakers under every slate
- Patination oil finish
- No mastic shortcuts
Lead on Brighton's period roofs
Brighton's older houses carry a lot of lead. Regency and Victorian terraces hide valley roofs and parapet gutters lined with lead behind the front wall, and every one of those chimney stacks has flashings, soakers and a back gutter. Bay windows, so common across Hove, Preston Park and Hanover, have small lead roofs of their own. The salt wind off the sea works mortar joints loose, and once the pointing goes, the flashing tucked into it goes with it.
Rated 5.0 by the people who hired us
Great service for flat & tiled roof repair. Professional and knowledgeable advice on works required. Good management which gave quick response and completion of works required.
We had an issue with a leak coming from our chimney and on getting up there realised our flat roof had been installed poorly. Brendan was so professional throughout, talking us through everything and not pressuring us to make quick decisions regarding the repair. His team were very efficient and got the job done in 2 days. Brendan kept me updated throughout the job, sending photos of the work. His team left the place spotless, even washing down the roof on completion. Having had a few quotes from some rather suspect companies, these guys are so genuine and clearly take pride in doing the job well. Would recommend and call again if needed.
If you have any roofing work or repairs to be done, then look no further than Sureseal Roofing & Guttering. I have found William and his team to be responsive & professional. They were able to address all my queries and advise wherever necessary. Most importantly their standard of finished work measured upto what had been committed, as well as my expectations of high quality. I whole-heartedly recommend their work.
I had an issue with my roof. There was a slight leak. It turned out to be a major issue. I called multiple companies they were asking for substantial amount of money. Some of them even mention that I have to replace the whole roof but this company has turned up and sorted out with a very minor issues and Very cost efficient. I highly recommend them
I am extremely satisfied with the service provided by SURESEAL ROOFING AND GUTTERING LTD. From the initial consultation to the completion of the project, the team was professional, efficient, and thorough. I highly recommend them to anyone in need of roofing services.
The owner and his team provided a great quotation, fair pricing, and excellent communication. I recently had my garage roof repaired and was very satisfied. The work was completed efficiently and to a high standard. Highly recommended!
Why one lead job costs more than another
Lead is priced by the weight of the sheet and the time it takes to shape it, so a small bay roof and a long valley are very different jobs. Access is the other big factor: a chimney stack on a three-storey terrace needs scaffold or a roof ladder and edge protection. If the brickwork or pointing around the lead has failed, that's part of the job too, and it shows as its own line on the quote.
What sets the price
- Lead code and amount of sheet
- Size and shape of the detail
- Chimney height and access
- Scaffold or roof ladder
- Repointing around flashings
- Old lead and mastic to remove
No surprises: the price on your written quote is the price you pay. No deposit.
From your call to a finished job
Tell us what's wrong
Tap the problem, fill in the short form or call Jamie. We respond fast, and emergencies get a call-out 24/7.
Free drone survey
We put a drone over the roof and show you the photos, so you see exactly what we see.
Fixed written quote
One price for the job that's actually needed. No deposit and no call-out charge.
Done and cleared
We do the work, take every bit of waste away and leave the place spotless.
Leadwork questions
What are lead soakers?
Soakers are small pieces of lead that sit under each slate or tile where the roof meets a wall or chimney. They turn up against the brickwork, and the step flashing above covers them. Together they form a double seal. Old roofs often lost their soakers during a cheap re-roof, and that's a common source of leaks at chimneys.
Why is my chimney leaking when the stack looks fine?
Because the leak is at the joints, not in the brickwork. Flashings, soakers and the back gutter behind the stack are where water gets in, and from the ground they look fine even when they've split or pulled out of the mortar. Cracked flaunching around the pots lets water down inside the stack too.
Can split lead be repaired or does it need replacing?
Small splits in otherwise sound lead can be lead welded. Where the lead is thin, the pieces are too long or it's been patched with mastic, replacing it is the lasting fix. We look at the whole detail rather than just the crack, because lead that's split once will split again if it can't move.
What is a lead valley?
It's the lead-lined channel where two roof slopes meet in an internal corner. Rain from both slopes runs down it, so it carries more water than any other part of the roof. Old valleys crack, get blocked with leaves and moss and overflow under the slates. We relay them on a new boarded base with proper laps.
Why do you use patination oil on new lead?
New lead reacts with rain and air and can leave white streaks down the walls and tiles below it. Patination oil, brushed on as soon as the lead is dressed, gives it an even, protected surface while it weathers to its natural grey. It's a small step that keeps the roof and brickwork looking clean.
Leak around a chimney, valley or bay?
Book a visit with no call-out charge and we'll find where the lead has failed.