Specialist lead roofing and leadwork across Chippenham and Wiltshire. Valleys, flashings, parapet gutters and flat lead roofs — all installed to BS standard with correct code weights. Free no-obligation quotes.
From a single chimney flashing to a complete flat lead roof, we carry out all leadwork to BS EN 12588 with correct code weights, fixing methods and thermal movement allowances.
Lead valley liners installed to correct profile and code weight. We form proper welted drips at changes in pitch and ensure adequate depth to contain roof runoff. Code 4 as standard, code 5 on exposed or wide valley situations.
Get a quote →Step, soaker and apron flashings around chimney stacks. Correctly cut and dressed lead with correct chase depths and wedge fixings — not just sealant over old flashing. Code 4 throughout, code 5 on wide stacks.
Get a quote →Lead-lined parapet gutters and box gutters behind parapet walls — common on Georgian and Victorian flat-parapet properties in Chippenham town centre and surrounding conservation areas. Code 5 lead as standard on these applications.
Get a quote →Traditional lead flat roofing on porches, bay tops, dormers and heritage outbuildings. We form correct thermal movement joints and dress all upstands and trims properly to prevent the creep failures that affect improperly installed lead.
Get a quote →Targeted lead repairs on minor failures — pinhole splits, failed lap joints, lifted soakers. We assess whether a repair or replacement is the more appropriate response and give you a clear recommendation.
Get a quote →Lead cheeks, soakers and crown flashings on dormers — common on loft conversions across Chippenham. Incorrect dormer leadwork is the most frequent source of new-build loft conversion leaks we're called to remedy.
Get a quote →Free survey. Written quote. Correct specification, first time.
Lead valley and flashing failures are among the most misdiagnosed problems in Chippenham roofing. A chimney that appears to have pointing failure, or a leak that appears at a ceiling below the ridge, is frequently a lead flashing problem that originated 5–10 years earlier. By the time water staining is visible, the underlying failure has usually been ongoing for multiple wet seasons.
Chippenham's Victorian and Edwardian town centre stock — Wood Lane, Foghamshire Road, the terraces off the High Street — has leadwork that is now 80–130 years old in many cases. Well-installed Victorian lead has often survived remarkably well, but the freeze-thaw cycles of Wiltshire winters eventually work it free at the fixings. When it goes, it needs replacing in kind with correct code-weight lead, correct fixing specification, and proper lap depths. Sealant over failed lead is not a repair — it delays the problem by one to three winters.
Chimney flashing replacement (standard stack): £350–£700. Valley reline (per metre): £80–£150. Parapet gutter reline (per metre): £120–£200. Flat lead roof (per m²): £150–£250. All prices include access and labour. Free written quote before any work starts.
"Four previous roofers had 'fixed' the chimney over twelve years — always with sealant over the existing lead. Finally had the lead stripped and replaced properly in code 4. The difference is remarkable. No leaks through two winters."
"Georgian flat-parapet property with a box gutter behind the front parapet — original lead was 80+ years old and failing at multiple points. New code 5 lead throughout. Conservation officer was happy with the specification."
"Stone slate cottage with a lead valley that had been leaking at one joint for years. New code 4 lead properly cut and lapped. Also assessed the adjacent valley and confirmed it was sound — they could have sold me two jobs but gave an honest verdict."
Code 3 lead for soakers and stepped flashings. Code 4 for general valley, apron and back-gutter work. Code 5 for flat roof and parapet work where a heavier gauge is required. We specify the correct code for every application — under-specified lead fails prematurely under thermal cycling.
Code 4 lead correctly installed should last 50–80 years. Lead installed with incorrect fixing methods, undersized laps, or over-tacked to prevent thermal movement will fail in 10–20 years. The quality of the installation matters as much as the material spec.
Thermal expansion and freeze-thaw cycling cause lead to work against its fixings over decades. On properties without regular maintenance, cracking at step and soaker flashings is the result. Victorian properties in Chippenham's town centre are at the age where first or second generation lead is commonly failing.
Small splits or pinhole failures can sometimes be repaired with lead solder or lead repair compound. Where a flashing is more than 20 years old and showing multiple failure points, replacement is almost always more cost-effective. We assess and advise honestly — we don't push full replacement where a repair genuinely meets the situation.
Lead is the standard and often required material for conservation area and listed building work in Chippenham and surrounding towns. We specify and install to correct code weights and carry out all work to BS EN 12588 standards.
Lead has a higher material cost than GRP or felt, but a significantly longer service life — correctly installed lead should last 50–80 years. Over a 30-year period, lead is typically more cost-effective than multiple felt replacements. It also remains the required specification on listed and conservation area properties in Chippenham.
Lead develops a natural patina over time that provides its own protection. It should not be painted. Patination oil applied at installation slows the natural weathering process and prevents early run-off staining on stonework and render. We apply patination oil as standard on all new leadwork.
Correct specification, correct code weights. Chippenham and all of Wiltshire.
01249 247 076