At Western Counties Roofing we pride ourselves on our Lead Department.

Established in 2001, it has grown at an incredible rate from employing just 1 leadsmith to now having a team of 16 at any one time with a dedicated contracts manager.

The lead department deal with all day to day aspects of lead such as box gutters, lead trays, lead saddles, cover flashings, lead soakers and chimney trays however, the team also accommodate for specialist leadwork such as lead finials, bat boxes and lead hoppers.

In 2010 we look forward to new challenges and to continue our growth with the industry

Recently Completed Projects  

[ click HERE to view our complete LEADWORK Gallery Page ]

When designing and installing lead sheet, due consideration must be given to the following areas:

Physical and mechanical properties of lead sheet 

• Contact with Other Materials
• Bossing and welding methods
• Jointing methods
• Support and fixing methods
• Prevention of corrosion

Rolled lead sheet to BSEN 12588:1999 is commonly used on all types of modern and historic properties for:

• Flashings to abutments on flat and pitched roofs
• Weatherings to ledges and cornices
• Damp proof courses and cavity trays
• Linings to parapet and valley gutters
• Coverings to flat and pitched roofs
• Vertical cladding
• Cappings to parapet walls
• Cladding to dormer windows
• Many other specialist uses, such as radiation shielding and sound attenuation
• Bossing, Welding, Jointing, Fixing, Corrosion

Bossing and Welding Methods
Lead sheet should be carefully worked or welded so that the lead is not thinned by more than 25% or weakened by creasing or stretching. Bossing and welding lead should be carried out by experienced (preferably registered) operatives using the proper tools and equipment.

It is important to check for compatibility when specifying or using certain types of the following materials:-

Jointing Methods
Joints in leadwork are weathertight but not watertight. Joints in leadwork are designed to keep water out whilst allowing for thermal movement. It is therefore important that the type of joint used is appropriate for the type of application or situation.

Support and Fixing Methods
Lead sheet must be adequately supported on a smooth base sufficient to take the weight and to allow for thermal movement to take place. It may be laid on timber, plywood, concrete or masonry together with a suitable underlay. The lead sheet should be held in position with fixings of a type, strength and position which:

• Support the weight of the lead sheet
• Are resistant to corrosion
• Allow for thermal movement to take place
• Resist wind uplift

Preventing Corrosion
Lead sheet is resistant to most forms of corrosion likely to be encountered in a roofing situation, but certain precautions need to be taken against the following:

Mortar: Unprotected lead damp proof courses and cavity trays may corrode in the presence of moisture

Lichen Growth: The acid run-off from lichen or moss on a roof may cause small holes to appear in the lead sheet under the drip-off point from tiles or slates. A sacrificial flashing may be fitted to the lead gutter or roof, or the growth may be treated with a chemical fungicide.

Condensation: In certain conditions the underside of lead sheet may corrode and it is important to design the roof to reduce the risk of condensation and provide adequate ventilation.

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Lead Sheet

Malleability - Lead is soft, malleable and capable of being manipulated with hand tools and, by the technique of bossing, can be worked into the most complicated of shapes or dressed to fit the many types of profiled roofing tiles.

Fatigue and Creep Resistance - Attention to correct sizing and fixing of individual pieces minimizes any risk of fatigue cracking or creep. The chemical composition of rolled lead sheet is strictly governed by the provisions of BSEN 12588:1999, which effectively control the grain structure to make the lead sheet more resistant to thermal fatigue without affecting malleability.

Durability and Thickness - When specified and fitted correctly, rolled lead sheet can continue to provide a maintenance free weather shield for 100 years. Rolled lead sheet is therefore extremely resistant to atmospheric corrosion. The ideal thickness and size of each piece is determined by the application.

Thicker sheets may be required:

• when dressing lead into deeply profiled tiles in areas of frequent foot traffic
• on flat roofs and gutters where extra rigidity is required to resist wind uplift
• Thermal Movement; Lead sheet has a high coefficient of linear expansion and therefore due allowance for thermal movement must be made in the design, layout, sizing of panels and fixing details to maximize performance.

Fire Resistance - Lead is incombustible but melts at 327.4°C

Recyclability - Rolled lead sheet is totally recyclable. Scrap material is recovered from end of life buildings in the UK by a national network of reclamation merchants and channeled back to the manufacturers where it is carefully refined back to new feedstock for the rolling mills. The established recovery network, constant recycling of old material and low melting point with resultant energy efficiencies in manufacturing means the lead sheet industry has a solid reputation for environmental awareness and as a conserver of natural and energy resources.