Lead Roof Work: A Flexible and Durable Option for Your Home
Lead has been considered a traditional roofing material for many years. Lead roof work is more commonplace on older buildings, and there are mass produced lead products that can offer a precision finish for both commercial buildings and residential homes.
Lead Roof Applications
Lead is a durable, flexible and recyclable material for many roof applications. Lead roof work can include sheet roofs, box gutters, chimney gutters, dormer side cheeks, flashings and slates for flue piping penetrating a tile, slate or flat roof. These roofing materials tend to offer a lifespan of over sixty years, but there are examples of lead roofing materials lasting over a century. There are several types of lead roof work including:
- Milled Lead: Milled lead has been used more frequently in recent years and is a popular choice where thin lead flashing is needed. Milled lead has also been increasingly used on house extensions and public buildings.
- Sand Cast Lead: This is the traditional form of lead work, based on the methods used by Romans throughout history. This means that sand cast lead can be found in ancient buildings including churches, mansions or even English Heritage buildings. Rainwater systems and ornamental features were produced with sand cast lead in the past, and this tradition is still in use today.
- Machine Cast Lead: Machine cast lead has been used a great deal throughout the last thirty years. This type of lead work tends to be the cheapest and can be cast in a very thin form to allow small amounts of lead to be used across an entire project.
The Benefits of Lead Roof Work
Lead roof work offers a number of benefits, making it a viable option for a variety of applications. These benefits include:
- Long Lifespan: Lead roofing offers a considerable lifespan. While most common roofing materials are expected to last between ten and twenty years, lead can last over fifty years. As mentioned above, there are still lead roof examples around England that date back over a century.
- Corrosion Resistance: While there are some roofing materials, such as aluminium, that are designed to be rust proof, very few materials can match the corrosion resistance of lead. This durability is one of the main reasons why lead roof has such a long lifespan, providing the reassurance of a watertight roof to protect your home for decades.
- Flexibility: Lead is also a very flexible material, so it can be used as a highly effective sealant where a flue penetrates a tile, slate or another type of roof, where a dormer meets the roof. The flexible characteristics of lead allow the roof to have a complete seal and prevent any water intrusion causing damage to the roof materials or inside your home.
If you are unsure whether a lead roof is the right choice for your property or are in need of lead roof work repairs, you should speak to us. Our recommended team of experienced professionals has expertise in lead roof work, and would be delighted to answer any queries or questions you may have.