Step and cover flashings
Where a roof slope meets a wall or chimney side, step flashings are cut to follow the mortar courses and chased into the joints. Combined with soakers under each tile or slate, they create a watertight junction.
Roofing Leadwork
in Glastonbury
& Somerset
Seal the junctions where most roof leaks start with hand-dressed lead flashings and valleys that last, not sealant that fails within a season.
10 years
Roofing experience
9.96/10
Checkatrade rating
£1 million
Public liability
Free
Homeowner inspections
Fixed
Prices, no day rates
Overview
Leadwork: the detail that keeps roofs watertight
Lead is used wherever a roof meets something else: a chimney, a wall, a dormer, a skylight, another roof slope. These junctions are where water is most likely to find its way in, and where good workmanship matters most.
We install and replace step and cover flashings, apron flashings, soakers, back gutters, lead valleys, and lead coverings on bay windows, porches and canopies. Each piece is cut and dressed to fit the roof, with correct laps and fixings so it can move with the seasons without cracking.
Failed leadwork is often patched with tape or mastic. That buys a few months at most. Replacing it with properly specified, correctly fixed lead fixes the problem for the long term.
The risk of waiting
What failed leadwork costs you
Junction leaks are slow and hidden. By the time you see them inside, the damage has been building.
Hidden timber rot
Water tracks along rafters and battens around chimneys and walls.
Damp walls
Failed abutment flashings let water into internal walls and ceilings.
Valley leaks
Valleys carry huge volumes of water; a split or slipped valley lead causes major leaks.
Theft or storm damage
Missing or lifted lead leaves junctions completely exposed.
Cracking from poor fitting
Lead fixed in pieces that are too long cracks as it expands and contracts.
Common mistakes homeowners make
- Using flashband or silicone as a permanent fix.
- Fitting lead that is too thin or in lengths too long for the job.
- Not chasing flashings into the mortar joints, leaving them stuck to the face of the wall.
Warning signs
Signs you need leadwork
- Damp patches on walls next to a chimney or roof abutment
- Lead flashings that have lifted or come away from the wall
- Splits or cracks visible in lead valleys
- Flashband or silicone used as a repair around junctions
- Water stains on rafters around the chimney in the loft
- Missing lead after storm damage or theft
Pricing
What affects the price
We don't publish prices because every roof is different. After a free inspection you get one fixed price. These are the things that shape it.
Location
Chimney flashings, valleys and bay roofs each involve different amounts of lead and labour.
Lead code
Thicker lead costs more, but the right code in the right place is what makes it last.
Surrounding work
Replacing valley lead means lifting and re-laying the tiles either side.
Access
High chimneys and dormers may need scaffolding to work on safely.
Our process
How we handle your leadwork
- 01
Inspection
Every junction, valley and flashing checked and photographed.
- 02
Specification
The correct lead code and detailing chosen for each location, with a fixed price.
- 03
Remove old lead
Failed lead, mastic and patches removed, and the substrate checked.
- 04
Form and fix
New lead cut, dressed by hand and fixed with correct laps, clips and wedges.
- 05
Seal and check
Joints pointed, junctions checked and photos shared.
What you get
The benefits, in plain terms
Long-lasting
Properly installed lead can protect a junction for decades.
Fixes hidden leaks
Targets the junctions where most mystery leaks begin.
Moves with the building
Correct sizing and laps let lead expand without cracking.
Traditional finish
Hand-dressed lead suits period and modern properties alike.
Fixed price
Clear quote, nothing added without your say-so.
Guaranteed
Written guarantee on completed leadwork.
In detail
Types of roofing leadwork
Leadwork is skilled work that relies on correct specification and technique. These are the details we install most.
“Roof refelted and tiled in 2022, some beams replaced. Did a great job, no issues since.”
Apron flashings and back gutters
At the front of a chimney an apron flashing sheds water over the tiles, while at the back a back gutter collects water running down the slope and diverts it around the stack.
Lead valleys
Where two roof slopes meet, a lead-lined valley carries water down to the gutter. We line valleys on boards with lead in suitable lengths, lapped correctly, so they handle heavy Somerset rainfall.
Bay windows, porches and canopies
Lead is a traditional covering for bay window roofs and porch canopies on Victorian and Edwardian homes. We re-cover these with dressed lead to restore both their protection and appearance.
Lead codes and fixings
Lead comes in different thicknesses, or codes. Using the right code in the right place, in the right lengths and with correct fixings, is what separates leadwork that lasts from leadwork that splits.
Why homeowners choose Travis
Why choose TB Property Maintenance and Roofing
for leadwork
You deal with the roofer, not a salesman
When you call about leadwork, you speak to Travis. He inspects the roof, prices the work and carries it out himself, bringing in trusted labourers only on larger jobs. There's no handover between a surveyor, an office and a crew, so nothing gets lost along the way.
Evidence before every decision
You see photos of the problem before you're asked to spend anything. If extra work turns up once the job starts, you're shown the evidence and the options before anything changes. One customer put it simply: he kept them informed of any extra work needed, with evidence.
A fixed price, not a day rate
Every leadwork job is quoted at a fixed price after a free inspection. You know the full cost up front, and it doesn't creep up if the job takes longer than expected. Travis prefers not to publish prices online, because guessing without seeing the roof helps nobody.
Reviewed, insured and accountable
TB Property Maintenance and Roofing is a Checkatrade member rated 9.96/10 by verified customers, with £1 million public liability insurance. Work is guaranteed, and the terms for your job are confirmed in writing with the quote. Reviews regularly mention turning up on time, working tidily and finishing on budget.
Local knowledge
Leadwork across
Glastonbury & Somerset
Victorian and Edwardian homes in Wells, Frome and Glastonbury often have lead bay roofs, porch canopies and complex valleys that were last renewed generations ago. Restoring these properly keeps both the protection and the period character.
Leadwork is often the hidden cause of leaks that other trades have tried to fix with sealant. Finding and fixing it properly is one of the most effective repairs a roof can have.
Every job is handled by Travis Biddle personally, with 10 years in the trade, £1 million public liability insurance and a 9.96/10 Checkatrade rating. You get a fixed price after a free inspection, photo evidence of any problem, and nothing added without your agreement.
01How much does leadwork cost?
+
It depends on the junctions involved and access. We give a fixed price after a free inspection.
02Can I just reseal my flashing?
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Sealant is a short-term fix. If the lead is cracked, lifted or badly fitted, replacing it is the lasting solution.
03How long does lead flashing last?
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Properly specified and installed lead can last for decades. Poorly fitted lead can fail much sooner.
04Do you replace lead valleys?
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Yes, we strip and re-line valleys with new lead and re-lay the tiles or slates either side.
05Do you work on bay window roofs?
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Yes, we re-cover bay windows and porch canopies in lead.
06Is leadwork guaranteed?
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Yes. Guarantee details are confirmed in writing with your quote.
07Why is there a leak next to my chimney?
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It's often failed flashings, soakers or a back gutter. The inspection identifies which.
08Where do you carry out leadwork?
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Glastonbury, Street, Wells, Shepton Mallet, Frome, Trowbridge, Bridgwater, Cheddar, Somerton and Weston-super-Mare.
Seal the junctions
that let water in
Book a free inspection. You'll see photo evidence of the problem and get a fixed price before anything is done.
- £1 million public liability insurance
- Checkatrade member, rated 9.96/10
- Fixed prices, no day rates
- Guaranteed work, confirmed in writing