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Lead Flashing Repair Reading

Failed lead flashing is the most common cause of persistent roof leaks on Reading's Victorian and Edwardian properties. We strip mortar bodge repairs, dress new lead correctly, and fix it permanently.

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Lead flashing repair in Reading costs £280-£800 depending on the detail. We strip failed mortar patches and fit code 4/5 lead wedged correctly into the brick joint — the permanent fix for recurring chimney leaks. Free survey, 5-year guarantee. Call 0118 327 2383.

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Lead Flashing Specialists

Lead Flashing Repair & Replacement in Reading

Lead flashings seal the critical junctions where your roof meets a chimney stack, party wall, dormer or abutment. When they fail, water finds a way in — often appearing far from the actual source. We diagnose accurately and fix it properly.

Roof RepairsRoof ReplacementFlat RoofingEmergency RooferGutteringChimney RepairsLead FlashingRidge Tile RepairMoss RemovalStorm DamageFascia & SoffitRoof Survey

Why Mortar Repairs Always Fail

Lead moves. It expands in summer heat and contracts in winter cold — typically 0.3% of its length per 10°C of temperature change. A mortar seal applied over lead cannot accommodate this movement. It cracks within one to three freeze-thaw cycles and the original leak returns, usually worse than before because water has now been tracking behind the lead during the failed repair period.

Correct lead flashing repair means removing the mortar, dressing new lead into the joint and wedging the top edge into the brick course — then pointing over the top of the lead, not as a substitute for it. This is the repair that holds. It is also, unfortunately, more time-consuming than applying mortar, which is why some roofers avoid it.

Lead Flashing Locations on Reading Properties

The most common flashing locations requiring repair across Reading are chimney step and apron flashings (particularly on Victorian and Edwardian stock in Newtown, Katesgrove and Caversham), party wall flashings on semi-detached properties throughout Tilehurst and the Oxford Road corridor, and valley linings on properties with rear dormers. Flat roof-to-wall upstand details are a separate category but use the same principles.

⚠ If another roofer has applied mortar to your flashing within the last 5 years and the leak has returned — that repair has failed. Mortar is not a substitute for lead. Call us for a proper fix.

Types of Lead Flashing Work

  • Chimney step flashing replacement
  • Chimney apron (front) flashing
  • Back gutter and soakers
  • Party wall abutment flashing
  • Dormer cheek and head flashings
  • Valley lining (code 4/5 lead)
  • Flat roof upstand details
  • Skylight and rooflight surrounds

Typical Costs in Reading

Chimney apron£180–£320
Full chimney flashing set£380–£650
Party wall flashing£300–£600
Valley relining (per metre)£90–£140/m
Dormer head flashing£250–£450

Free quotes — no call-out fee

0118 327 2383
Customer Reviews

Reading Homeowners Recommend Us

★★★★★

“Had a damp patch on the chimney breast ceiling for three years. Two previous companies applied mortar — both failed within a year. Reading Roofing stripped the mortar, replaced the lead step flashings properly, and the patch has gone. Should have called them first.”

Christine W. · Katesgrove, Reading RG2
★★★★★

“Party wall flashing on our 1930s semi in Tilehurst was causing a slow drip into the landing. New lead installed in a day. Clean, neat work — the sort of job you can't see once it's done but makes all the difference.”

Alan T. · Tilehurst, RG31
★★★★★

“Chimney repointed and the lead apron replaced in the same visit. Efficient, priced as quoted, and no call-out fee. What more do you want.”

Sarah K. · Caversham, RG4
CavershamWoodleyEarleyTilehurstThealeWhitleySouthcoteNewtownEmmer GreenPangbourneWokingham
FAQ

Lead Flashing Questions

Replacing a short section of apron or step flashing on a chimney stack in Reading typically costs £280–£550 including lead and labour. Longer runs, such as replacing a party wall flashing on a semi-detached, run £450–£900 depending on length and height. We provide free quotes.

The most obvious sign is a damp patch on the ceiling or wall directly below or adjacent to where the flashing runs — typically at the base of a chimney stack, at a roof-to-wall abutment, or along a valley. Mortar bodge repairs over original lead that have cracked or separated are a reliable indicator. We can confirm on a free inspection.

Most original lead flashings on Reading's Victorian and Edwardian stock are now 80–120 years old. Lead fatigue from thermal cycling eventually causes micro-cracking. The more common failure mode, however, is a previous 'repair' using mortar to seal a gap rather than replacing the lead — the mortar fails within a few years as the lead moves seasonally, and the problem returns.

Short sections with localised damage — a crack, a lifted edge, a failed welt — can often be repaired using lead burning or lead adhesive. If the flashing is original and showing widespread deterioration, replacement gives a better long-term outcome. We'll recommend repair where it's genuinely appropriate.

Correctly installed code 4 or code 5 lead flashing has a service life of 50 to 80 years. Most premature lead failure in Reading is caused by mortar applied over the lead rather than proper installation. Where original lead is intact and sound, we repair rather than replace. Where it has been repeatedly bodged, full replacement is the only lasting fix.

Lead expands and contracts significantly with temperature. If the top edge is mortared flat to the brick face, that mortar cracks within one or two thermal cycles. The correct method is to rake out the joint above, insert the folded lead edge, drive in lead wedges, and point over the wedges only — allowing the lead to move without breaking the seal.

Yes. Code 4 and code 5 lead is the standard for traditional flashing profiles. For listed properties in Newtown or conservation area properties in Caversham, we work to original details and consult with the planning authority where material or profile changes might require consent.

Our Approach

Lead Flashing Work in Reading

Lead flashing repair is one of the most misrepresented jobs in the roofing trade. The majority of repeat-failure chimney leaks we investigate in Reading trace to mortar applied over lead flashings — typically by a previous contractor looking for a quick fix. Mortar cannot flex with lead's thermal movement. It cracks within one to two winters and the leak returns.

Correct lead flashing repair means removing any existing mortar patches, assessing the lead for remaining serviceable life, and either redressing sound lead back into the brick joint correctly or replacing failed sections with new code 4 or code 5 lead. The top edge is wedged mechanically into the raked-out brick joint and pointed only over the wedge — not over the face of the lead.

We carry code 4 and code 5 lead sheet and standard flashing components on our vehicles at all times. For standard chimney flashing replacement on a typical Reading semi-detached, the work is typically completed in a single visit once scaffold is erected. For complex back gutters and multi-stepped arrangements on Victorian terrace chimneys, we allow an additional half-day.

Lead Code Selection for Reading Properties

Code 4 lead (1.8mm nominal thickness) is the standard for step flashings, cover flashings and soakers on domestic properties. Code 5 lead (2.24mm) is used for back gutters and horizontal applications where the greater thickness is warranted by the catchment area and water loading. We specify code 5 for all new back gutter work regardless of the original specification, since under-specified original lead is often the root cause of the failure we are addressing.

On conservation area properties in Newtown, central Caversham and Katesgrove, lead is the only accepted flashing material — aluminium or GRP alternatives are not acceptable replacements. We are familiar with the planning requirements for these areas and specify accordingly.

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