Do Roofers Still Use Lead?

Why lead is still the first choice

Lead has a combination of properties that no cheaper product copies exactly. It is soft enough to be bossed, which means shaped by hand with wooden tools, around a chimney, over a dormer or into the angle of a valley. It stays where it is put. It does not corrode in the way steel does, because a thin protective layer of lead carbonate forms on the surface and shields what lies beneath. And it can be repaired by lead welding, which joins the metal without any foreign solder. Those qualities explain why it has been used on roofs for centuries, and why modern leadwork remains common on new and old houses alike. Our guide on what roofing leadwork is gives the wider picture.

Where we see it used

The commonest uses are flashings, which are the strips that seal the joint between a roof and a wall or chimney. Next come valleys, where two slopes meet and carry a lot of water, then back gutters behind chimneys, and the cheeks and tops of dormers. Bay window roofs, porch canopies and small flat areas are often covered in sheet lead too. On period and listed buildings it is often the only material a conservation officer will accept, since it matches what was there before; see leadwork on period and listed homes.

Thicknesses are graded by code, with heavier codes used where the lead has to take more movement or foot traffic. Your roofer will choose the code to suit each detail, and the choice affects the price.

Where lead gives way to something else

Lead is not right for every situation. Where metal theft is a problem, such as on a church, a school or an empty building, a cheaper non-metallic substitute may be a sensible choice, and some insurers push for it. Our page on lead theft from roofs explains the options. On large flat roofs a single-ply membrane or fibreglass system usually costs less and covers the area in one go. In the valleys of a new roof, GRP valley troughs are common, and the comparison is in lead valleys against GRP valleys. Some modern flashing products use a bitumen-backed aluminium or a synthetic strip with an adhesive face, sold as an easy alternative. They have their uses, but they do not last as long as properly fitted lead, and they cannot be dressed so cleanly into the roof's detail.

Our wider guide to lead alternatives for roofs compares the materials in detail.

What it costs compared with the alternatives

Lead is a premium metal, and the price of the sheet moves with the commodity market, so quotes for leadwork can shift between the survey and the start date. Cost guides report chimney leadwork at several hundred pounds, with scaffold extra on a tall stack; these are typical UK ranges. Your fixed quote follows the survey. A cheaper product may save money on day one, but a flashing that needs renewing in a few years costs more overall. Where lead is at risk of theft, a roofer can use anti-theft measures such as marking, alarms or a different material on exposed runs.

The health and environment question

Lead is a toxic metal, which is the reason people ask whether it is still acceptable. In practice, sheet lead on a roof is a stable material, and the risks come from handling it carelessly: dust, fume from heating or burning, and swallowing it through dirty hands. The trade controls those with simple hygiene and the right methods. Rainwater running off a lead roof carries traces of the metal, so it is not suitable for drinking-water collection. We cover the handling side in whether lead flashing is dangerous. Old lead is recycled rather than thrown away, so the metal goes back into use.

Choosing lead for your roof

For a pitched roof with chimneys, side walls and valleys, lead is still our default on the details, because it gives a long-lasting weatherproof joint. If your roof is a long, low flat with no complicated junctions, another system may suit you better. We will tell you honestly which is which on the survey, and we photograph the existing leadwork so you can see its condition. Return to the lead roofing and leadwork hub for the full range, start from the homepage, or ring 01256 213956 to book a visit.