Practical, technical and image-led leadwork guides covering lead roofing details, bays, dormers, gutters, valleys, chimney flashings, welding, bossing, substrates and recognised leadwork standards.
Explore professional lead roofing guidance supported by real projects, original photography, specialist workmanship and standards-led detailing principles.
The Lead Lads provide specialist leadwork services across roofing, heritage restoration, chimney detailing, valleys, gutters, dormers, bays and bespoke rolled lead sheet fabrication.
Leadwork is one of the most durable and adaptable forms of roof covering, but its performance depends on correct design, material selection, substrate preparation and skilled installation.
Incorrect bay sizes, overlong sheets, inadequate fixings, poorly formed laps, unsuitable substrates, missing ventilation and restricted thermal movement can contribute to splitting, distortion, water ingress and premature failure.
This leadwork guide hub brings together practical information on complete roof build-ups and individual lead roofing details. Topics include lead bays, dormers, box gutters, valley linings, chimney flashings, perimeter edges, lead welding, lead bossing, lead sheet codes, patination oil and common defects.
For a broader introduction, read our continually updated Ultimate Guide to Lead Roofing.
Read the Ultimate Guide View Lead Roofing Projects
Browse the full collection of Lead Lads technical child pages. The library covers lead roofing materials, traditional craft techniques, construction details, common defects, substrates, standards and practical working methods.
Start with the principal roof types, junctions and craft techniques used throughout specialist rolled lead sheet roofing.
Explore bay sizing, timber rolls, curved edges, welts, drips, welded corners, abutments, substrates and completed lead bay roofing projects.
Guidance on dormer roofs, lead-clad cheeks, front aprons, secret gutters, junctions, welded details and common failure points.
Understand roof build-ups, bay sizes, falls, underlays, timber rolls, drips, outlets, ventilation and thermal movement.
Technical guidance on valley linings, box gutters, tapered gutters, support, falls, laps, outlets, sumps and water discharge.
Learn how aprons, stepped flashings, cover flashings, soakers, back gutters and saddles protect chimney junctions.
Explore lead welding equipment, preparation, lap welds, corner welds, fabricated details, common mistakes and completed examples.
Clear, practical and commercially useful guidance on professional leadwork detailing, traditional craft techniques, rolled lead sheet and modern lead roofing standards.
Leadwork can provide an exceptionally durable roof covering, flashing or weathering detail, but only when it is designed and installed correctly.
Incorrect bay sizes, poor fixings, inadequate substrates, missing ventilation, poor laps, overlong sheets and badly formed junctions can all lead to premature failure.
These guides explain how professional leadwork should be approached. They are not basic DIY instructions. They are intended to help clients, specifiers, surveyors and contractors understand the difference between proper leadwork and short-term remedial work.
A lead roof is more than the visible sheet covering. The complete build-up can include supporting joists, insulation, vapour control layers, ventilation pathways, suitable decking, separation layers, wood rolls, drainage falls, outlets and perimeter details.
The precise arrangement will depend on whether the roof is warm, cold or uninsulated, as well as the form and age of the building. Our guides explain how these elements interact and why deficiencies beneath the lead can affect the finished roof.
Lead welding joins sheets and fabricated components to form durable seams, corners, outlets, sumps and complex junctions.
Lead bossing is the traditional process of shaping sheet lead without unnecessary cutting. It is particularly valuable around corners, rolls, outlets and complex roof junctions.
Drips, welts, rolls, clips and abutments must shed water while allowing the lead to move naturally as temperatures change.
Lead valleys need suitable support, appropriate falls, adequate laps and sufficient capacity to discharge water from adjoining roof slopes.
Chimney weathering commonly includes front aprons, soakers, stepped cover flashings, back gutters and saddles. Each part must work with the adjacent slate, tile and masonry.
Lead gutters may require tapered construction, suitable outlets, sumps, overflow provision and bay divisions that allow thermal movement.
Lead code affects sheet thickness, weight and suitability for different applications. Material selection should take account of roof form, exposure, sheet dimensions and detailing requirements.
Patination oil is applied to newly completed leadwork where appropriate to reduce early carbonate staining and help the surface weather more evenly.
Good leadwork depends on correct design, suitable material and skilled workmanship. This hub raises awareness of common detailing issues and demonstrates why experienced leadworkers remain essential.
The shared aim is simple: to champion proper leadwork and help buildings perform for the long term.
Read the Ultimate GuideUse this technical directory to move between roof types, specialist details, craft techniques, materials and standards.
Professional leadwork depends on more than skilled sheet formation. The supporting substrate, rolled lead sheet specification, bay sizing, thermal movement, drainage, fixings, ventilation and workmanship must all be considered together.
Our technical approach is informed by recognised standards and practical guidance, including BS 6915, BS 6229, BS EN 12588 and LSTA guidance.
Explore Leadwork Standards Read the Lead HandbookGuidance relevant to the design and installation of fully supported lead sheet roofing and cladding, including bay sizing, joints, laps, fixings and movement allowance.
BS 6915 GuideFlat-roof principles affecting supporting decks, falls, drainage, moisture control, thermal design and ventilation beneath continuously supported coverings.
Substrates and Build-UpsThe material standard for rolled lead sheet used in construction, helping identify suitable lead codes, thicknesses, weights and consistent material quality.
Rolled Lead Sheet GuidePractical leadwork guidance covering traditional detailing, material handling, installation principles and workmanship expectations for rolled lead sheet.
View LSTA GuidanceBefore specifying or installing a lead roof detail, consider:
Understand sheet lead codes, weights, rolls, bay sizes, thermal movement and appropriate roofing applications.
Explore real details for bays, dormers, gutters, valleys, chimneys, flat roofs, flashings and abutments.
See how skilled leadworkers weld, boss, dress and fabricate sheet lead to form durable roofing details.
The technical guidance in this hub is supported by real installation work. Explore our lead roofing project portfolio to see completed bays, dormers, valleys, gutters, chimney flashings, flat roofs, welded details and heritage leadwork.
View Lead Roofing Projects Add a Project Enquiry Traditional and contemporary lead bay roofs featuring wood rolls, curved perimeter details, welded corners and patinated finishes.
Complete chimney sets including apron flashings, steps, soakers, back gutters, saddles and complex roof junctions.
Lead flat roofs, gutters, dormers and feature roofs designed around correct substrates, bay sizing, movement and drainage.
Move from technical guidance to material selection and ordering through The Lead Shop. Browse rolled lead sheet, fixings, underlays, patination products, calculators and supporting lead roofing guides.
Shop rolled lead sheet by code, width and application, with supporting information to help estimate suitable material requirements.
Shop Rolled Lead Sheet Order Lead FlashingUse practical online tools to estimate material weight and explore related roofing products, fixings and accessories.
Lead Weight Calculator Leadwork FixingsExplore The Lead Handbook and supporting Lead Shop guidance for material selection, specification and practical roofing applications.
The Lead Handbook Lead Shop GuidesWatch examples of lead roofing installation, specialist detailing and completed project finishes from The Lead Lads.
Common questions about our technical leadwork guidance, recognised standards, project examples and specialist installation services.
Our leadwork guides are written for homeowners, architects, building surveyors, conservation professionals, contractors and craftspeople who want to understand professional lead roofing details, materials, techniques, standards and common defects.
Relevant references include BS 6915 for fully supported lead sheet roofing and cladding, BS 6229 for flat roof performance principles, BS EN 12588 for rolled lead sheet material specification and practical LSTA guidance.
Yes. The guidance is supported by original photographs, videos and examples from completed work. Browse our lead roofing projects and project portfolio to see how individual details are applied in practice.
Yes. The knowledge hub covers traditional bossing, specialist lead welding, fabricated junctions, corners, seams and other techniques used to form durable lead roofing details. Begin with our guide to lead welding.
Rolled lead sheet expands and contracts as temperatures change. Correct bay sizing, fixing positions, laps, drips, clips, rolls and movement joints allow this movement without concentrating stress and causing splitting or distortion.
Lead roofing requires suitable continuous support. The substrate, falls, underlay, ventilation and moisture-control strategy can influence the performance of the finished covering. Poor support or trapped moisture may contribute to premature failure.
Yes. Send photographs through our free lead quote form or arrange a leadwork site survey. We can review the construction, advise on a suitable approach and provide a quotation for specialist leadwork.
Yes. Rolled lead sheet, fixings, underlays, patination products and related materials are available through The Lead Shop.
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Send us photographs of the roof area or arrange a site survey. The Lead Lads can assist with technical assessment, specification, rolled lead sheet supply and specialist installation.
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