Leadwork Birmingham
Lead might not be the most glamorous part of your roof, but it's often the part working hardest. Every valley, chimney junction and dormer window on your house relies on a strip of lead to keep the water out, and when that lead fails, cracks, or goes missing, leaks follow fast. If you're searching for leadwork in Birmingham, chances are you've already spotted a damp patch, a missing strip of flashing, or a valley that's seen better days. Midlands Roofing has been fixing and fitting lead on Birmingham roofs for 18 years, and it's one of those jobs where getting it right the first time really matters.
18 years
Trading in Birmingham
15
Experienced roofers
Up to
20 years
Workmanship warranty
Fully insured
What our leadwork service includes
Leadwork covers any part of the roof where lead is used to seal a joint or junction, which is exactly where roofs tend to leak. Our leadwork service includes:
- Lead flashings around chimneys
- the strips of lead that seal the join between the chimney stack and the roof slope. This is one of the most common places leadwork gets damaged, though we cover the chimney stack itself (repointing, rebuilding, capping) on our separate chimney repairs page.
- Lead valleys
- the channel where two roof slopes meet and rainwater funnels down. A worn or split valley is a classic cause of internal leaks.
- Leadwork around dormer windows and bay window roofs
- these features have multiple junctions where the roof meets a vertical wall, and each one needs careful leadwork to stay watertight.
- Lead soakers
- small individual pieces of lead tucked under roof tiles or slates at junctions, working alongside flashings to stop water getting underneath.
- Leadwork on parapet walls
- common on older terraces and townhouses, where the roof sits behind a low wall and needs lead flashing to seal the joint.
- Repair or replacement of stolen or missing lead
- lead theft is a genuine issue on UK roofs, and we can replace stolen lead and, where it helps, suggest ways to make it less appealing to thieves.
We handle leadwork on new roof installations and full replacements, as well as targeted repairs where the rest of your roof is sound but the lead has failed.
Signs you need leadwork done
Lead is tough, but it doesn't last forever, and a few signs are worth acting on quickly:
- Damp patches or staining on ceilings, especially near a chimney breast or where a dormer window meets the roof.
- Visible cracks or splits in the lead itself, which happens over time as the metal expands and contracts with the weather.
- Lead that's lifted, curled up at the edges, or come away from the wall or brickwork it's supposed to be sealed against.
- A valley that looks worn thin, patched, or corroded, particularly on older roofs where the original lead has been in place for decades.
- Lead that's simply missing and been stolen from the roof, leaving the join exposed.
- A roofline that's noticeably complex, with lots of valleys, dormers or junctions. Older Victorian and Edwardian properties around Birmingham often have this kind of intricate roof design, and it's exactly where leadwork problems tend to show up first.
If you've spotted any of these, it's worth getting it looked at before the next heavy rain finds its way in.
Our process for leadwork in Birmingham
Free inspection and quote.
We come out, take a proper look at the affected area (or the whole roof if you're planning a bigger job), and talk you through what we're seeing in plain English. No jargon, no pressure.
Honest recommendation.
Leadwork is a skilled, specialist trade within roofing. It takes experience to cut, shape and dress lead so it moulds neatly around chimneys, valleys and window junctions without leaving weak points. We'll tell you straight whether you need a full replacement or just a repair to the affected section. Sometimes that means a smaller job than you expected, and we'd rather tell you that than talk you into more work.
Careful removal and preparation.
Any damaged or failed lead is removed, and the surrounding area is checked and prepared so the new leadwork has a sound base to sit on.
Fitting the new leadwork.
We use lead because it's flexible and durable, and it can be dressed by hand to follow the exact shape of a junction, whether that's a curved valley or the tight corner of a dormer. That flexibility is what makes it so good at sealing awkward joints that rigid materials can't cope with.
Final check.
We go over the finished work to make sure it's properly sealed, tidy, and weatherproof before we consider the job done.
Why choose Midlands Roofing for leadwork in Birmingham
Choosing a roofer can feel like a bit of a gamble, especially for something as specialist as leadwork, where poor workmanship might not show itself until the next big storm. We're a family-run business that's been trading in Birmingham and the West Midlands for 18 years, with a team of 15 experienced roofers and no subcontractors, so the people quoting your job are the same people doing it.
We turn up when we say we will, we do the job properly, and we treat every customer the way we'd want to be treated ourselves. That's not a slogan, it's how we've built our reputation locally, and as a family business we live with that reputation. Our leadwork comes with a workmanship warranty of up to 20 years (this varies depending on the material and scope of the job), we're fully insured, and we work to current industry and safety standards. Every quote is free and comes with no obligation.
What affects the cost of leadwork
Every roof is different, so we don't quote fixed prices without seeing the job, but a few things typically affect the cost:
- How much lead needs replacing. A single flashing repair costs less than replacing a full valley or several junctions.
- Access to the roof. Steep roofs, tall properties, or awkward access can affect scaffolding or platform requirements.
- The complexity of the roofline. Older Birmingham properties with multiple valleys, dormers and chimney junctions naturally need more detailed leadwork than a simple roof.
- The grade and thickness of lead used, which is chosen based on where it's being fitted and what it needs to withstand.
- Whether it's a repair or a full replacement, and whether any surrounding roof covering (tiles or slates) needs lifting and relaying to access the lead underneath.
The best way to get an accurate figure is a free, no-obligation quote, where we can see exactly what's needed.
Areas We Cover
As well as leadwork across Birmingham, we cover the wider West Midlands, including Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, West Bromwich, Walsall, Dudley, Wolverhampton, Halesowen, Stourbridge and Wednesbury. Wherever you are in the area, our team can usually get to you quickly, with same-day emergency callouts available when you need us most.
Related roofing services
FAQs
Lead is flexible enough to be shaped and dressed by hand around awkward junctions, like where a chimney meets a roof slope, or where two roof planes join in a valley. Cheaper or more rigid materials struggle to seal these joints properly, which is exactly where leaks tend to start. Lead also lasts a long time when it's fitted correctly, which makes it worth the investment in the areas that need it most.
Yes. We regularly work on Victorian and Edwardian properties around Birmingham that have original leadwork decades old. We'll assess what's there and fit new lead that does the same job properly, even if the roofline is complex.
It's a known issue on UK roofs, particularly with older, more exposed lead. If lead has gone missing from your roof, we can replace it and talk you through practical ways to make it less of a target going forward.
It depends on the grade of lead, how it's fitted, and how exposed it is to weather. Good quality leadwork, fitted properly, can last for decades, which is why our workmanship warranty runs up to 20 years depending on the material and scope of the job.
It depends on the damage. If the rest of the lead is sound, we'll often repair just the affected section rather than replace everything. We'll always give you an honest assessment rather than push for a bigger job than you need.
It could be either, or both. If the lead flashing itself has cracked or lifted, that's a leadwork job. If the chimney stack itself has damaged brickwork or failing pointing, that's more of a chimney repair. We can assess both during a free inspection and explain what's actually needed.
Got a leak near a valley, dormer or chimney junction, or lead that's gone missing from your roof? Call us now on 07735 424741 or get in touch for a free quote, and we'll take a proper look and give you an honest answer.
9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Same day response when your roof needs urgent attention.