Service
Lead Flashing Cost (2026)
Lead flashing prices in 2026 — around £55/m for straight apron flashings, £75/m for stepped flashings up a gable, £95/m for lead-lined valleys. Minimum call-out £220. All Code 4 or 5, chased and pointed.
- Straight apron: £45–£65 per metre
- Step flashing: £65–£85 per metre
- Lead valley (per m run): £85–£120
- Cover flashing to felt roof: £45–£60/m
- Chased 25mm, wedged, pointed in 3:1
- 60-year expected life on Code 4 lead
Where lead flashing actually goes
Anywhere a roof meets a wall, chimney, or another roof. Front and back aprons on chimneys, step flashings up gables, cover flashings where a lean-to roof meets the main house wall, saddle flashings over abutments, and valley linings where two pitches meet.
Code 4 vs Code 5 — the real difference
Code 4 is 1.80mm thick, weighs 20.4 kg/m² — standard for domestic. Code 5 is 2.24mm, 25.4 kg/m² — used where lead spans further or takes more thermal movement. On a typical semi, Code 4 is right for chimneys and aprons; Code 5 for valleys longer than 1.5m.
- ▸Chimney flashings — Code 4
- ▸Bay window roofs — Code 5
- ▸Valleys under 1.5m — Code 4
- ▸Valleys 1.5–2.5m — Code 5
- ▸Anything longer — split into bays with welted seams
Why we never use lead substitute
'Ubiflex' and similar synthetic lead alternatives cost the same, look OK for a year, then fade to grey and split at the folds. Real lead patinas silver, welds properly, and is fully recyclable. On any period property lead substitute will fail a building survey.
FAQs
Can you patch old lead or does it all need replacing?+
Bonded patches work well on Code 4/5 lead if the base sheet is fundamentally sound. A patch is £180–£280. If more than 30% of the sheet is affected we replace.
How do I know if my flashing's failed?+
Look for staining on the ceiling below the chimney/abutment, or visible lift/curl at the edges of the lead in wind.
Is lead theft still an issue?+
Rarely on domestic — pitched-roof lead is riskier to steal than value's worth. Commercial and church roofs still get targeted; we fit SmartWater on those.
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