Lee FlecknellEmergency roof repairs, rental property · August 2026
Highly recommend this company carried out some emergency roof repairs on one of my properties would use again.
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Lead flashing and leadwork
Lead flashing and leadwork, cut and dressed by hand
Lead flashing keeps water out where a roof meets a wall, a chimney or another roof, and when it fails the leak is usually right there. Best Top Roofing cuts and dresses lead by hand for chimney aprons, step flashings, soakers, back gutters, valleys and abutments across Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire.
Every junction on a roof relies on lead. Where a roof slope runs up a chimney or a side wall, soakers sit under each tile and a stepped flashing is chased into the mortar joints above them. Where two slopes meet, a lead valley carries the water down between them. At the front of a chimney there is an apron, and at the back a small gutter to shed the water that runs down the roof towards the stack. Lead is used because it can be shaped around all of these and lasts for generations when it is fitted correctly.
Lead fails when it has been fitted in lengths that are too long, dressed too thin, fixed without allowing it to expand, or pointed into mortar that has since fallen out. Split valleys, flashings pulled out of their joints and lead that has cracked from years of movement are among the most common causes of leaks we find. We replace them with new lead of the right code, in the right lengths, dressed by hand to the shape of the roof and wedged and pointed into the brickwork.
The photographs on this page show our own leadwork: step flashings up a chimney, a back gutter, a valley between two slopes and lead dressed around a soil pipe.
When you call, you speak to the familyBest Top Roofing is family-run. The family that answers the phone and gives you the quote is the family that turns up and does the job.
What is included
- Chimney aprons, step flashings and back gutters
- Soakers under tiles and slates at abutments
- Lead valleys between roof slopes
- Wall abutment and lean-to flashings
- Dormer cheeks and aprons
- Lead dressed around soil pipes and vents
- Flashings wedged and pointed or sealed into brickwork
Signs you need this
- Damp on a wall or ceiling beside a chimney
- Lead flashing lifting away from the wall
- A split or cracked lead valley
- Mortar missing where the lead meets the brickwork
- Staining down an internal wall under a roof junction
Leadwork: our recent work
Every photo is one of our own jobs. Tap to enlarge.
Roofer dressing new lead flashing around a brick chimney on a concrete tile roof
Lead back gutter and apron behind a brick chimney stack
Lead flashing dressed around a soil pipe where a roof meets the wall
Brown plain tile roof with a new lead valley between two slopes
Dormer front in slate with a lead-dressed apron and blue membrane around it
How it works
Find the junction
We trace the leak to the flashing, valley or abutment that is failing.
Fixed written price
The leadwork and any tiles to lift and relay written down.
Strip and renew
Old lead removed, new lead cut to size and dressed by hand.
Pointed and checked
Flashings fixed into the brickwork, tiles relaid, the area checked.
Good leadwork is a craft. We cut, fold and dress it on the roof to fit each junction, not force a length of lead into a shape it does not want to take.
Leadwork: your questions answered
How long does lead flashing last?
Correctly fitted lead lasts for many decades. Most failures come from poor installation or from the mortar holding it perishing, not from the lead wearing out.
Can a split lead valley be repaired?
Short splits can sometimes be patched, but a valley that has cracked along its length should be renewed. Patches on valleys rarely last.
What is the difference between soakers and flashings?
Soakers are small pieces of lead that sit under each tile where the roof meets a wall. The stepped flashing covers them from above and is fixed into the brickwork. Together they keep the junction watertight.
Can you use a lead alternative?
Lead-free flashing products exist and suit some situations, such as where lead theft is a concern. We use traditional lead for most work because it lasts longest, and discuss alternatives where they make sense.
Why is my chimney leaking when it has lead?
The lead can be split, pulled out of its joint, or the mortar above it has washed out. Rain can also get through porous brickwork above the flashings. We check both.
Related services
Reviews
What customers say on Google
Dannie SmithQuoted the next day · June 2026
Thomas came and gave me a quote next day, very professional and clean work was carried out. I will be using best top roofing for all my projects going forward and would highly recommend them.
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R Vidya RLeaking felt roof repaired · September 2026
thanks to Thomas for fixing our roof. It was pleasure working with you. I feel confident that the water leak is accessed from all points and all problem addressed
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Lee SextonNew flat roof · April 2026
I needed a new flat roofing doing and this amazing company did it exactly how I wanted it. Highly recommended. Friendly and polite. Would use and again and tell all my friends and family.
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Mahmoud Al SuwwanRoof problem fixed · August 2026
We had a problem in our roof we called this company and they solved the problem so happy and satisfied. I really highly recommend if anyone needs roofing work done if I ever need a roofer again hopefully we don't if I ever did I will always use this company again, thank you so much, guys.
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Lisa DunneBlocked gutters cleared · April 2026
Cleaned out our gutters as were blocked and overflowing. Very happy with the job done. Thank you very much!
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Ligita KaledaiteChosen over other quotes · July 2026
Very friendly. Had couple of Quotes from other companys And this was the best company for it.
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Sally MaskellRoofing work by Thomas · June 2026
Very impressed with the work that Thomas has done. Definitely recommend.
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Scarlet BullRoofing work · August 2026
Professional, good quality work! Recommended.
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Checkatrade customerBalcony roof installation · August 2026
Fantastic, professional and polite throughout the job.
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10 year
re-roof
guarantee
Our guarantee
re-roof
guarantee
Every new re-roof guaranteed for 10 years, in writing
When we replace your roof, our workmanship is guaranteed for 10 years from the day we finish, and the membrane, tiles and slates carry their manufacturers' guarantees on top. Repairs and flat roofs are guaranteed too, with the terms for your job written on your quote. We are fully insured.
Covered
- Our workmanship on every new re-roof for 10 years
- Lead, flashings, ridges and verges we fit
- Flat roofs laid to the system's specification
- Repairs, with the terms written on the quote
On top
- Tile and slate manufacturer guarantees
- Membrane and flat roof system guarantees
- Photos of the finished job
- The same family to call if anything is wrong
Not covered
- Storm or accidental damage after completion
- Work altered or added by someone else
- Parts of the roof we did not work on
- Gutters left to block and overflow
The guarantee for your job is written on your quote before you agree to anything. Read the full guarantee.
Talk to us about leadwork
Ring or send the form. We come out, look at the roof, show you what is needed and give you a fixed written price. No pressure and no hidden extras.