Leadwork
Code 4 and Code 5 lead: welded gutters and aprons, step flashing, valleys, dressed and oiled.
About leadwork
Proper leadwork, done by hand
Lead is where a roof meets everything else: chimneys, walls, valleys, dormers and gutters. It is also where a lot of leaks start, because so much lead is fitted badly or patched with sealant. We take pride in leadwork that is cut, dressed and welded properly, in the right code for the job.
What's included
Step flashing
Where a roof slope meets a wall or chimney, we fit step flashing chased into the mortar joints and dressed over the tiles, with soakers underneath where the roof needs them.
Aprons and back gutters
Aprons at the front of chimneys and abutments, and back gutters behind stacks, formed so water is carried round rather than into the roof.
Welded lead gutters and aprons
On box gutters and complex details we weld the lead rather than relying on laps alone, for a strong, clean finish. More on that on our lead welding page.
Lead valleys
Where two roof slopes meet, a lead valley carries a lot of water. We form them in Code 4 or Code 5 lead to suit the roof.
Code 4 and Code 5 lead
Thicker lead for gutters and areas that take the most water and foot traffic, standard code for flashings. We use the right one for each detail.
Dormers and bays
Cheeks, tops and aprons on dormers and bay roofs, renewed when the old lead has split or crept.
Why we do not use sealant as a fix
Sealant smeared over split lead might hold for a season. Then it cracks, lifts and lets water back in behind it, often worse than before. Lead that is the right code, cut to size and dressed properly into the brickwork and over the tiles moves with the weather and keeps working. If we find sealant over old lead, we take it off and do the job properly.
How the job runs
- We inspect the lead and photograph any splits, gaps or failed sealant.
- Written quote, with the lead code and access listed.
- Old lead and sealant come off, and the joints are cleaned out.
- New lead is cut, dressed and fixed on site, welded where the detail needs it.
- Photos of the finished work, so you can see what you have paid for.
Also from Ultimate Roofcare
More of what we do
Recent work
Recent jobs
Peterborough A bungalow re-roof in Peterborough
A red tile re-roof in Sandtoft Olympus, Tuscan
A natural slate re-roof with hips and valleys
A Marley Modern re-roof, after some very bad spray foam
A big re-roof on TLX Gold, in a granulated grey tile
Letchworth A plain tile re-roof in Letchworth
A hipped roof in man-made slate
Milton Keynes A natural slate re-roof in Milton Keynes
How we work
Honest roofers: what the roof needs, not what pays best
Read our Google reviews and the same things come up: honest advice, the most detailed quote they received, and a team who arrive smart and leave the site tidy.
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01
A repair when a repair will do
A Bedford customer with a chimney leak got new lead and a metre of felt, not a new roof. "There was no need to start doing loads of unnecessary work," in her words.
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02
Itemised, line by line
Scaffold, skip, materials, even the portable toilet on a big job. You see exactly what you are paying for.
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03
Quick when it is leaking
Customers who called in the early evening with water coming in had us there the next day.
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04
Done the proper way
Dry ridge and verge systems, eaves support trays, welded lead, breathable membranes, and moss scraped off by hand. We never jet-wash a roof.
What people say
4.9
32 reviews on Google
A 120-year-old roof, matched to the original
“The finished roof looks great, and is an excellent match to the original which is important in Letchworth.”
We noticed the felt in our loft was deteriorating quite badly, so decided it was time to get the roof replaced. We had three different companies out to quote, with Jude from Ultimate Roof Care being the last. Jude came across really well, very polite and well spoken, and took the time to explain everything properly. His quotation was by far the most detailed, with everything clearly itemised so we knew exactly what we were paying for. The team did exactly what was promised and we're really pleased with our new roof. We'd seen their vans working around Bedfordshire before, which was reassuring too. More than happy with the whole experience and would definitely recommend Ultimate Roof Care.
We had a bad leak coming into the roof and couldn't work out where it was coming from. We called Jude and he came out, had a proper look and identified the problem around the chimney. Our house was built in the 1980s and he showed us where the old felt had started collapsing around that area. One of his guys then came out and replaced the lead around the chimney as well as roughly a metre of felt around it. Jude explained that there was no need to start doing loads of unnecessary work and that a localised repair should sort the problem, which we really appreciated. The exact area where the water was coming in before has stayed completely dry. Really happy with the repair and thought the price was very fair. The guys were polite, turned up looking smart and were very professional. We're based in Bedford and would definitely recommend them.
We'd been having problems with a leak on our bungalow roof, despite previously having another roofing company out, so we decided it was time to have the whole roof replaced. Jude was brilliant from the start, and the detail in their quotation was on another level compared to the others we received. Everything was explained step by step, from the scaffolding and materials being delivered to the skip, even a portable toilet for the workers. Their price was very competitive too, but it was really the attention to detail and how professional they were that made us choose them. What a great company. We couldn't recommend Ultimate Roof Care enough!
I had spray foam insulation in my loft which was causing issues with selling my property. Jude explained the full process, gave me a clear written quote and even arranged for an electrician to safely disconnect and reconnect my solar panels. Once the foam was removed, they bagged and cleared every bit of waste and left the loft spotless. The surveyor who came afterwards commented on the quality of the job. True professionals, I'd highly recommend them.
I booked a roof MOT with Ultimate Roofcare because I wanted to be sure everything was in good condition before the winter. They showed me photos of a couple of cracked tiles and some minor pointing that needed attention, but reassured me the rest of the roof was in good shape. They fixed everything there and then at a very fair price. No pushy sales, just genuine advice and quality workmanship.
After the really heavy rain the other day we had quite a bad leak come through and called Jude at around 5 or 6 in the evening. He came out the very next day. Owen then came out shortly afterwards and got the repair sorted for us. They opened up roughly a metre along the bottom of the roof, renewed the felt in that area and fitted a new eaves support tray system. We've had more rain since and everything has stayed completely dry.
Jude and his efficient team of workers have done a complete roof replacement with slates on our 200 year old house. They have done an excellent job and the roof is now entirely watertight and looks very smart. Quality materials and experienced skills have resulted in a great job and peace of mind for us. Thankyou to all. Richard and Lorna
I found Ultimate Roofcare in the local Bedford Bulletin. Joe came along to check out the loft. Jude came along later in one of his branded vehicles (big reassurance) and explained that he could do the job in 4 days with 8-10 men. By Wednesday evening the roof tiles had been removed and replaced, a new roof lining installed, 3 layers of insulation placed between the joists, ventilated soffits and new gutters fitted and a good tidy-up completed. If you need any roofing or loft work done, you would struggle to find a better company.Read every review The full set, in their own words
Before you ring
Questions we get asked
What is the difference between Code 4 and Code 5 lead?
The code is the thickness. Code 5 is thicker and suits gutters, valleys and places that carry a lot of water. Code 4 is used for most flashings. We choose the right code for each part of the job.
Can you just seal my old lead flashing?
Sealant over split lead rarely lasts. It cracks, lifts and lets the water back in. We replace failed lead with new lead, fitted properly.
Why is my lead valley leaking?
Lead valleys split with age or when they were laid in lengths that were too long, and debris can build up and push water over the edges. We check the lead and the felt underneath and renew what has failed.
Do you weld lead?
Yes. We weld lead gutters and aprons where the detail calls for it. It gives a strong, neat finish you do not see often enough on roofs.
Get in touch
Tell us about the roof
- We call you back To hear what the roof is doing.
- We come and look And take photos of what we find, so you can see it too.
- You get a written, itemised quote What the roof needs and what it costs. No pressure.