Leadwork in Bedford
Code 4 and Code 5 lead flashings, valleys, aprons and welded gutters across Bedford, the joints that keep water out where a roof meets a wall, a chimney or another slope.
Leadwork in Bedford
Where lead does its job
Tiles and slates are good at shedding water across a slope. They are no good at the joins. Wherever the roof meets something else, lead takes over. Lots of the leaks we trace in Bedford come down to lead that was fitted badly or has simply reached the end.
- Chimney flashings around the stack
- Step flashing where a roof runs up a wall, such as a side extension
- Aprons under a window or where a lean-to meets the house
- Valleys where two slopes meet
- Box and parapet gutters on period houses
Code 4 and Code 5
The code is the thickness of the lead. Code 4 is the usual choice for flashings and step flashing. Code 5 is heavier and goes where lead takes more water or foot traffic, such as box gutters and valleys. We have relined box gutters in Code 5 on natural slate roofs, and we pick the code for each part of the job rather than one for everything.
Why lead fails
Pieces fitted too long
Lead grows and shrinks with heat. A piece that is too long has nowhere to move, so it buckles and splits. Proper leadwork is cut into lengths with laps between them.
Pulled out of the joint
Flashings are tucked into the mortar joint of the brickwork. When the pointing goes, the lead works loose and lifts.
Covered over instead of renewed
We often find old lead smeared with sealant or patched with tape. That buys a few months at best.
Welded lead gutters and aprons
Where a gutter or apron has corners and joints, we can weld the lead into one piece. A welded joint has no seam for water to find, and it makes for very tidy detailing that the lads take real pride in.
What your quote shows
- Photos of the existing lead and what is wrong with it
- Each piece of work, with the lead code used
- Repointing of the chase where the lead is tucked in
- Access and any tiles or slates that need lifting and relaying
- Photos of the finished lead, so you can see the laps and joints you cannot see from the ground
Also from Ultimate Roofcare
Other work in Bedford
Recent work
Recent jobs
Our own photographs, from jobs across the area.
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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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.
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?
Thickness. Code 4 suits most flashings and step flashing. Code 5 is heavier and goes in box gutters, valleys and places that take more water.
Can split lead be repaired, or does it need replacing?
A small split can sometimes be dealt with, but split lead is usually a sign it was fitted too long or has worn out. In most cases we replace that piece properly.
Why is my side extension leaking where it meets the house?
Very often it is the step flashing or apron at that joint. We check the lead and the mortar joint it sits in before quoting.
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.