Leadwork & Flashings,
Done by Hand.

• A damp patch on the chimney breastOften the first sign. Water tracking down inside the stack normally means the soakers or step flashing have failed.
• Staining on a ceiling near a wallWhere a roof meets a wall, a failed abutment flashing lets water in above the join and it runs back inside.
• A cracked or crumbling mortar filletSand and cement fillets are a cheap substitute for lead. They crack within a few years and then let water straight through.
• Lead that has lifted or rippledLead expands and contracts. Sheets cut too long, or fixed too rigidly, buckle and pull out of the joint.
• White powdery staining below the leadPatination staining washing down the tiles. Cosmetic in itself, but it tells you the lead was never patinated after fitting.
• Splits at the foldsFatigue cracking along a fold is a common failure on older leadwork, and it only ever gets worse.
• Loose pointing where the flashing enters the wallThe flashing is chased into the brickwork. Once that pointing fails, the whole detail can lift.
• Standing water in the valley after rainA valley lining that has split or corroded holds water instead of shedding it, and will eventually let it through.

Riverstone Roofing Quick Facts