★★★★★
“They came out the same day, found the problem straight away and had it fixed before the rain came back. Honest price and very tidy. Highly recommended.”
Thornton
Leadwork — Thornton, L23
Leadwork in Thornton
Lead flashing is where most roof leaks actually start, and chimneys are where lead fails first — a genuine link between two of the jobs we're called out for most in Thornton. We carry out lead flashing repair and replacement to BS 6915, the British Standard governing lead sheet installation, specifying the correct code for the detail rather than a default thickness for every job.
Code 4 (1.80mm) is the standard specification for most domestic chimney flashings and general abutments. Thornton sits just inland of Crosby and Blundellsands, with a mix of interwar semis and later estate housing. Exposure genuinely affects the right specification in places — we assess this per property rather than defaulting blindly to either code.
Chimneys move slightly with weather and age, and the lead flashing around the base has to accommodate that movement while staying watertight — a demanding detail that's also one of the most common places poor original work shows up years later as a leak.
For localised damage where the rest of the lead is sound, repair is often the right call rather than full replacement — we'll give you an honest assessment either way.
📞 Call for a free quoteBS 6915-compliant specification
Correct lead code for the detail and exposure, not a default thickness applied to every job.
Lead welding where it matters
A seamless, fused joint for complex or bespoke details — genuinely more durable than soldering.
Honest repair vs replace
Localised damage is often repairable. We'll tell you which applies rather than defaulting to replacement.
10-year written guarantee
Every leadwork installation and repair is backed by our written guarantee.
The chimney connection
Why Chimney Flashing Fails First in Thornton
Chimney flashing is the most common leadwork job we do, and it's also the most common failure point — not because lead as a material fails, but because incorrect code, sealant used instead of a proper dressed detail, or damage from previous chimney repointing work all show up here first. We assess leadwork and chimney condition together on every job, since they're genuinely connected. See our complete guide to leadwork and BS 6915 or our Thornton chimney repairs page for the full picture.
Common questions
Leadwork — What People Ask
What lead code should be used for my Thornton chimney flashing?
Code 4 (1.80mm) is the standard specification for most domestic chimney flashings. Code 5 may be more appropriate in more exposed positions — we assess the actual exposure of your property rather than assuming.
Why does my Thornton chimney keep leaking around the lead?
Chimneys move slightly with weather and age, and the flashing has to accommodate that. Incorrect lead code, sealant used instead of a proper dressed detail, or damage from previous chimney work are the most common causes — not simply old age.
Can my leadwork be repaired, or does it need full replacement?
Often repairable if the damage is localised and the rest of the lead is sound. Where the lead has genuinely reached the end of its life or was undersized from the original installation, replacement to the correct code is the honest recommendation.
How long does correctly installed lead flashing last?
Lead flashing installed to BS 6915 with the correct code typically lasts 60-100 years or more. Most premature failures trace back to incorrect code or poor detailing, not the material itself.
Do you use lead welding?
Yes, for complex or bespoke details where a seamless, long-lasting joint matters most. It's a more skilled process than soldering, and handles thermal movement better over the long term.