Lead flashing repair specialists in Bath. Step flashings, box gutters, valley liners, parapet gutters and bay window tops on Georgian and Victorian properties across BA1 and BA2. Free quotes.
Chimney trouble shows as damp on the breast inside, crumbling mortar, or a leak where the stack meets the roof. On Bath's soft stone stacks, eroded lime pointing and failed lead are the usual causes.
Damp staining on the chimney breast inside the house
Crumbling or missing mortar in the stack
A leak in the ceiling near the chimney
Loose or leaning pots
Vegetation growing from the stonework
When it is not the answer: If only the flaunching or a length of flashing has failed, you don't need a full rebuild — a targeted lime repair is far cheaper and keeps the original stack. Read the full guide.
Chimney lead weatherproofing: flashing, apron and back gutter
Bath uses more lead per property than almost any other UK city outside London. Georgian terraces rely on lead box gutters behind stone parapets. Victorian properties use lead soakers between every slate course at abutments and Code 5 lead valleys at every roof intersection. The density of lead work in Bath means lead flashing failure is one of the most common sources of water ingress across the city, and correct repair requires genuine specialism — not just a roofer who occasionally dresses a step flashing.
Step Flashing Repair in Bath
Step flashings at chimney sides, dormer cheeks and abutment walls are the most common lead repair type across Bath's Victorian stock. We re-dress, replace and repoint step flashings in Code 4 or Code 5 lead as required. All step flashing work includes inspection of the soakers beneath — a failed step flashing often indicates soaker deterioration that, if left, will cause the same problem within 2 to 5 years.
Box Gutter and Parapet Lead
Box gutter repair on Bath's Georgian terraces is a specialist area. Correct bay sizing, welted drip joints, and Code 5 lead are non-negotiable on Georgian parapet gutters. We reline to Lead Sheet Association specification. See our dedicated lead roofing page for full box gutter guidance.
Valley Liner Repair
Code 5 lead valley liners on Victorian and Edwardian properties have a typical service life of 60 to 80 years. Failed or cracked valleys are a major source of water ingress on properties in Widcombe and Bathwick, where the canal-side tree canopy drives repeated autumn blockage. We reline valleys to Code of Practice specification with correct step and lapping at both ends.
Lead Flashing Costs in Bath
Step flashing repair (1-2m section): £200–£450 Full chimney re-flash: £500–£1,200 Lead valley reline (per metre): £80–£150 Bay window top re-lead: £600–£1,800 Box gutter reline (per metre): £90–£160 Free quotes for all lead work.
For lead flashing repairs in Bath call 0122 528 7924. We carry Code 4 and Code 5 lead for same-day repair in most cases.
Lead Specification
How We Specify Lead Work in Bath
Code Selection by Application
The correct lead code is determined by the application, not by cost. Code 3 is the lightest — appropriate only for soakers on pitched roofs. Code 4 is used for step flashings, cover flashings, and small valley liners. Code 5 is used for flat sections, box gutters, bay tops, larger valley liners, and saddles. Code 6 is used for larger flat roof areas where the bay size must be extended to reduce the number of joints. Using Code 4 where Code 5 is required reduces service life significantly. We always specify the correct code.
Bay Sizing — The Most Important Detail
The single most important parameter in lead flat roofing and box gutter work is the bay size between drip joints. The Lead Sheet Association maximum is 1.5 metres. This limit exists because lead expands approximately 2mm per metre for every 10 degrees of temperature change. In a 1.5-metre bay with a 40-degree summer-to-winter differential, the lead moves 12mm — manageable within a correctly formed drip. In a 3-metre bay, the same movement is 24mm — it buckles, the drip opens, and cracking follows within 10 to 20 years. We inspect the bay sizing on every Bath box gutter and lead flat we reline.
Patination Oil on Bath Lead Work
New lead in Bath's environment — higher rainfall, canal and valley humidity — should be treated with patination oil immediately after installation. Patination oil controls the initial oxidation phase, preventing the formation of lead carbonate salts that can cause staining of Bath stone and cause compatibility issues with surrounding mortar joints. All our new lead installations in Bath receive patination oil as standard, not as an option.
Customer Reviews
Recent Jobs
★★★★★
“Step flashings on both sides of our chimney on a Lansdown Georgian terrace had completely failed. New Code 5 stepped flashings and lead soakers throughout. The damp on the chimney breast wall dried out within two months.”
Harriet V. · Lansdown, Bath
★★★★★
“Lead valley reline on our Victorian semi in Widcombe — the original valley had cracked in three places. New Code 5 valley, correctly lapped, cleared every autumn blockage. No repeat problems.”
Frances A. · Widcombe, Bath
★★★★★
“Bay window lead roof on our 1905 semi in Bear Flat had been leaking at the wall junction for years. They dressed new lead over the whole bay top, reflashed the junction correctly. Solved in one visit.”
Janet P. · Bear Flat, Bath
The process
How a Bath Chimney Repairs Job Runs
1. Four-face survey
We inspect every face of the stack — the weather-facing sides erode faster than the one you see — and photograph the faults.
2. Written quote
We quote the repointing, flashing, flaunching or rebuild needed, using lime mortar for Bath's soft stone, at a fixed price.
3. Scheduling & access
We book the work and arrange the tower or scaffold access a stack needs for safe standing time.
4. The work
We rake out failed mortar, repoint in matched NHL lime, renew lead flashing and flaunching, and re-bed pots as needed.
5. Cleanup & sign-off
We clear debris, leave the stack weathertight, and hand over your guarantee.
Timescales
Job Durations at a Glance
Job
Typical duration
Re-flaunching / re-bed pots
Half a day
Lead flashing renewal
Half to full day
Stack repointing (lime)
1–2 days
Partial stack rebuild
2–3 days
Full stack rebuild
3–5 days
Lime mortar needs frost-free conditions to cure properly, so we schedule stack work around cold snaps in winter.
Access
Getting Safely onto Bath Roofs
Chimney work almost always needs a tower or scaffold for safe standing time at the ridge — itemised in your quote, never a hidden extra. Scaffold is specified for: nearly all stack work — safe access to the ridge is essential and always specified - always itemised in your written quote, never a hidden extra, and we arrange it.
Bath's Georgian and Victorian terraces mean tight pavements, controlled parking, and rear-access scaffold on many streets. Pavement scaffold and skip permits go through Bath & North East Somerset Council; allow a few working days on streets like Milsom Street, Broad Street, Margaret's Buildings where space is tight.
How many faces of the stack have failed (weather sides worst)
Access height and scaffold vs tower for safe standing time
Whether pots, flaunching and flashing all need renewal
Worked example: Repointing all four faces of a soft-stone stack in lime plus renewing the lead flashing on a Widcombe hillside terrace: around £900 including tower access.
No deposit on smaller chimney repairs. Staged payment on rebuilds, balance on completion — nothing before materials are on site. VAT included.
Covering BA1, BA2 and surrounding postcodes.
Guarantee
Your Guarantee, Explained
Chimney workmanship is guaranteed for 10 years, extending to rebuilds and full repointing; because we use correct NHL lime, the work lasts rather than damaging the stone as cement does.
Covered: workmanship for 10 years, in writing, transferable if you sell.
On top: manufacturer warranties on materials (terms vary by product).
Not covered: storm or impact damage - that is an insurance matter, and we will document it for your claim.
If a fault appears in covered work, we come back and put it right. No quibbling, no re-charge.
Good to know
What It Is Like While We Work
Stack work means access equipment up for a few days and some mess at the base — we sheet and protect below, and clear everything on completion. You do not need to stay home for external work - we just need power and access agreed in advance.
Lime pointing waits for frost-free weather to cure; we won't point a stack into a cold snap and risk the mortar failing. Bath's valley setting holds humidity, so north-facing slopes dry slowly and moss builds up through autumn.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Step flashing repairs cost 200 to 450 pounds. Full chimney re-flashing costs 500 to 1,200 pounds. Lead valley relining costs 80 to 150 pounds per metre. Free quotes for all lead work in Bath.
Yes. We carry Code 4 and Code 5 lead on all vehicles for same-day repair of step flashings, valley sections and box gutter repairs in most cases.
Signs include: damp patches on internal chimney breast walls, damp at the base of dormers or bay windows, water tracking from a specific abutment during rain. Visual inspection from ground level may show lifted or gapped flashing. A roofer inspection will confirm.
Code 4 for step flashings and soakers on pitched surfaces. Code 5 for flat sections, box gutters, valley liners and bay tops. Code 6 for larger flat sections. We specify the correct grade for every application.
Yes. Lead is the approved material for flashings on all listed and conservation area properties in Bath. We document all work for listed building files.
Correctly specified and installed lead flashings last 50 to 80 years. The most common cause of early failure is oversize bays in flat lead preventing thermal movement, causing buckling and cracking. We always specify correct bay sizes.
No. We never charge a call-out fee. Free assessment on every job.
