Expert Lead Roofing in Launceston, Cornwall

Have you ever wondered why lead is still the go-to choice for heritage buildings and high-end modern homes? It's all down to longevity. While some modern materials might give up the ghost after twenty years, a well-installed lead roof can easily last over a century. It's incredibly malleable, meaning we can shape and 'boss' it around the most awkward corners of your roof without it thinning out or cracking. We use specific lead codes (like Code 4 or Code 5) depending on the job, ensuring the thickness is just right for the task at hand. Plus, we always finish our work with patination oil. This stops those unsightly white carbonate streaks from running down your tiles and keeps the lead looking smart as it ages into its natural grey hue.

Launceston is steeped in history, and we take great pride in helping preserve its architectural character. Working on listed buildings or homes in conservation areas requires a specific set of skills that you won't find with every roofer. We specialise in traditional lead bossing—the craft of shaping lead by hand—and lead welding (or lead burning) to create seamless, watertight finishes on complex roof shapes. If you've noticed a damp patch appearing on a ceiling near a chimney or a roof valley, it’s often a sign that old leadwork has finally reached the end of its life. We can restore these sections using time-honoured techniques that satisfy even the strictest building control or heritage requirements.

The most common place for a roof to fail isn't the tiles themselves, but the junctions where the roof meets a wall or a chimney stack. This is where lead flashing comes into play. If your flashings are cracked, lifting, or were poorly installed by a previous contractor, water ingress is almost a certainty. We install everything from simple lead soakers and step flashings to complex chimney aprons and back gutters. Most homeowners we chat with don't realise that a small crack in a lead valley can cause significant timber rot long before you see a drop of water inside. We're here to catch those issues early, providing bespoke leadwork that fits your roof's unique profile perfectly.

Sometimes, the hardest part of fixing a lead roof is simply getting a good look at the problem. If you have a tall townhouse or a tricky chimney stack, you might think you'll need expensive scaffolding just for an inspection. Not with us. We use state-of-the-art drone surveys to get high-resolution images of your leadwork safely and quickly. It's a great way to identify slipped slates, cracked lead, or blocked gutters without any initial setup costs. Once we've seen the footage, we'll sit down with you and explain exactly what needs doing, providing a clear, no-obligation quote so you know where you stand from the start.