How to repair the black strip on top of the ground floor windows

[ChloeRadshaw1]

I have attached pictures of the area I mean. There is a black strip on top of the ground floor windows which is worn very badly. Does this need replacing or should I paint it with Bitumen style paint?

Is this like a black felt band?

 

[footprints]

Either felt or lead, are the grey bits paint splashes or lead showing through the paint.
if lead you could clean it off and treat with patination oil.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Patination-Oil-For-New-Lead-125ml/p/240295

Or just paint with a special primer (lead is a greasy metal that's why the paint often flakes) and gloss topcoat.

If felt, bitumen paint (take care not to splash elsewhere) just a heads up, some heavy duty felts in DPC's and over windows do contain asbestos not considered a particularly dangerous material as the fibers are well bonded in but be a bit careful if edges are badly weathered.

 

[mattylad]

Clean it up & paint it.

 

[JohnD]

Are you sure it isn't zinc?

What is it?

 

[ree]

Its retro fitted lead flashing painted black - you can clearly see the render patching and making good from when the flashing and frames were installed.

Never paint lead or plastic.