Lead Flashing vs Alternatives

Rob_Quads · 10 Sep 2009

I am looking at the next stage of my pitched roof extension. The roof will be having flat interlocking tiles so the join to the existing house is nice and simple.
The flashing I am going to be installing will be mostly hidden behind uPVC panelling with around 50mm exposed before folding out over the tiles.

Lead is more expensive than many of the alternatives such as "Flash Band".

With having a flat roof with no complex shapes for the flashing to mould to what advantages would going with the more expensive and harder to work Lead give me?

HaydnExport · 10 Sep 2009

Lead done properly will last more than a lifetime the likes of 'flash band' wont.

Nige F · 10 Sep 2009

You know, I`d approach a sheet metal working firm and see if you could get some "soakers" made of stainless ( probably from the scrap bin) bent to 90 degrees in their massive break press

Compare the prices. and let us know, I`d be interested. Flash Band is for garden sheds

Alastairreid · 10 Sep 2009

have a look at this

HaydnExport · 12 Sep 2009

alastairreid said:
have a look at this

And look at the price of it, and when it's perished in 30 years it will be worth nothing.

Alastairreid · 12 Sep 2009

agree you cant beat lead! though the op is looking for an alternative which is easier to work with and less expensive.

justlead1 · 12 Sep 2009

Hi Working with lead as i do. I am constantly working for people who have used materials that have proved not fit for purpose. How ever replacement with sheet lead of flashings and alike requires disturbing slating, tiling, cladding etc and the replacement, in some cases leaves a detrimental appearance changing the character of the building. The cost is very small when compared with the overall spend and the peace of mind generated by tried and tested methods. Good Luck

Rob_Quads · 12 Sep 2009

Thanks for the info - went for proper lead in the end, although I probably won't be in the property long enough to benefit, as said it will end up being a better job (and one less debate to have with BC)

alittlerespect · 13 Sep 2009

I had an incident a couple of years ago where theive's climbed up onto a roof parapet and stripped off all the lead to a 9" coping wall - around a 30 metre run + they climbed up onto an adjoning building and robbed that buidling of around 16 metre's of lead flashings! Neighbours phoned up to say what was going on, but by the time someone had got to the building the theives had fanished as quickly as they came!! And I was left to pick up the pieces.

I replaced the lead flashing with the 'Ubiflex' as in alastairreid's thread, and the coping I had 18mm thick external ply fixed to the top of the coping and then used a fibreglass embedment system 'liquid plastics' to provide the waterproof membrane. As per HaydnExport's comment there is no second hand value in either of these solutions.

Regards

hardmetalking · 13 Sep 2009

I own a hard metal roofing company and all too often hear about lead being stolen from roofs and causing all sorts of problems for the owners. Hard metals such as stainless steel and copper have been developed to replace lead and will also last three times longer.
Stainless steel and zinc are worthless to thieves but is no more expensive than lead to fit, it also gives a very neat finish.
In my opinion over the next few decades lead will be phased out and replaced with hard metals due to environmental factors.
The best material for flashings is stainless steel, the manufacturers will guarantee the material for 120 years and it weathers the same colour as lead.
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Lead Flashing vs Alternatives

justlead1

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