Do coping stones on roof need lead capping?

archiejones · 15 Dec 2009

I want to exchange contracts on a flat, but there's an issue in the survey that is making me nervous about going ahead.

My surveyor says that there's a high risk of leaks if the coping stones on the parapet of the roof are not capped in lead, because eventually they will get saturated and dump water into the flat. The managing agent acting on behalf of the freeholder says that lead capping isn't necessary.

Who is right? I want to avoid leaks for the period of 5 years that I plan on being in the flat. Thanks.

freddiemercurystwin · 15 Dec 2009

It really depends on how the top of the walls are capped at present. Lead isn't necessarily required. How old is the property? Can you get a photo?

Chukka63 · 16 Dec 2009

Ditto freddy.

Is it me or are surveyors talking **** on some subjects these days.Ive heard of more odd comments on surveyors reports lately.

dextrous · 16 Dec 2009

Chukka63 said:
Ditto freddy.

Is it me or are surveyors talking s**t on some subjects these days.Ive heard of more odd comments on surveyors reports lately.

I concur - what sort of coping stones do you know that hold water at all, yet alone become saturated?

JohnD · 16 Dec 2009

Lead capping is not usual round here, but old stone coping tends to come loose in the joints as it expands and contracts over time, so occasionally needs to be rebuilt. If the managing agent is willing to back up his opinion by some kind of written guarantee against damp, or you being liable for future repair costs, then take his word for it.

Ask him.

If he isn't confident enough, that might tell you something.

archiejones · 16 Dec 2009

Hi all, thanks very much for your help. I couldn't get a photo to load up - but the property is Georgian and at the moment the coping stones are bare, not capped in anything.

freddiemercurystwin · 16 Dec 2009

archiejones said:
Hi all, thanks very much for your help. I couldn't get a photo to load up - but the property is Georgian and at the moment the coping stones are bare, not capped in anything.

Take a look here: http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=coping+stones&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2&aq=f&oq=
Not a lead capping in site!

archiejones · 17 Dec 2009

Thanks, I am reassured!

justlead1 · 17 Dec 2009

Hi. With older properties solid brick/stone work were used as opposed to cavity work and DPC. As the coping/joints become less effective over time, water can soak down through the brick/stone work and into the building. With this type of detail the outer wall becomes an inner wall once passed through the roof. The idea of covering the coping with sheet lead, zinc or copper is to provide a continuous membrane, impervious to water. However if fitted it is most important to form a drip edge at the lowest points, so as water drips off the coping rather than tracking back on to brick/stonework.

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Do coping stones on roof need lead capping?

dextrous

justlead1

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