How deep should lead flashing go?

[Wandle2]

I am putting back some lead flashing that has come adrift. It is at the juntion of our conservatory roof and the back of the house.
A builder put it up years ago and now it needs putting back properly.
What I would like to know is, how deep should it be set into the mortar between the bricks ?
Should it be 1 inch deep, 2 inches?
And have any of you got any tips on how to anchor it there, or does the mortar hold it in place?
Julia

 

[Leadman]

You need to go about an inch in, and you hold the lead in place with wedges made from roll up lead strips. you can get especially made wedges(formed stainless steel) from your roofing supply shop which are very easy and quick to use but a little more expensive.
Go to http://www.leadroof.org.uk/html/2465.html for more info

 

[Wandle2]

You need to go about an inch in, and you hold the lead in place with wedges made from roll up lead strips. you can get especially made wedges(formed stainless steel) from your roofing supply shop which are very easy and quick to use but a little more expensive.
Go to http://www.leadroof.org.uk/html/2465.html for more info

Thanks, Leadman, that's great, just what I wanted to know. The link is helptul too. Cheers. Julia

 

[noseall]

if you are chasing in lead under a plastic window, be careful how you wedge the lead.

it can actually lift the sill.

 

[Shift]

Don't know exactly what depth the flashing should go into the mortar.but from memory my builder put it in about 2" and he secured it by rolling up some small off cuts of flashing and knocking it into the groove with a bolster chisel thus jamming it in place, he then told me no one uses mortar to fill the groove anymore as it usually cracks and falls out, he said to use lead mate a grey silicone sealant meant for this purpose.

 

[Xenon]

no one uses mortar to fill the groove anymore as it usually cracks and falls out, he said to use lead mate a grey silicone sealant meant for this purpose.

Correct, but an inch is deep enough.

 

[Wandle2]

Don't know exactly what depth the flashing should go into the mortar.but from memory my builder put it in about 2" and he secured it by rolling up some small off cuts of flashing and knocking it into the groove with a bolster chisel thus jamming it in place, he then told me no one uses mortar to fill the groove anymore as it usually cracks and falls out, he said to use lead mate a grey silicone sealant meant for this purpose.

Hi Bryan,
I had not heard of leadmate but will look in the DIY place we go to. Thanks for telling me about it.

 

[leadforlead]

Also on the market named in the UK as hall clip. Just type it in on google or yahoo and you will find a supplier. I know Calder is selling the Borra clip. It's really easy to use and much better then lead wedges. As I may say

 

[leadforlead]

Thanks, that explained it quite well. Look at http://www.bladlood.be/bladlood/voegklem.htm to see the borra clip in action and you'll be surprised about the easy way of fixing. (it is in Dutch but the pictures will show enough) 2" is ok. Good luck

 

[Cumbrianroofer30yrsexp]

I always put mine in 2".

 

[noseall]

I always put mine in 2".

WHY?

A brick is 4" thick.

Removing 50% of the mortar depth is never healthy.

The flashing is unlikely to perform any better whether it is set in 10mm or 100mm.

Setting it in 25mm is a fail safe method, any more is a waste of effort.

Setting it in as deep as 50mm is pointless.

 

[Cumbrianroofer30yrsexp]

WHY-Because thats how i was shown how to do it.Ive NEVER had any problems so why fix sumet if its not brok.

 

[datarebal]

I always put mine in 2".

Is your wife ok with that?

 

[Cumbrianroofer30yrsexp]

I always put mine in 2".

Is your wife ok with that?

lol.

 

[ladylola]

I've mentioned before that I work on a lot of heritage jobs and mostly flashings are fixed as said above. That said there have been times when due to particular masonary conditions the lead has been fixed with screws, i.e. the flashing has a turn up inside the chase to give it an internal vertical face that the screws with washers passed through. Not a popular method with the lads who had to fix it mind.