painting lead

[someonelse]

I've been here around 15 years and have never got to the bottom of why a section of wall (see picture) is covered with lead flashing. Various builders, decorators etc have scratched their heads over the years but without an answer.

Everyone has agreed however that's it's best to leave it where it is rather than try removing.

So to the question: can I make it look better? As the picture shows I've just painted the rest of the wall above the conservatory, but all the online sources I've seen say don't paint lead - just use palatine oil (!??).

Any comments or other suggestions?

 

[ladylola]

It's panitation oil not palatine oil
https://www.roofingsuperstore.co.uk...-1litre.html?gclid=CMe14ODBgc0CFW8o0wodnboPCg
Leaving aside the reasons that the lead was put up there in the first place I'd suggest not painting it. Lead is notoriously difficult to paint because of its expansion rates. I have recently just repainted some ( requested by a customer) and the existing paint came off in great big flakes. Underneath the lead had oxidised to form a white powder sometimes called lead sugar owing to it giving a sweet taste in the mouth if it's breathed in. This needs to be washed off before any painting can take place . When I did the smaller pieces of lead I used a shellac based primer then the topcoats but I still don't hold out hopes for a long life.
I'd suggest try cleaning the lead with the oil on a nylon scourer pad to remove and oxides safely and wiping down frequently. Generally panitation oil is used on new lead to ensure an even weathering of the surface , on older lead the results may still look a bit patchy.

 

[JohnD]

Patination.

 

[ladylola]

Opps corrected an incorrect spelling with another

 

[sparkwright]

Anther vote for leave it.

It's in an awkward place, and if it was painted, it wouldn't look 'natural' anyway.

And if it flakes, it will look worse than ever.

Always a bad idea to paint things that don't need painting.