Leadwork in Cambridge: Flashing, Valleys & Lead Roofs
Leadwork is in our name for a reason. DJW Roofing & Leadwork Ltd hand-dresses lead flashings, valleys, bays, dormers and lead roofs for homes across Cambridge and the surrounding villages, working from our base at 27 Hempfield Place in Littleport.
Leadwork is in our name for a reason. DJW Roofing & Leadwork Ltd hand-dresses lead flashings, valleys, bays, dormers and lead roofs for homes across Cambridge and the surrounding villages, working from our base at 27 Hempfield Place in Littleport. DJW Roofing has 20 years' roofing experience, and good leadwork is the detail we care about most, because it is where most roofs either stay dry or start to leak. Every job begins with a free inspection and a clear quote, and all of our work is fully insured and guaranteed. Find out more about our wider work as roofers in Cambridge.
Why Cambridge homes rely on good leadwork
Much of Cambridge's housing was built in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Long terraces, bay windows, tall chimney stacks, dormers and back additions all create junctions where a roof meets brickwork or another roof slope. Every one of those junctions needs a weatherproof detail, and on traditional homes that detail is usually lead.
Lead is heavy, flexible and long-lasting. A skilled roofer can dress it by hand into almost any shape, so it follows the brickwork and tiles closely and sheds water without relying on sealants. When it is fitted properly it moves with the building through hot summers and cold winters. When it is fitted badly, or has simply reached the end of a long life, water finds its way in quietly, often well away from where the damp eventually shows.
The leadwork we carry out in Cambridge
We fit and repair chimney flashings, including the front apron, back gutter and side step flashings, with soakers beneath the tiles or slates where the roof needs them. We line valleys where two roof slopes meet, cover lead bay window roofs and door canopies, and dress dormer cheeks and tops so the sides and flat top of a dormer are fully protected. We also form lead ridges and hips, and abutment flashings where a lean-to or extension roof meets a wall.
Flashings are chased properly into the mortar joints and secured with lead wedges before the joint is repointed, rather than being stuck on the surface. Pieces are cut to sensible lengths with laps that let them expand and contract. For the wider picture, see our specialist leadwork service and our chimney repairs page.
Signs your leadwork has failed
Some failures are visible from the ground. Look for lead that has lifted away from the brickwork, flashings that have slipped or bowed, splits and cracks along folds, or gaps where the lead wedges and pointing have fallen out of the joint. Pale white or dark streaks running down a chimney stack or bay can also point to lead that is no longer doing its job.
Inside, the signs are often damp patches on a chimney breast, staining around the top of a bay window, or wet timbers in the loft near a valley. Because water travels along rafters and battens before it drips, the stain is rarely directly below the fault. That is why we trace leaks back to their source rather than guessing.
Repair or renew?
Not every problem means new lead. Where the lead itself is sound, it can often be re-dressed, re-wedged and repointed, or a single damaged section replaced. That is usually the right answer for a flashing that has worked loose but has plenty of life left in it.
Where lead is split in several places, has been cut too long so it keeps cracking, or was fitted with mortar instead of wedges, renewing the detail properly is the better long-term choice. We will show you photographs of what we find and explain both options honestly, so you can decide with the facts in front of you. Our guide on how long lead flashing lasts explains the typical causes of early failure.
Working carefully on period homes
Older Cambridge homes deserve leadwork that suits their age and character. We match the existing detailing wherever we can, protect brickwork and stonework while we work, and leave chimneys, bays and dormers looking as neat as they should. Scaffolding and access are planned around tight terraced streets and shared boundaries.
Parts of Cambridge sit within conservation areas, and some homes are listed. In those cases the council may restrict which materials can be used, or expect like-for-like replacement. It is worth checking before work starts, and our guide to planning permission for a new roof explains the general position.
Why choose DJW for leadwork
You deal with a family-run company that takes leadwork seriously. We give free inspections and clear written quotes, our work is fully insured and guaranteed, and we offer 24/7 emergency call-outs if a flashing has been torn away in a storm and water is coming in.
Call 07862 885143 or send us a few details and a photo through the quote form, and we will arrange a time to look at your roof.
How we work.
A free inspection
We look at your roof carefully and explain what we find.
An honest written quote
Clear advice and a no-obligation quote. Repair before replace, where possible.
Careful, tidy work
Proper preparation, attention to the details and a daily tidy-up.
Work guaranteed
Fully insured. All work guaranteed. A roof finished properly.
Leadwork in Cambridge
FAQs.
Do you carry out leadwork in Cambridge?
Yes. We are based in Littleport and cover Cambridge and the surrounding villages for leadwork repairs and new lead, from chimney flashings and valleys to bays, canopies and dormers.
Can you repair lead flashing rather than replace it?
Often, yes. Where the lead is sound, it can be re-dressed, re-wedged and repointed, or a damaged section replaced. If it has split in several places or was fitted poorly, we will explain why renewing it is the better option.
Why is my chimney breast damp?
A damp chimney breast is often caused by failed flashings, a cracked back gutter or missing pointing around the stack. We inspect the chimney and leadwork to find the real cause before recommending a repair.
Do you work on period and listed homes?
Yes. We match existing detailing wherever possible and take care with older brickwork. If your home is listed or in a conservation area, check with the council before work starts, as materials may be restricted.
Is the inspection free?
Yes. Roof and leadwork inspections and quotes are free and carry no obligation. Call 07862 885143 to arrange one.
Related services.
Areas we cover.
Good work starts
with honest advice.
Free roof inspections. Free no-obligation quotes. Just the work your roof actually needs.
07862 885143Klarna.Klarna availableBased in Littleport, Ely.
Covering Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Lincolnshire and North London.
Open 24 hours, 7 days.