Leadwork in Ely: Chimneys, Flashing & Valleys

Period Ely and its roofs

The streets around the cathedral, the city centre and down towards Waterside and the river include many period and listed buildings. Slate and clay roofs meet brick chimneys, parapets and dormers, and the lead details at those junctions are what keep the rooms below dry.

Newer homes need good leadwork too. Chimney flashings, lead to bay windows and porches, and abutments where extensions meet the house are common on post-war and modern Ely homes, and we treat them with the same care.

Chimney leadwork

Chimneys are the most common source of leaks we trace. A chimney flashing has several parts: a front apron, side step flashings with soakers beneath the tiles or slates, and a back gutter behind the stack. If any of them has lifted, split or lost its pointing, water can run down inside the stack and show up as damp on a chimney breast.

We chase flashings properly into the mortar joints, secure them with lead wedges and repoint. Where the stack itself needs work, our chimney repairs service covers pointing, flaunching and rebuilds.

Valleys, bays and dormers

Lead valleys carry water down where two roof slopes meet, and they work hard in heavy rain. Bay roofs and door canopies need lead dressed neatly to their shape, and dormers need their cheeks and tops properly covered and lapped.

Each piece is cut to a sensible length with proper laps so it can expand and contract without cracking. Our specialist leadwork page explains how we approach each detail.

Signs of failed lead

From the ground, look for lead that has lifted or bowed away from the brickwork, splits along folds, missing pointing or wedges, and streaks of staining down a chimney. Inside, damp on a chimney breast, stains near a bay or dormer, or wet timbers in the loft near a valley are typical warnings.

Our guide on how long lead flashing lasts explains why lead sometimes fails early, and when to repair rather than renew.

Conservation areas and listed buildings

Much of central Ely, including the area around the cathedral and Waterside, is within a conservation area, and many buildings are listed. The council may expect like-for-like materials and detailing, and some work may need consent.

It is worth checking before work starts. Our guide to planning permission for a new roof explains the general position, and we always match existing detailing wherever we can.

Why choose a local leadwork specialist

Leadwork is skilled, detailed work, and it is easy to get wrong. Pieces cut too long crack, lead bedded in mortar works loose, and poorly lapped joints let water in. Because leadwork is in our name, we take the time to do it properly, using the right lead for each position and dressing it by hand so it sits tight to the roof and brickwork.

Being based in Littleport means Ely is close by, so we can inspect, quote and come back to complete the work without fuss. You deal with a family-run company with its name on every flashing, and every job is fully insured and guaranteed. If a flashing has been torn away in a storm and water is coming in, we offer 24/7 emergency call-outs too.

Ely homeowners also ask us about re-roofing and repairs at the same time, and we can look at the whole roof during one visit.

Repair or renew?

Sound lead can often be re-dressed, re-wedged and repointed, or a single damaged section replaced. Where lead is split in several places, was cut too long or was bedded in mortar instead of wedged, renewing the detail properly lasts far longer.

We will show you photos of what we find and explain both options. Call 07862 885143 to arrange a free leadwork inspection.

Whether it is a single loose flashing or a full set of new chimney lead, the standard is the same.