Leadwork in Chichester covers chimney flashings (£350–£750), valleys (£400–£900) and flat lead, to Lead Sheet Association standards. Harbour-adjacent properties get patination oil as standard. Free survey, no call-out fee. Call 01243 278085. Covering Chichester, the harbour villages and surrounding West Sussex.
Lead Roofing Specialists
Leadwork in Chichester: Conservation and Residential
Chichester has more lead roofing per square mile than almost any town in the South East. The historic core — the Cathedral, the Georgian streets, the Victorian terraces — is built on a tradition of high-quality leadwork that defines the character of the roofscape. When this lead fails, like-for-like replacement in the correct code and specification is the only appropriate response. No modern substitutes.
Chimney Flashing Set
£350–£750
Valley Replacement
£400–£900
Chimney Flashings: The Most Common Lead Failure in Chichester
Chimney flashing failure is the most frequent lead-related call we receive across Chichester. The lead apron at the front of the chimney stack, the soakers between the tiles and the stack, and the back gutter behind the stack all deteriorate over time — lifted by thermal movement, corroded by atmospheric sulphates, or simply worn thin after 50 to 80 years in service. On Chichester's Victorian and Georgian properties, the original lead was installed with a craftsmanship that has lasted well, but most of it is now at or past the point where like-for-like replacement rather than patching is the right call. We use Code 4 lead as standard and Code 5 on more exposed or heavily-loaded applications.
Valley Linings: Where Most Leaks Really Start
Valley linings fail before most other lead elements because they carry the highest volume of water. A blocked or deteriorated valley on a Chichester property — particularly one with heavy tree canopy above — rapidly backs up water under adjacent tiles. We replace lead valleys with correctly dressed Code 4 or Code 5 lead, sized and lapped to the Lead Sheet Association's current code, with proper falls and no joints in the running length where avoidable. On conservation area and listed building properties, lead is the only acceptable valley material — no GRP or aluminium alternatives.
Free survey — no call-out fee — Chichester & West Sussex
📞 01243 278085
Flat Lead Roofs on Historic Chichester Buildings
Many of the commercial and ecclesiastical buildings in Chichester city centre have flat lead roof sections — bay roofs, parapet gutters, and small flat areas between roof sections. Flat lead requires careful specification: sheet size, bay length, drip edge details and expansion provision all affect lifespan. Incorrectly specified flat lead splits at the drips or at the welted seams within a few years. We survey flat lead sections and advise on whether the existing installation is correctly specified before recommending repair or replacement.
Coastal Lead Specification in Chichester
Properties close to Chichester Harbour — in Fishbourne, Bosham, Emsworth and the coastal villages — require marine-grade patination oil applied to all new lead work. The salt aerosol in this environment attacks un-patinated lead significantly faster than inland sites. We specify patination oil as standard on all leadwork within a mile of the harbour, and advise on it for any property in the wider coastal belt.
AccessAccess, Scaffolding & Permits in Chichester
Access is by tower, ladder or scaffold depending on the job and the property; scaffold is always itemised in the written quote. Scaffold is specified for: any job needing safe standing time at height - always itemised in your written quote, never a hidden extra, and we arrange it.
The Georgian streets inside the city walls — The Pallants, the Cathedral Close, Little London — mean tight access and permit-controlled pavement space, with conservation constraints on visible scaffold. Pavement scaffold and skip permits go through Chichester District Council; allow a few working days on streets like The Pallants, North Pallant, Little London where space is tight.
