Repair to lead valley

[Carstairs]

Hello - my first posting. We've had three estimates for repair to a leaking lead valley on a tiled roof. Two quote for replacing the lead, the third recommends coating the lead valley with a fibreglass layer. What is the life of fibreglass in this form and is it better than lead? Advice appreciated.

Many thanks.

 

[vancleef]

The fibreglass is a bodge and you would have to strip the tiles to coat the lead the tiles are covering and if your going that far you would just be as well to change the lead anyway.

 

[Leadman]

How old is the lead in your valley?, if its old then best replacing the lead,it was probably put in in lenghts too long so its cracked with thermal movment.
Hope this helps
Dave

 

[Carstairs]

Thanks for 2 responses. Lead is probably c 30 years old & has been repaired before, so we are going with quote that replaces lead in short strips.
Carstairs

 

[^woody^]

30 years is not very long for a lead valley.

Typical problems are - lead too thin, lead fitted in lengths which are too long, and lead rigidly fixed down, and not able to expand/contract

Code 4 (blue) is a minimum for valleys, and better to use code 5 (red) - make sure the quotes are for the same type of lead and more so, make sure this is what is used.

 

[vancleef]

30 years can be too long for a valley because where the water drips off the tile on to the lead it can eventualy wear away at the same point creating holes.Yes if the lead is put in longer than 1.5 metre lengths it can crack with the atmospheric temperatures making it heat up and expand and contract when it cools.