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Home/Services/Leadwork/Lead valley
Lead valleys in York, code 5, welted, laid the right way
Open lead valleys across York and the villages. Code 5 BS EN 12588 sheet lead, maximum 1.5 metre drops, lapped welts so water always runs over the joint, never into it. Free survey, fixed written quote within 24 hours.
- Code 5 sheet lead laid in 1.5m drops with lapped welts
- The honest fix for cracked cement and tired GRP valleys
- Done in-house, 20-year written workmanship guarantee
07500 544781 Speak to Elliott directly, weekdays and Saturday mornings
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What we put right
The valley failures we see most on York roofs
Most valley leaks come down to a failed lining, a failed lap to the tiles, or a blocked run. We renew the detail rather than patch the symptom, so it does not come back next winter.
Valley relining
Old lining off, valley boards made good, code 5 lead laid in 1.5m drops over fresh underlay.
Leaking valley repairs
The leak traced to the split or failed lap and renewed properly, not mortared over.
Valley junctions and flashings
Where the valley meets a wall or stack, the stepped lead is dressed and pointed in the same visit.
How it works
Surveyed, quoted, welted, signed off
The same four steps whether it is a short straight valley or a long double run.
Send a photo or ring
WhatsApp a picture of the valley from a first-floor window. Usually enough for a same-day ballpark, free.
Free survey
We check the lead or cement, the valley boards, the tile lap either side and the access, and measure the run.
Fixed quote in 24h
A clear written price within 24 hours of survey, with code, metreage and access all itemised.
Relined and signed off
Most valleys take two to four days. Old lining off, code 5 lead welted in, tiles re-bedded either side.
Cost, honestly
What a lead valley costs in York
These bands are based on the open lead valleys we have laid across York and the villages in the last twelve months. The final price is fixed in writing after the free survey.
£
Short valleys, from £540A single straight valley up to 4 linear metres, code 5 lead in 1.5m drops, around two days on site.
p/m
Standard valleys, from £7805 to 8 metres on a typical Edwardian or 1930s semi. The per-metre rate runs £85 to £130 depending on code and access.
2x
Double or long runs, from £1,150Over 8 metres or two valleys. Code 5, or code 6 where the run-off is heavy, scaffold included.
24h
The quote is the priceFixed in writing within 24 hours of survey, valid while you decide.
Reviews
Valley work rated 5.0 by York homeowners
★★★★★Checkatrade
"Got 3 quotes in total — EJL were by far the most competitive and had been recommended by someone I trusted. Communication was excellent throughout and the finish on the roof is faultless."
Rachel KNew roof, Wetherby
Before you book
Lead valley questions
What's the cost of a lead valley in York?
Indicative bands for open lead valleys: short straight valley under 4 metres from £540; standard valley of 5 to 8 metres from £780; double valley or longer than 8 metres from £1,150. The per-metre rate runs £85 to £130 depending on code, access and whether slates need re-bedding either side. Final price fixed in writing after the free survey.
What code of lead should a valley be?
Code 5 is the residential standard. Code 6 if the valley is unusually wide or carries heavy run-off from a large pitched area above. Code 4 is too light for an open valley and is the most common shortcut we replace on York roofs.
How are the lead sheets joined?
Lapped welts. Each sheet is no longer than 1.5 metres, the welt at the top is folded over the sheet below, the sheet above laps onto the welt. The water always runs over a joint, never into one. Solder and silicone have no place in an open lead valley.
Can a GRP or cement valley be repaired?
Small splits in GRP can be patched. Cracked cement fillet valleys cannot be reliably repaired and almost always come back to leak within a season. Our strong recommendation is to replace cement and tired GRP valleys with code 5 lead. The lead will outlast the next two roof recovers.
How long does a lead valley take?
Two to four days depending on length and whether slates or tiles need re-bedding either side. Scaffold is usually up for three to five days in total.
Do you re-bed the tiles or slates either side?
Usually yes, at least the bottom course either side of the valley. We strip a metre either side of the lead sheets, bed new tile clips and undercloak, and re-lay. The valley is only as good as the lap to the roof either side of it.
Will a lead valley last as long on a south-facing slope?
It depends on the code. Code 5 properly laid in 1.5m drops will last 60+ years on any orientation. Anything thinner fatigues fastest on south-facing slopes where the thermal cycle is biggest. The right code in the right place lasts decades regardless of aspect.
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Ring Elliott, message a photo of the valley on WhatsApp, or book a free survey with the form above. Fixed quote in 24 hours, no pestering afterwards.