Lead valleys and lead gutters

Signs of a failing valley or gutter

• Staining or damp in a ceiling corner or along the line where two roofs meet.
• Moss, leaves or silt sitting in the valley after rain.
• Splits or holes in the lead, often at the joins between pieces.
• Cut tiles or slates along the valley that have slipped or been mortared over.
• Water overflowing a box or parapet gutter in heavy rain.

How we renew a lead valley

1. Strip the cut tiles or slates each side of the valley and remove the old lining.
2. Check and renew the valley boards and tilting fillets, so the lead has a sound, even bed.
3. Lay an underlay and line the valley in new lead, normally Code 5, in lengths of no more than 1.5 metres with generous laps.
4. Re-cut and refix the tiles or slates each side, keeping a clear, open channel so leaves wash through.
5. Patinate, clean up and photograph the finished valley for you.

Box gutters, parapet gutters and back gutters

Gutters that sit within the roof, rather than on the eaves, need even more care. A box gutter between two roofs or a parapet gutter behind a wall holds standing water every time it rains. It needs a minimum fall of 1:80, drips (small steps) that break it into bays short enough to move without cracking and heavier lead, usually Code 6 or 7. Outlets and chutes must be big enough for the roof area draining into them.

A back gutter sits on the uphill side of a chimney, turning water around the stack; it's covered on our chimney leadwork page. Where a valley meets a wall, we tie it into the lead flashing so there's no gap between the two.

What affects the cost

Valley and gutter prices depend on the length and width of the lining, the lead code, whether boards or timbers underneath have rotted, the roof covering either side (slate and plain tile take longer to cut in than interlocking tiles) and access. We photograph the valley during a free inspection and quote in writing.

Where lazy leadwork shows first

Valleys are where poor leadwork shows first. We regularly find linings laid in one long piece, lead too thin for the water it carries and valleys mortared shut. We line valleys to Lead Sheet Training Academy guidance, with every piece cut to a length that suits how lead actually behaves on a hot roof.