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Stepped code 4 lead flashing running up the side of a brick chimney in Eltham

Roofing services

Chimney Repairs & Lead Work in Sidcup & Kent

Chimneys are the most common source of roof leaks, and lead is still the best way to keep them dry. R&W Roofing Services carry out traditional lead work, chimney re-flashing, flaunching and repointing across Sidcup, Eltham, Charlton and the wider Kent and South East London area.

Traditional lead work, done properly

We work in code 4 lead as standard for flashings, forming bossed front aprons, individual soakers under every tile course, stepped side flashings chased into the mortar joints and a back gutter behind the stack. Each piece is lapped and dressed so water is shed on every face of the chimney.

It is slower than smearing on sealant or sticking on flashing tape, and it is also the reason our repairs stay watertight for decades rather than a couple of winters. Our recent chimney projects in Charlton and Eltham show the detail: neat, tight, properly lapped lead work.

Chimney repairs beyond the lead

Leaks also start above the flashings. We renew cracked flaunching around pots, repoint eroded brickwork, replace damaged pots and cowls, and fit new lead where the chimney meets the roof as part of re-roofing work.

Common problems

Problems our chimney repairs & lead work service solves

  • Damp on a chimney breast

    Water tracking down the inside of the stack after rain, usually from failed flashings or flaunching.

  • Lifted, split or missing lead

    Old lead fatigues and cracks, and thin lead lifts in wind.

  • Sealant instead of lead

    Mastic and flashing tape are temporary at best; we replace them with lead.

  • Cracked flaunching

    The mortar cap around the pots breaks up and lets water into the stack.

  • Eroded pointing

    Soft brick joints at the top of a stack soak up water and freeze.

Our approach

How we handle lead work

  1. 01

    Inspect

    We check the flashings, flaunching, pointing and pots, from the roof or by drone.

  2. 02

    Quote

    A clear price for the lead work and any masonry repairs, before we start.

  3. 03

    Strip and re-flash

    Old lead and sealant removed, new code 4 lead formed, chased and dressed in.

  4. 04

    Point and finish

    Chases pointed, flaunching renewed where needed, and the roof left clean.

Recent projects

Recent chimney repairs & lead work projects

Genuine photographs from our own jobs.

All projects
Drone photograph of the same Sidcup roof after re-roofing with grey Marley Ludlow Plus tiles
Drone photograph of the worn brown tiled roof in Sidcup before the re-roof
Before After
Drone view before and after the Sidcup re-roof

Sidcup

Re-roof in Marley Ludlow Plus tiles, Sidcup

A tired hipped roof stripped back and rebuilt with smooth grey Marley Ludlow Plus tiles, breathable membrane, dry ridge and hip systems and new chimney lead work.

View project

Customer reviews

What homeowners say

Every customer is invited to leave a review on our Facebook page. Here is what they have said.

100% recommend 6 reviews on Facebook

“Excellent advice and service. Good quality work and care and attention to completing the work. Very pleased with the end result. Would definitely recommend.”

C
Carl Schiess

Facebook recommendation · August 2026

“Brilliant service from start to finish. The team were professional, polite and the quality of work is outstanding. Highly recommend!”

H
Homeowner, Kent

Customer testimonial · September 2026

FAQs

Chimney Repairs & Lead Work FAQs

Why is lead used around chimneys?
Lead is malleable enough to be dressed tightly over tiles and into brickwork, it does not corrode in the way steel does, and it moves with the building. Properly installed, it lasts far longer than any modern sealant.
What does "code 4" lead mean?
Lead sheet is graded by thickness. Code 4 (1.8 mm) is the standard for flashings, soakers and aprons on domestic roofs; thicker codes are used for larger gutters and valleys.
My chimney has been sealed with mastic. Is that a problem?
It will hold for a while, but sealant shrinks and cracks with sun and frost. We remove it and replace it with proper lead flashings so the repair is permanent.
Do you repair chimneys as part of a re-roof?
Yes. New lead work and flaunching to the chimney stacks is included on all of our re-roofs, as on our recent Sidcup projects.

Request a lead work quote

Tell us a little about the job and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Prefer to talk? Call 07498 310928.

So we can confirm we cover your area.

Got photos of the problem? Send them on WhatsApp to 07498 310928 — quickest from a phone, and it helps us price the job before we visit.

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Hipped bungalow roof in Sidcup newly tiled in grey Redland 49 tiles

Let’s talk about your roof

Need a reliable local roofer?

Get in touch today to discuss your roofing project and request a free quotation.

Or call 07498 310928 · rwroofingservices95@yahoo.com

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