Lead Flat Roofs
Laid correctly lead can last over 100 years.
Lead flat roofs. However it doesn t usually last much longer than 10 years. At 3 50mm thick and with a weight of 40 26kg per square meter code 8 lead is a high profile solution. When a hot roof surface is suddenly cooled by rain the pressure in the area between the vapour barrier and roof covering can fall below atmospheric. This type of flat roof has been used for over 100 years and is generally the cheapest.
Lead flashing is not a diy product as it takes years of experience to perfect installing a full lead roof. When the lead rests directly onto sawn timber on a steeply pitched roof and non resinous timber has been used underlay may not be necessary. In most circumstances it will be used on flat roofing where resting water is common. Investigative work carried out on warm roofs covered in lead has shown that in rare instances moisture can also be introduced by the development of sub atmospheric pressure in the roof space.
A roof is part of the building envelope. A flat roof is a roof which is almost level in contrast to the many types of sloped roofs the slope of a roof is properly known as its pitch and flat roofs have up to approximately 10. This is unarguably the most durable lead for pitched roofing applications with code 8 being suitable for flat roofing only. The top layer is covered with gravel which protects the roof from ultraviolet rays.
Lead is commonly used for flat roofs because of it s long life and ability to be formed to fit many positions lead must be laid and formed correctly to achieve this long life however. A roof is the top covering of a building including all materials and constructions necessary to support it on the walls of the building or on uprights providing protection against rain snow sunlight extremes of temperature and wind. Single ply flat roofs are made from one layer of materials that are a bit like rubber. The temperature of lead on a roof varies constantly.
Flat roofs are an ancient form mostly used in arid climates and allow the roof space to be used as a living space or a living roof flat roofs or low slope roofs are also commonly found on commercial. To help professional installers and those who are learning the ropes of lead flashing and roofing lead calder produced the guide to good leadwork which is widely accepted in the industry as the go to for lead flashing roll and lead work. Our basic fitting guides are designed to assist installing rolled lead sheet in a range of roofing applications including flashings valleys gutters and flat roofing. More about lead as a building material.
Correctly laid lead roof greyfriars roofing note the height of steps between bays the rolled joints and adequate overlaps problems. Unlike other materials it can be shaped and joints can be welded.