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Leadwork & Lead Flashing in Penzance & Across Cornwall
If your roof leaks around a chimney, a valley or where it meets a wall, the problem is almost always the lead, and leadwork is exactly what we specialise in. West Cornwall Roofing & Leadwork is led by Steve Biggs, NVQ-qualified specifically in leadwork: the craft this business is named for. Lead flashing, valleys, chimney lead and box gutters, expertly fitted, hot-works insured, and backed by a 10-year workmanship guarantee.
NVQ-qualified in roofing & leadwork10-year workmanship guaranteeFully insured (incl. hot works)
What Leadwork Is, and Why It Matters
Leadwork is the shaping and fitting of lead sheet to seal the most vulnerable joints on a roof: valleys, chimneys, abutments, flashings and box gutters, so water is guided off the roof instead of getting behind the covering. Lead is used because it lasts for decades, moves with the building, and can be dressed into any shape a roof demands. It's also the most common point where roofs leak, which is why the quality of the leadwork decides the lifespan of the whole roof.
Leadwork is a craft in its own right, with its own qualification, and it's the specialism this business is built around. Steve trained for the leadwork NVQ on top of his roofing qualifications, so every flashing, valley and gutter is sized, lapped and dressed correctly to recognised standards. Done to that standard, lead outlasts the roof around it, which is exactly how we fit it.
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The Leadwork We Carry Out
Across West Cornwall's chimneys, valleys and slate roofs, this is the leadwork we're trusted with most:
Lead flashing
The lead that seals where the roof meets a wall, chimney or abutment. Stepped, cover and apron flashings, expertly cut and dressed to fit.
Lead valleys
The lead-lined channels where two roof slopes meet, re-lined or fully renewed so they carry water away cleanly for decades.
Chimney lead
Soakers, step flashings, front aprons and back gutters around the stack: the most intricate detailing on a roof, done by a specialist.
Lead box gutters
Hand-fabricated and fitted for larger and heritage roofs where a standard gutter won't do the job. A genuine specialist skill.
Lead roofs & bays
Small lead-covered roofs, porches, dormers and bay windows, laid to code with the correct rolls and drips.
Abutments & upstands
The lead detailing where flat roofs and extensions meet a wall, carried out with full hot-works cover.
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Read more on GoogleWhy Expert Leadwork Protects Your Roof
Your roof stays watertight.Correctly sized and dressed lead guides water off the roof exactly as designed, keeping the most vulnerable joints sealed through every storm.
It lasts for decades.Expertly fitted lead outlives the covering around it. Done to code, it's a once-in-a-generation job: fit it right and forget it.
Fixed at the cause, so it stays fixed.A specialist identifies precisely where and why the lead has failed and renews it properly: one expert repair, lasting result.
Done to recognised standards.Correct lead codes, lap allowances and fixings to BS EN 12588 and Lead Sheet Association guidance, engineered to hold firm in the wind and rain that come in off the Atlantic.
How a Leadwork Job Works
01
Get in touch
Call Steve or send a message about where the leak or damage is. Active leaks are prioritised.
02
Free inspection
Steve examines the roof, identifies exactly where the lead has failed, and works out precisely what needs renewing.
03
Clear written quote
A no-obligation quote that explains exactly what's being replaced and why.
04
The leadwork
Old lead stripped; new lead cut, dressed and fixed to the correct codes, with full hot-works cover for torch and solder work.
05
Watertight, guaranteed, tidy
The detailing sound, the site cleared, and the work backed by our 10-year workmanship guarantee.
Why choose us
Why Choose Us for Leadwork
Leadwork carries its own NVQ for a reason: it's a specialist craft, and it's ours. Steve is NVQ-qualified specifically in leadwork, on top of his roofing NVQ and flat-roofing certification, a combination few roofers in Cornwall can offer, and the reason leadwork is in the company name. All lead is worked to recognised industry standards: the Lead Sheet Association's guidance and BS EN 12588, the British Standard for rolled lead sheet, which set out the exact thickness codes, sizes and fixing details that keep lead sound through decades of Cornish weather.
It's expertise that matters here more than most places: salt air, driving rain and exposed coastal roofs put lead detailing to the test, and the granite cottages and heritage roofs of West Cornwall depend on it. Add full insurance including hot-works cover, over 10 years' experience, and a 10-year workmanship guarantee, and your roof's most important detailing is in genuinely expert hands.
- Expert training & NVQ qualifications
- NVQ-qualified specifically in leadwork
- Fully insured incl. hot works
- 10-year workmanship guarantee
- Free inspection & clear written quote
Meet the roofer
About the Roofer, Steve Biggs
Leadwork is carried out by Steve Biggs, owner of West Cornwall Roofing & Leadwork. Steve has over 10 years' roofing experience across Penzance and West Cornwall, and is NVQ-qualified in roofing and leadwork, holds a flat-roofing certificate and a CSCS card, and is certified in working at height and asbestos awareness. The leadwork NVQ, a separate qualification from general roofing, is the specialism this business is built around.
“Lead is a craft. Size it right, lap it right and dress it right, and it'll outlast the roof around it: that's what the training is for. It's the part of the job I take most pride in, because it's the part that keeps a Cornish roof dry for decades.”Steve Biggs, owner and leadwork specialist
Leadwork Across West Cornwall
We carry out specialist leadwork throughout West Cornwall, across the towns and villages we know inside out:
How Our Leadwork Quotes Work
Every leadwork job is different, so an accurate price starts with a proper inspection. What shapes a leadwork quote is the amount of lead being renewed, the code (thickness) of lead the detail requires, how accessible the chimney or valley is, whether scaffolding is needed for safe access, and how much existing lead needs stripping out first.
What you can always count on: a free inspection, a clear written quote that sets out exactly what's being renewed, and an expert recommendation on whether a repair or full replacement is the right investment, so you know precisely what's being done and why, before any work starts.
Frequently asked questions
What is leadwork, and why does it matter?+
Leadwork is the lead that seals the most vulnerable joints of a roof: valleys, chimneys, abutments, flashings and box gutters. It guides water off the roof rather than behind the slates, and the quality of the leadwork determines how long the whole roof stays watertight, which is why it's a specialist's job.
Do you repair lead valleys and flashings?+
Yes, both repair and full replacement, to correct lead-code detailing. Whether it's a split valley or a flashing that's lifted from a wall, Steve renews it so it carries water cleanly and holds firm in the wind.
Can you do chimney leadwork?+
Yes, chimney flashings, soakers, front aprons and back gutters are a core specialism. Leaks around a stack usually trace to the lead rather than the brickwork, and chimney lead is some of the most intricate detailing on any roof.
Why has my lead cracked or come away?+
Lead expands and contracts with the weather, so if a piece is cut too long or fixed incorrectly it eventually splits or lifts. Correct sizing, laps and dressing to the right code is precisely what the leadwork qualification trains for: fitted to code, it stays put for decades.
Are you qualified in leadwork?+
Yes, Steve holds an NVQ specifically in leadwork, a separate qualification from general roofing, and carries full hot-works insurance for torch and solder work. It's the specialism this business is named for.
Do you make lead box gutters?+
Yes, lead box gutters are hand-fabricated and fitted as part of our leadwork, typically on larger and heritage roofs where a standard gutter won't manage the water. See our guttering, fascias & soffits page for standard roofline work.
Related Services
01Roof Repairs
Leaks and slipped slates, diagnosed and repaired at the true cause.
Leak RepairsStorm Damage
02Chimney Repairs & Rebuilds
The brickwork side of the stack, paired expertly with the lead.
RepointingRebuilds
03Guttering, Fascias & Soffits
Standard guttering and roofline, plus lead box gutters for heritage roofs.
GuttersFascias & Soffits
Get Your Leadwork Done by a Specialist
If the lead around your chimney or valley has split, lifted or started letting water in, put it in the hands of a roofer who's qualified in exactly this craft. Expert leadwork, fully insured, backed by a 10-year workmanship guarantee.
Call Steve on 07769 322677·Get a free quote online
West Cornwall Roofing & Leadwork
Penzance, West Cornwall, TR18 3PU
Phone: 07769 322677
Email: steve.westcornwallroofing@gmail.com
Hours: Mon to Fri 7:30am to 4:30pm, Sat 7:30am to 1pm
Last updated: 11 June 2026