· Absolute Roofing 247
When people think about roof leaks, they usually picture a missing tile. But some of the most common leaks we see across Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire start around the chimney and the lead flashing. These are the joints where the roof meets something else, and that makes them easy places for rain to get in.
What lead flashing does
Lead flashing is the strip of lead that seals the gap where your roof meets a chimney, a wall, a dormer or a roof window. It sits over the tiles or slates and tucks into the brickwork, so rain runs off instead of soaking into the join. When flashing is loose, split or lifted by the wind, water can get behind it and into your home.
Signs of chimney and flashing problems
You do not need to climb onto the roof to spot many of these. From the ground, or from inside your home, look out for:
- damp patches on a ceiling or wall near the chimney breast
- lead flashing that looks lifted, bent or loose
- cracked or crumbling mortar on the chimney stack
- chimney pots that look loose or out of line
- moss or plants growing out of the chimney or along the flashing
- water stains in the loft around the chimney
If you notice any of these, it is worth getting your roof checked before the next spell of heavy rain or high wind.
Stay safe: leave the roof to us
Please do not climb onto the roof or a chimney yourself. Roofs are slippery, especially when wet, and a chimney stack can be higher and less stable than it looks from the ground. A quick look from the garden or with binoculars is fine. Anything more is a job for a roofer with the right access equipment.
How we check and repair chimneys and flashing
Our roofers check the flashing, the chimney stack and the tiles or slates around it to find where water is really getting in. Leak detection matters here, because water can run along the roof before it shows inside. We then carry out the repair, whether that is new lead flashing, work on the chimney or replacing damaged tiles around it. We also offer drone surveys, which can give clear photos of chimney stacks, leadwork and other hard-to-reach parts of the roof.
A simple roof safety habit
After a storm, take a minute to look at your chimney and roof from the ground. Catching a lifted strip of flashing early usually means a smaller repair and less damage inside your home.
Free quotes and 24/7 emergency roofing
Absolute Roofing 247 offers free quotes on chimney and lead flashing repairs across Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. If water is coming in now, we offer 24/7 emergency roofing. Call free on 0800 046 1159 or request a free roofing quote.
See our roofing services, photos of our work and the areas we cover.
Related: roof repairs and leak detection · flat roof repairs · areas we cover · request a free quote · more roofing advice