Frequently Asked Questions
What experience do you have?
WJS Leadwork and Roofing Ltd have over 13 years experience in leadwork other roofing. WJS has worked on buildings such as Cambridge University, Leicester prison, Linacre College, Winslow Hall and Updown Court.
Is lead safe to use?
Whilst lead poisoning can be a concern and a lot of people hear of this term. It is not common that poisoning does occur, at WJS we take precautions such as wearing gloves whenever we're in contact with lead and washing hands. We also have blood work done yearly to check lead levels in our body.
Customers do not have direct contact with the lead whilst we are working so therefore should not be concerned.
What is lead and how long does it last?
Lead is a waterproofing material, it is very durable and can expand and contract with the changes in temperature. Lead has different codes from code 3-8; 8 being thickest. What code is used is dependant on the area, building and what the lead is being used for. After lead is fitted patination oil is used to protect the lead, it prevents initial corrosion any staining from white carbonate. Lead is one of the greenest building materials used today.
The leadwork we carry out at WJS should last upward of 50 years, we have worked on buildings where the lead is 100+ years old.
Is lead expensive?
Initially the cost of lead is higher than other roofing materials however, when you take into account how long the lead can last (60+) years it is a worthwhile investment. Other roofing materials will not last as long as lead, this is why lead has been used for many many years.
How long will it take to finish the job?
WJS Leadwork cannot give a timescale until we have seen the job. Each project is unique and therefore timescales will differ. When we give you a timescale we aim to keep to that, sometimes circumstances such as the weather or hold ups with materials can cause delays. However, we try our upmost to keep to timescales and will inform clients if a project is going to overrun.