Lead Sheet & Accessories
It's easy to see why lead remains the material of choice for roofing, weatherproofing, radiation protection and soundproofing. We supply machine cast, rolled and sand cast lead in all standard codes for construction, heritage and healthcare projects across the UK.
A material like no other
Lead is malleable but durable, and it typically lasts over 100 years. It's a sustainable, environmentally friendly product — 100% recyclable with a significantly smaller impact on global warming than the production of synthetic materials.
Cost-effective, practical and stylish, lead sheet is easy to use and comes in a range of thickness codes to suit your project — from light flashings through to heavy bay roofs and traditional church work.
About lead sheet and rolled lead - standards, guarantee and sizes
Each manufacturing method produces lead sheet with different characteristics, code ranges and dimensions. Choose the right type for your application.
Machine Cast Lead
Machine cast lead is produced by pouring molten lead onto a moving casting bed via single-drum continuous casting, creating a uniform, dimensionally accurate sheet to ±5% tolerance. Made from 99.9%+ pure lead (spectro analysis verified per batch) and finished with a clean, non-oily surface — ready for use straightaway. Once fitted with a single coat of patination oil, it won't stain or deteriorate, typically lasting well over 100 years.
Specification
- Code 3 (1.32mm) – Code 8 (3.55mm)
- Standard lengths: 3m and 6m (up to 12m on Codes 3, 4 and 5)
- Standard widths: 150mm – 1400mm
- Manufactured to BS EN 14783, BBA cert. 86/1764
Standards & Approvals
- British Board of Agrément (BBA cert. 86/1764)
- CE marked to BS EN 14783
- NHBC, LABC and Premier Guarantee approved
- NFRC, NMBS and BMF member-supplied
Lead Sheet Codes Explained
Lead sheet is graded by code number, colour and thickness — each suited to specific applications. The colours below match the standard code-marking system published by Midland Lead and used to identify each code on site.
Typical use shown reflects UK trade convention (LSA / NFRC guidance) — always confirm against your project specification.
| Code | Colour | Thickness | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Code 3 | Green | 1.32mm | Soakers |
| Code 4 | Blue | 1.80mm | Soakers, vertical cladding, hip & ridge flashings, apron & cover flashings, chimney flashings |
| Code 5 | Red | 2.24mm | Flat & pitched roofs, vertical cladding, hip & ridge flashings, valley & parapet gutters, bay tops, apron, chimney & dormer flashings |
| Code 6 | Black | 2.65mm | Flat & pitched roofs, vertical cladding, valley & parapet gutters, bay tops & canopies, apron, chimney & dormer flashings |
| Code 7 | White | 3.15mm | Flat & pitched roofs, vertical cladding, valley & parapet gutters, bay tops & canopies, dormers |
| Code 8 | Orange | 3.55mm | Heavy-duty flat & pitched roofs, parapet & box gutters, bay tops & canopies, dormers |
Lead Flashing Weight Chart
Full weights per width and length for Codes 3–8 (3m and 6m rolls).
Don't forget patination oil
Newly installed lead sheet should be treated with patination oil immediately after fitting. This prevents the white carbonate staining that can otherwise run off freshly laid lead onto adjacent tiles, slates and stonework, and helps the lead weather to its characteristic even grey patina.
View Patination OilAbout aluminium soakers and lead accessories - standards, guarantee and sizes
Aluminium soakers are pre-formed alternatives to site-dressed lead soakers. We list the four common sizes by length, upstand and base, so each product page can stay focused on the individual dimension while this page carries the family guidance for abutments, slate and tile compatibility, handling and delivery.
Lead accessories cover the supporting products used around the sheet: patination oil for newly worked lead, flexible sealant for chases, copper nails and strips, stainless clips, lead motifs, underlay, building paper, flexible lead slates, expansion joints and woodcore rolls. Their product pages give the individual size or pack detail; this page is the shared reference for where the family sits in the leadwork package.
Send the lead code, accessory size, roof detail and postcode together. We will quote the sheet, soakers, oil, sealant, fixings and delivery as one package rather than leaving the finishing items out of the first price.
A genuinely sustainable choice
Lead is featured in the BRE Green Guide as an A+ or A rated material. The lead we supply is manufactured from 100% recycled lead, making it as close to a fully recyclable material as you can get.
Lead has a relatively low melting point of 327°C, so far less energy is needed to recycle it compared with other metals. And because lead can be re-used over and over again, there's still real value in the material at the end of its life on the roof.
60
Year manufacturer guarantee (machine cast)
100% recycled lead input
327°C
Low melting point — low recycling energy
BRE Green Guide A+ / A
Exceptional value for money
Lead sheet works out cheaper every time, because it is a long-term solution. Machine cast lead is BBA approved with a 60-year guarantee, and rolled lead conforms to BS EN 12588 with a 50-year guarantee — with proven service life measured in decades, far beyond the guarantee period.
Most non-lead alternatives can't match that. Many manufacturers often only guarantee their products for 10 to 20 years.
Always in style
Lead sheet has been popular for hundreds of years because it's a practical and stylish solution. Architects and designers prize lead for its elegant looks — even non-lead alternatives are frequently made to resemble it.
When pre-treated with patination oil, lead retains its appearance over decades, even in the harshest weather conditions.
Where Lead Performs Best
From traditional roofing to specialist healthcare environments, lead sheet delivers performance that synthetic alternatives simply cannot match.
Construction & Roofing
The material of choice for flashings, soakers, ridges, valleys, dormers and bay roofs. CE mark EN 14783 covers flat and pitched roofing, cladding, flashing, guttering and fine detail work.
Heritage Restoration
Trusted for churches, listed buildings and historic properties. Sand cast lead in particular delivers an authentic, period-correct finish sympathetic to original detailing.
Radiation Shielding
Lead's density makes it the standard material for X-ray rooms, scanning suites and laboratory shielding in healthcare and industrial settings.
Sound & Weatherproofing
Naturally absorbs sound and provides exceptional weather protection. Highly corrosion-resistant, flexible, and doesn't lift in high winds.
Discuss your next lead project
Whether you need Code 4 flashings, rolled lead for a heritage roof or sand cast for a listed building, our team can advise on the right specification.
Lead Sheet and Leadwork FAQs
Which lead codes do you supply?
We supply machine cast rolled lead sheet in Codes 3 to 8. Code 3 is 1.32mm thick at 15.0 kg/m², Code 4 is 1.80mm at 20.4 kg/m² and Code 5 is 2.24mm at 25.4 kg/m², with the heavier codes used where longer runs and more movement are involved.
Which lead code should I use for a flashing?
Code 4 is the usual choice for general flashings and soakers, with Code 3 used for light soakers and Code 5 and above for valleys, gutter linings, ridges and larger weatherings. If you tell us the detail and the run, we will confirm the code and the girth you need.
What are the standard widths and roll lengths?
Machine cast lead is supplied in standard widths from 150mm to 1400mm (6 inches to 55 inches) in 3m and 6m rolls, and we can cut to the width you need rather than sending a full roll for a narrow flashing.
Is your lead sheet certified, and is it guaranteed?
Yes. The machine cast lead we supply is 99.9%+ pure recycled lead, holds BBA certificate 86/1764, is CE marked to BS EN 14783 and carries a 60-year guarantee. It is accepted by NHBC, LABC and Premier Guarantee.
Do I need patination oil on new leadwork?
Yes. Freshly worked lead develops a white lead carbonate bloom that washes down and stains the roof and wall below. A coat of patination oil on the finished surface prevents it, and we stock it alongside the lead.
Do you supply alternatives to lead sheet?
Yes. We supply pre-formed aluminium soakers, flexible lead-alternative flashings and expansion joint rolls where a lighter, non-lead or theft-resistant detail is wanted, plus copper nails, clips, sealant and lead motifs.
Do you deliver lead nationwide, and can you fit it?
We deliver across the UK and Ireland, priced by order size and postcode, and can send offcuts and samples free on request. Our supply and fit teams can also carry out the leadwork as part of a roofing package.