When lead and construction are mentioned in the same sentence, many will think of a malleable, heavy, robust metal mainly for flashing applications, some will see it as a cladding material, and many others as a long lasting low maintenance roofing material.
Regardless of how specifiers regard its purpose, the main reasons for its selection are its in-built historic place within British construction and its proven track record for longevity with minimal maintenance. Ongoing maintenance can equal multiple ongoing costs which many do not account for when initially selecting their preferred material, surprisingly even when based around cost.
Unlike many “new” materials currently on or entering the market, lead has an actual full life cycle history in real-time true conditions testing. New products on the market require accelerated testing to prove how they “should” perform long term – all being well that nature behaves similar to the lab conditions. Lead in construction has been used in pretty much every conceivable way and correctly specified and installed rolled lead (manufactured to what has now become BS EN 12588 standard) has been known to last 200 years with the average being 100 to 150. At the end of its life, the material still has a high residual value and can again be recycled and reused for the same purpose. Both the manufacture and recycling of rolled lead involves very low energy requirements.
Further to roofing, cladding and flashings, lead is also a highly suitable material for decorative pieces. Owing to its malleability, lead can be cut, shaped, folded and bossed to take on an abundance of different forms. ALM offers various standard pieces such as finials, pinnacles, tudor roses, decorative vent gablets and trimmed ridge flashings to name a few, but further to this are able to offer more bespoke items through our network of highly skilled LCA Approved lead workers.
One such company who specialise in Leadwork used ALM Rolled Lead for a recent project where the architects, Donald Insall Associates requested that among other specific elements of the building, eight lion head cartouches be preserved during demolition. Even though the cartouches had been in place on the verges of The Regent Palace Hotel building in the heart of London’s Piccadilly since it arose in 1912, they were in good enough condition to be replicated showing again that even decorative leadwork will offer many years service in the harshest urban environments.
The cartouches were formed of separate cast and pre-welded lead units with lead sheet dressed over and secret fixed to a profiled timber substructure. This substructure was then bolted to the main structure with the addition of iron straps and support ties.
NDM Lead Sheet Specialists took on the huge challenge of bringing the cartouches back to their former glory under the leadership of Nigel Miles MD and Chris Deady Operations Director.
The mammoth task of restoring began for NDM with receipt of six single and one double cartouche that were all a little worse for wear but combined provided enough detail for NDM’s skilled carpenters and lead workers to make good. Once the timber bases had been repaired at a labour cost of 64 man days, the leadwork could begin.
Whilst the lion heads all appear to be the same, when viewing up close each mouth and jaw differ slightly meaning each required a separate template. Four leadworkers were given the task of completing two cartouches with each cartouche taking 10 days of solid and exacting workmanship.
When completed, the pieces were everything they needed to be. Well built solid timber carcasses dressed beautifully in hand crafted ALM Rolled Lead – 1.160m high by 1.250m wide weighing in at approximately 300kgs per piece and ready for another 100+ years service.
NDM are members of the Lead Contractors Association and the Regent Palace Hotel project is a strong contender for the LCA’s Murdoch Award competition, an annual event to find the outstanding example in the craft of working with lead – literally the best of the best.
Associated Lead Mills have sponsored the Murdoch Award since 2004 as part of their commitment to quality standards and in 2006 introduced the Murdoch Sponsors Award for lead projects up to five tonnes. Both Awards now feature in the National Roofing Awards programme organised by the NFRC.
ALM have always strongly supported the Lead Contractors Association as the ultimate exponents of leadworking and have partnered the LCA in several projects concerned with the training and development of future craftsmen and the overall promotion of the craft itself.
Associated Lead Mills has strong long-standing relationships with the majority of lead workers throughout the UK and they are able to purchase ALM lead through the network of conveniently placed Merchants all of whom hold extensive stocks of ALM Rolled Lead and ancillary products.
Further to rolled lead products and accessories, ALM are also the main UK distributor for all major Non Ferrous / Hard Metal manufacturers operating within the UK. These include but are not limited to; VMZINC, Rheinzink, KME Copper, Aperam Stainless Steel (formerly Arcelor Mittal) and Falzinc. ALM stock all associated fixings, standard and structural underlays, breather membranes, soldering equipment, tooling and machinery required for all materials listed. ALM are the registered owners of WARMFAST® Systems and can offer insulation, WARMFAST® fixings and vapour barriers. We are also able to put those interested in entering metal roofing in contact with the correct associated bodies where training and advice can be obtained.
ALM have a customer service team ready to take any enquiries and where required put you in contact with the correct people ensuring your project goes without issue. Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact 01992 444 100 or email your enquiry to [email protected]
