There are good reasons lead has been popular in roofing - it's durable, easy to form around complex detailing and has an even, clean finish that looks great. However, lead extraction is environmentally hazardous and, over time, lead roofing components can leach toxic metal into groundwater and soil. With rising scrap metal prices, it's also a huge theft risk. In all our many years of working with various roofing systems, the polymer system is hands-down the best alternative to lead we've found (it's known as "Liquid Lead" in the industry). It mimics the traditional lead aesthetic almost exactly, expands & contracts to withstand movement and is 'perfect forming' around details such as chimney stacks, outlets and skylights. Used for flashings and fixings, on small porches, large church roofs and everything in between, it's theftproof, weatherproof, fireproof, durable, seamless and jointless. All for a fraction of the cost of lead.
Lead Roof Alternative
Technical information
The completed roof of this listed building in Aberystwyth shows just how versatile the liquid roofing system can be - it looks like lead, forms around details more easily than lead (it is 'perfect forming'), and indeed, often gets described as 'liquid lead'.
On this roof, the lead-work had perished and would have been 'cost prohibitive' to replace. Various alternative options exist but most (including fibreglass) do not expand and…