As the old saying goes, “home is where the heart is.” This type of dwelling sacred for most individuals because of its profound importance. If you were to compare your home to other physical possessions, it would definitely come out on top as the most prized possession. Yes, some people are automobile fanatics or tech gurus, but vehicles and electronic products can’t protect you from the elements. This is why your home is so important and if you don’t protect this investment, you’ll surely lose it, in a sense.
One of the very best ways for protection is by the use of lead work. Lead work in construction or renovation can extend the life time of your home as it’s known more so as a fine work of art. When it comes to building material in-general, lead is very abundant, easy to work with, and it’s environmentally friendly. There are also various types lead work when it comes to restoration such as:
- Lead Valleys
- Lead Soakers
- Lead Flashings
Just How Does Lead Work Protect The Home?
It’s rather simple to some degree of how this material work it’s magic. Most lead work comes in many forms, shapes, and sizes. Lead flashing is by far one of the most commonly used technique because it provides protection from mother nature. This type of flashing is the epitome of weather proofing. Water is one of the most important elements in life for survival, but water is also one of the most destructive forces to man-kind. This is why lead work is so important as this thin layer of metal creates a weather resistant barrier system. The lead, metal material creates a seal as well as a barrier so water cannot pass through.
A good indication to know if water has penetrated the dwelling’s structure is by dark staining, dampness, and mold/mildew growth within the home’s structure. This means that water has squeezed or soaked it’s way through and the common culprits are generally the chimney and roofing areas. Even if you’re home has flashing already present, there’s still the chance of running into issues down the line. Metal flashing has the capabilities to last 10 or more years, but like everything else in life, father time has the last say.
Chimneys are notorious for causing issues and one of the best ways to go about fixing the issues is by removing some of the roofing material all the way down to the step and chimney soakers. The next step would be to remove all existing lead work then refitting the area with new lead work.