How to Stop Lead Being Stolen From UK Roofs

Lead work can be found on many roofs, for example as flashing, or in valley gutters between roof sections. Lead roofs on the other hand refers to large sections of a roof, or a whole roof being covered in lead sheet / milled lead / machine cast lead. This is something that most people would associate with churches and cathedrals; indeed it is likely to be a feature of many grand old buildings, and many large modern structures. However, in recent times, theft of lead (among other metals) from the roofs of buildings has seen a massive increase. Quite simply and obviously, the reason is money.

Is this really a problem?

Yes. Recent examples of large scale theft of lead from roofs in the UK include the 100 square foot hole in the top of the 800 year old roof of a church in Leicestershire, and the estimated £30,000 of lead stolen from a Leicester entertainment complex roof.

The root cause – economic factors

So why has the value of lead increased to the point where some people are prepared to steal and cause great damage to property in order top get it?

The lead on the roofs of your local buildings is now likely to be at risk because of international economic changes such as:

Huge demand for lead in countries experiencing rapid industrial growth such as China and India has increased the price of lead on global markets sevenfold in only six years.

Supply problems e.g. from Australian mines, have pushed prices up further.

Some example figures

The figures we’re talking about for lead are approx £2000 / $4000 per ton last summer, although it’s now nearer approx £1500 / $3000. It is worth remembering however that iron and steel still account for approx 80% of the recycled metal in the UK. Scrap metals firms which were traditionally smaller family owned businesses, have benefited from rising metal prices to the point where the largest UK scrap metal merchants are now estimated to be worth more than £1 billion. Global scrap metal prices are set to increase again next year, and the UK metal recycling business is estimated to be worth £1.9 billion.

Insurance companies, such as those specialising in ecclesiastical insurance have had a massive increase in claims, payouts e.g. for theft of lead from roofs, and this has obviously resulted in increased premiums.

What measures can we take to stop lead theft from roofs?

Installing fences or obstacles around buildings, increased use of security patrols and equipment, greasing drainpipes around buildings (a real example), and even marking the lead roof with security inks may help in the fight against thieves. So what could the ultimate deterrent be?

The ideal answer

Quite simply, a roof without lead. Install a roof that looks like lead, but is not lead. Often, the large lead surfaces on older buildings are on a flat roof. Modern membrane roofing e.g. Sarnafil, looks like lead in appearance and colouring. Special battens or mop sticks can be added beneath the roofing material to make it look even more like traditional lead roof designs. Specialist flat roofing companies using roofing such as the Sarnafil 5 point system (single-ply flat roofing systems) can very quickly install a roof that is in character with the building, and provides affordable, complete waterproof protection for decades. A Sarnafil Roof Assured flat roof installation for example could last over 40 years according to the British Board of Agrément. Contact a specialist flat roofing supplier to discuss how you could defeat the lead roof thieves once and for all.