Heritage tips
Authentic sandcast lead – the perfect finishing touch for heritage projects
You need to know that the sandcast lead you use (or supply to your clients) meets your quality standards. It certainly has to look authentic – sandcast lead has a very particular look that’s quite different from rolled lead or machine cast lead.
At Midland Lead we use traditional know-how combined with the latest production techniques to make sandcast lead that is authentic, but made to exacting quality standards and thickness codes.
Authentic know-how and up-to-date production methods
Midland Lead is the only UK sandcast lead manufacturer (that is not also a contractor) with a purpose-built sandcast lead facility. It is a modern working environment. We may use some of the traditional techniques to make sandcast lead, but everything else is different:
- Our sandcast lead is subjected to scrupulous quality control at every stage. The molten lead is only released onto the sand bed once any dross has been removed and only when it reaches the optimum temperature. Once it has been cast, it is checked again to ensure it meets your requirements for size and thickness.
- Sandcast lead is made safely. Midland Lead is one of the first companies in the UK to implement a BS OHSAS 18001: 2007 system.
- Sandcast lead is made in an environmentally-friendly way. We use 100% recycled lead and we’re one of the few lead sheet manufacturers in the country with an ISO 14001 certification for every part of our manufacturing process.
The world’s first endlessly recyclable building material?
Sandcast lead has always been prized for its malleability, durability and stylish good looks. But the other wonderful thing about lead is that it is almost entirely recyclable. Lead now comes with an A or A+ rating from the BRE Green Guide.
We can even re-use the existing sandcast lead from your roof. So not only will it be recycled lead, but it will actually be the very same lead that was put on the roof scores, if not hundreds of years ago.
Just give us a call and ask for a free sample. You can even specify a thickness. We’ll prepare a sandcast lead sample for you and send it over within a few days. That way you can see and feel the quality of our sandcast lead for yourself.
Why do I need to use patination oil?
This is one of our biggest recommendations. Patination oil has been specially developed by the UK lead and building industry to prevent unsightly white streaks and stains on newly-laid lead – or on adjacent materials.
Apply your patination oil straightaway – it really needs to be on the same day as the lead is laid – and it will help preserve the pristine quality of your new lead work.