Lead Wall Capping on a Balcony Parapet — Brighton

Leaking coping stones removed from a Brighton balcony wall and replaced with Code 5 lead capping on an 18mm marine ply base — all corners fully welded and the glass balustrade reinstalled.

Project Details

Our customer was experiencing water ingress through the joints in the coping stones on her balcony wall. She opted for a long-term fix — capping the wall in lead.

The Problem

Coping stones are laid in short sections, and every joint between them is a potential leak. Over time the mortar in those joints cracks and lets water track down into the wall below. On a balcony parapet the wall is fully exposed to the weather on every side, so once the joints failed, water was getting in each time it rained.

The Work

Coping stones removed. The old coping stones were taken off and the top of the wall cleared.
Marine ply base. 18mm marine ply was fixed to the top of the wall to give the lead a solid, flat base.
Outer wall rendered. The outer face of the wall was rendered while it was exposed.
Code 5 lead capping. The wall was capped in Code 5 lead, with every corner fully welded for a watertight finish and no joints for water to get through.
Glass reinstalled. The glass balustrade was refitted to complete the job.

The Result

The balcony wall now has a durable, weatherproof lead capping built to last. With welded corners in place of mortar joints, there is no longer a weak point for water to find its way into the wall.

Project Gallery

Balcony parapet wall on a Brighton property with the original coping stones in place before works — water was getting in through the coping joints

Balcony wall in Brighton with the old coping stones removed and the wall top cleared ready for a new capping

Outer face of the balcony wall exposed with the coping removed — blockwork visible from the scaffold

18mm marine ply fixed to the top of the balcony wall in Brighton to form a solid base for the lead capping

Marine ply base fixed along the full length of the balcony parapet wall

Marine ply base fitted around the corner of the balcony wall ready for leadwork

Scratch coat render applied to the outer face of the balcony wall

Rendered outer face of the balcony wall with the new lead capping fitted along the top

Code 5 lead capping being fitted on the balcony wall with fixing clips along the face

Code 5 lead being dressed over the marine ply base on the balcony parapet wall

Welded lead corner joint on the balcony wall capping — seamless watertight corner

Welded lead upstand where the wall capping meets the adjoining wall of the house

Finished fully welded lead corner on the balcony wall capping in Brighton

Completed balcony in Brighton with Code 5 lead wall capping and the glass balustrade reinstalled

Finished balcony parapet with weatherproof lead capping, glass balustrade back in place and decking clear

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does water get in through coping stones?

Coping stones are laid in sections with mortar joints between them. Those joints crack and open up over time with weathering and movement, and once they do, rain runs straight down into the wall beneath. Re-pointing the joints only fixes it until they crack again.

Why use lead instead of new coping stones?

Lead capping covers the whole top of the wall in one continuous, weatherproof layer. With the corners welded rather than jointed, there are no gaps for water to get through, which removes the weak point that caused the original leak.

What is Code 5 lead?

Lead sheet is graded by thickness using code numbers — the higher the code, the thicker the lead. Code 5 is a heavier-duty grade commonly used for cappings and cover flashings where the lead is exposed to the weather.

Why fix marine ply under the lead?

Lead needs a solid, even base to sit on. 18mm marine ply is made to resist moisture, so fixing it to the top of the wall gives the lead a flat, stable surface to be dressed over and fixed to.

Can a glass balustrade be refitted after the wall is capped?

Yes. On this job the glass was removed so the wall could be capped, then reinstalled once the leadwork was complete.

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