Specialist Techniques
Ornamental Lead Work Specialist in Thurning
Brian Turner specialises in the art of architectural lead work and uses specialist techniques to design and produce authentic lead roofing for clients in Norfolk.The business was first established in 1977 and Brian’s expertise lies specifically in lead roofing and architectural lead work, including ornamental roofing, lead hoppers, down pipes, gutters and much more.
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Bespoke Pieces
Brian particularly enjoys designing and crafting bespoke pieces, such as lead planters, using traditional hand tools and techniques to create something entirely unique or reproduce pieces first completed hundreds of years ago. Brian’s lead roofing and architectural lead work services are tailored precisely to the client and he will work closely with you in order to produce lead work of a superior standard.
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Inspired by generations
Originally the skills of the plumber, architectural lead work and lead roofing are now a specialist trade in their own right. There are core qualification for the lead roofing side which were taught as a part of the plumbing qualification. Now specific qualifications are available from the Lead Sheet Association in roofing.
Brian has built on the core skills learned as an apprentice plumber by studying the lead work produced by plumbers of previous generations, some of these items date back to biblical times; there are examples in the British Museum which are one hundred years old.
Brian has been inspired by generations of plumbers and led to producing a range of garden ornamentation, examples of which can be see on the gallery page.
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Skill, passion
and imagination
Brian is well versed in all three traditional lead work techniques, namely:
- Lost wax
- Sand
casting - Lead hand
skills
Brian will identify which of the above methods is best suited to your application and then set to work on any aspect of lead roofing and architectural lead work.
A recognised figure in the lead work industry, Brian is capable of translating even the most complicated architectural designs into physical existence. His unique combination of skill, passion, imagination and a positive approach to your project ensures that you receive a personal service which results in an exact reflection of the specification.
If you like to install architectural lead work or lead roofing at your property, get in touch with Brian Turner today.
Meticulous Restoration
Lead is a durable substance which has demonstrated its ability to outlast most of its rival materials. However, antique or ornamental lead work may still require meticulous restoration, conservation and repair after a significant length of time.
Having worked with the material for over 30 years, Brian has the capability to repair, conserve and even reproduce items of lead work, restoring them to their original state. If your piece of lead work is particularly old, the substance itself would have been far rarer at the time of construction.
There are occasions when a lead item can become badly corroded, making it impossible to do any thing with, except by using what remains to re-sculpt or make new patterns from. Moulds are taken then casts made, converting the old and damaged lead work into a piece of lead work which is of superior quality. Creating a new item by reusing the lead that was used in the original item enables Brian to recycle ninety nine percent of the lead.
Attention to Detail
The techniques Brian uses are far more advanced now than they will have been. Complicated items can be constructed much faster and to a better standard. In much the same way, lead repairs and conservation techniques have improved dramatically.
Even so, restoring aged objects is still a challenge and will consume the most time and attention to detail. One approach will not produce the same results every time, the piece has to be studied at length before a solution can be reached then implemented.
Brian has experience in restoring and conserving lead items of all shapes, ages and sizes, from 100 year old urns and 250 year old statues to remnants from the 1600s. If you have items of lead in need of repair, conservation or reproduction give Turner’s Ornamental Lead Work a call.
