Signs a valley needs replacing
Splits, cracking, or lead that's visibly thinned and pitted are signs the valley has reached the end of its life — and because it handles high water volume, failure here tends to show up quickly.
Why age matters here more than elsewhere
Valley lead takes more sustained water flow than flashing elsewhere on the roof, so it can wear out before other lead work on the same property, even if it was installed at the same time.
What replacement involves
We strip back the affected tiles or slates, remove the old lead, and re-lay with new lead dressed correctly to the valley's fall so water runs cleanly to the gutter.