With the price of lead increasing in 2017, and massive savings across the Wakaflex range, have you ever considered trying the lead free alternative flashing?
Always used lead flashing? Ever considered an alternative?
With an increasing awareness of how damaging lead is to the human body and the environment, and an impending 15% price increase in 2017, is it time to review your use of lead in the construction industry?
A case for lead – it’s what we’ve always used
Lead is a material that is entrenched in the building industry in Australia. Durable and fairly economical to use, builders and roofers have used lead to flash dwellings for decades. However, as occupational health & safety has improved and awareness on this material has grown, the real question now is; is it a suitable material to be using?
Malleable and readily available, lead can be traced all the way back to the Romans. Lead was used in lead piping, as well as a material to manufacture petrol, paints, and roof flashing. Over the years, lead has been removed from many of these products and replaced with a less toxic materials.
A case against lead – a worrying reality
Scientists agree that there is no safe level of lead blood concentration…any level of lead in the body will have an adverse effect on us. For this reason, any kind of contact with lead should be avoided, but unfortunately lead still can still be found in many old houses; in paint, pipes, and roof flashing. Even in the modern day, many tradespeople are still using lead as their material of choice.
Lead poisoning – the how and what
Lead can find its way into the body in a number of different ways; inhalation, absorption through the skin, and swallowed. Once ingested, lead spreads through the blood stream into vital organs and becomes stored in the bones. As lead can’t be removed from the bones, lead poisoning is not treatable, only preventable.
In 2013, 853,000 deaths (WHO study) were attributed to lead poisoning worldwide, as well as a significant impact on learning difficulties in children, heart disease in adults, and increasing the risk of a stroke.
Time for a change
As prevention is the only way to avoid lead poisoning, the advisable thing to do would be to stop using it! Lead free flashings have been in the market place for over a decade now, and as education around them has grown, many project builders and roofers have, and are making the change towards products such as Wakaflex for a safer and easier day at work. And now with a massive sale across our Wakaflex range, it has never been a better time to try Wakaflex on your next job…..
Wakaflex
Made of a polyisobutylene, and using butyl adhesive to prevent uplift in windy conditions, Wakaflex is the perfect alternative to using lead.
As it can be installed in 5m lengths, and only requiring 50mm overlaps, not only does it save time (up to 50% quicker), it also saves money on wastage material in comparison to lead.
If you would like to see a free sample, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Evo Build team on 02 9666 1069.