Zinc Work in Western Switzerland

Zinc work covers all the metal parts of a roof that channel rainwater and seal the sensitive points of the covering. Gutters, box gutters, downpipes, valleys, flashings, verge strips: these parts often go unnoticed as long as they work, then make themselves known at the first heavy storm or the first stain on a façade.

You describe your project online, your request is passed on to craftspeople and firms in the region, and they get back to you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote. This page explains what the trade involves, what to know before asking for a quote and what varies from one French-speaking canton to another.

Zinc work: gutters, box gutters and valleys on roofs in Western Switzerland

The tinsmith-zinc worker works sheet metal: cutting, folding, soldering or seaming it, then fixing it to the building. Common metals are zinc, copper, pre-coated steel, aluminium and stainless steel. Each has its own look, its own behaviour over time and its own compatibility with the rest of the roof.

The most frequent jobs are the following:

• replacing or repairing gutters and rainwater downpipes;
• fitting or reworking box gutters, particularly on older buildings;
• creating or redoing valleys, the recessed joins between two roof slopes;
• sealing around chimneys, dormers and roof windows with flashings;
• verge strips, copings and cornice cladding;
• metal covering of small areas: dormer, eaves, annexe, bay window;
• adding snow guards or leaf guards, depending on the roof.

In Western Switzerland, the rainfall pattern, snow at altitude and the temperature swings between day and night put these parts under particular strain. Metal that works is metal that expands and contracts: careful installation allows for this movement.

When to call a tinsmith in Western Switzerland

Some signs are unmistakable. A gutter that overflows although the roof is clear, damp patches or streaks on the façade, moss or greening along a wall, a downpipe coming loose: all show that part of the system is no longer doing its job. Inside, a stain on the ceiling under a valley or around a chimney is also a reason to look at the zinc work before suspecting the whole roof covering.

It is worth acting before water seeps into the insulation or the roof structure, because the damage then becomes wider than the original metal part. A regular check, particularly after autumn and after winter, helps spot failing joints and blocked box gutters.

A few situations where a professional is needed:

• work at height or on a pitched roof: the risk of falling is real and scaffolding is subject to safety rules;
• roof renovation or façade insulation, which requires the zinc work to be removed and refitted;
• a leaking box gutter, where access and sealing are delicate;
• an old or protected building, where the choice of metal and profile matters.

Tinsmith with a CFC and building rules in Switzerland

The tinsmith’s trade is recognised in Switzerland through an initial vocational training leading to a federal certificate of competence (CFC). This training covers sheet-metal work, roof installation and the sealing of joints. It does not replace judgement on a specific site: ask during your exchange which references the firm can point to and what it has already fitted on comparable roofs.

Zinc work is never isolated from the rest of the building. It depends on the roof pitch, the type of covering, the insulation and the way water is carried away at ground level. This is why a good craftsperson starts by looking at the whole before proposing a replacement part.

For the rest, no specific rule needs to be remembered here: site safety requirements, heritage protection and the discharge of rainwater depend on the municipality and the canton. Check with your municipality or the competent cantonal office before starting the work.

Zinc work in Geneva, Vaud, Valais, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Jura and Biel/Bienne

Permit and energy rules change from one canton to another, and they can affect zinc work when the job changes the look of the roof or forms part of a wider renovation. Here are the useful pointers by canton.

Geneva. Building permits are issued by the canton, through the Office des autorisations de construire (building permits office). Many rental buildings are run by property managers: they are the first people to contact for any work on the roof. The old town and certain protected districts may require particular materials and profiles. On energy, the cantonal energy law (LEn) and the cantonal energy office (OCEN) frame the subsidies of the Buildings Programme, which mainly concern the insulation of a renovated roof.

Vaud. The building permit is issued by the municipality of the commune; the file goes through the cantonal permits centre (CAMAC) when cantonal services need to give an opinion. Old towns and the Lavaux vineyards, a World Heritage site, are areas where the look of roofs is monitored. The Vaud energy law and the cantonal energy directorate set the framework for a cantonal subsidy programme.

Valais. The building permit is issued by the commune within the building zone, and by a cantonal commission outside it. Chalets and second homes are numerous; in the communes concerned, the federal law on second homes may apply. The cantonal service for energy and hydropower runs a subsidy programme.

Fribourg. Permit applications go through the cantonal platform FRIAC; the permit is issued by the prefecture or by the commune depending on the type of work. The canton is bilingual and its old towns are protected. The cantonal energy service offers a subsidy programme.

Neuchâtel. Applications are filed at the cantonal desk SATAC and the decision is taken by the commune. The watchmaking heritage of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle, listed by UNESCO, makes the façades and roofs of the centre particularly sensitive. The cantonal service for energy and the environment runs a subsidy programme.

Jura. The building permit is issued by the commune or by the canton depending on the size of the project. The old towns of Delémont, Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne are areas where the choice of materials merits prior contact. The cantonal energy section runs a subsidy programme.

Biel/Bienne and the canton of Bern. The permit is issued by the commune or by the prefecture depending on the project. Biel/Bienne is officially bilingual, French and German: a request written in either language is possible. The cantonal office for the environment and energy is responsible for the cantonal subsidy programme.

In all cases, these indications are general pointers. Check with your municipality or the competent cantonal office whether your project requires a permit or entitles you to support.

Asking for a zinc work quote: what to gather

A well-prepared request avoids back-and-forth and lets craftspeople reply precisely. Before submitting it, gather a few items:

• the address of the building and its type: house, apartment block, chalet, annexe;
• the nature of the problem: leak, overflow, torn-off part, full renovation;
• the shape of the roof and the number of storeys, with a few photos of the base of the façade and of the roof, taken safely if possible;
• the old material, if you know it, and the metal you would like;
• any constraints: protected district, co-ownership, difficult access, close neighbour;
• the agreement of the owner or property manager if you are a tenant.

Never climb onto a roof to take photos. A shot from the ground, a balcony or a window is enough to give a first impression. When you are ready, you can request a quote: the service is free and without obligation.

What a zinc work quote itemises and what makes the cost vary

A reliable quote is readable item by item. It states the metal and its thickness, the profiles and dimensions of gutters or box gutters, the lengths involved, accessories such as brackets, elbows and outlets, the removal and disposal of the old material, and the means of access: ladder, cherry picker or scaffolding. It also says what is not included, for example repairing a damaged support or restoring a stained façade.

Several factors make the cost vary, without it being possible to put a figure on them from a distance:

• the choice of metal, which changes the price of the material as well as the working time;
• the length and complexity of the drainage run, with its angles and joints;
• the height of the building and its accessibility, which determine the safety measures;
• the condition of the support: rotten fascia board, a recessed box gutter to rework;
• the site situation: protected district, traffic to manage, storage of materials;
• combining the work with a roof or façade renovation.

Compare at least two proposals, looking at what is included before looking at the total. A large gap is often explained by a missing item or a different metal.

Legal warranties on zinc work

Zinc work fitted to a building is immovable work. Under Article 371 of the Code of Obligations (CO), defects in the work can be raised for 5 years. For movable work, for example a part made and delivered without being fixed to the building, the period is 2 years.

If the contract refers to the SIA 118 standard, its provisions apply depending on what is written. This point can be checked in the quote or the agreement signed before the start of the site work. Keep the documents, report any defect in writing as soon as you notice it and keep dated photos: these help discussions in the event of a disagreement.

Zinc work near you in Western Switzerland

Find the pointers for your region on the cantonal pages:

• canton of Geneva
• canton of Vaud
• canton of Valais
• canton of Fribourg
• canton of Neuchâtel
• canton of Jura
• canton of Bern

Is your project ready? Submit it in a few minutes to request a quote for zinc work.