Fixing old patches
Old sealant repairs are cleaned off before new metal goes on.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Sewickley, PA
A chimney sweep in Sewickley can repair or replace the flashing where the chimney passes through the roof, the most common source of chimney leaks into attics and ceilings, before the leak rots the roof deck and framing. One call to (412) 663-3115 reaches a nearby chimney flashing pro.
Chimney flashing is the metal that seals the gap between the chimney and the roof, and when it fails, water runs straight into the attic. The chimney and the roof move independently as the house settles and as temperatures swing, so the seal between them has to allow for movement. Years of sun, freezing and thawing loosen the counter flashing, rust thin metal and dry out every bead of caulk.
Proper flashing has a few distinct parts. Step flashing interlocks with the shingles on each side, and counter flashing is tucked into a cut in the mortar and folded down over it. On the uphill side, a cricket keeps water from pooling against the chimney, which matters most on wide chimneys.
When you call about a flashing leak in Sewickley, a few details help. Note whether the stain is on the uphill or downhill side of the chimney, whether it leaks in every rain or only in heavy storms, and when the roof was last replaced. Also mention any tar or caulk patches you can see from the ground, since repeated patching usually means the flashing itself has failed.
Many chimney flashing repair calls in Sewickley also turn up a need for chimney leak repair or chimney waterproofing.
Dealing with this in Sewickley, PA right now? Call (412) 663-3115 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
Here is how a chimney technician typically handles a flashing repair.
Inspect the roof line
Each part of the flashing is inspected, along with the condition of the surrounding roofing. The roof deck under the flashing is checked for soft spots.
Rule out the masonry
Before replacing flashing, the crown, cap and brick are checked, since they can send water down the same path. It makes sure the repair matches the actual source.
Clear the old work
The technician strips off old roofing cement and corroded pieces down to the roof deck. Any rotted decking found underneath is replaced before new flashing goes on.
Weave in new flashing
New step flashing is installed piece by piece along the sides, interwoven with each course of shingles. The front apron and a self-adhering membrane around the chimney add a second line of defense.
Set counter flashing
A groove, called a reglet, is cut into the mortar joints, and counter flashing is set into it and folded down over the step flashing. Copper and coated steel are common choices, since bare aluminum can corrode where it meets mortar.
Build a saddle
On wide chimneys, a cricket is framed and flashed on the uphill side so water and snow are split around the chimney. It keeps debris and ice from building up behind the chimney.
What is included
What flashing repair covers
Side flashing
Side flashing is rebuilt piece by piece with the shingles so water runs down the roof instead of under it.
Cap flashing
The top layer of flashing is renewed and properly let into the mortar joints instead of being held on with caulk.
Front flashing
The lower apron is reset over the shingles with the counter flashing lapped over it.
Crickets
Missing or failed crickets are built or rebuilt and flashed so debris and ice stop collecting there.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Sewickley, PA
When flashing is rusted, bent or covered in years of patches, replacing it outright is usually smarter than another repair. The old metal comes off completely, and new step flashing, counter flashing, apron and cricket are installed as a system. Reusing worn flashing under new shingles is one of the most frequent causes of chimney leaks on newer roofs.
In Sewickley, the easiest moment to replace chimney flashing is while the roof is already torn off. The step flashing has to be woven in with the new shingles, so the timing between the roofer and the chimney work matters. With the roof open, it makes sense to check the rest of the chimney top as well.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Around Sewickley, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. Across Sewickley and nearby places including Coraopolis, Ambridge, Franklin Park and Avalon, the chimneys that leak most are the ones where water and snow collect on the uphill side, which is why a real flashing repair outlasts another round of tar.
For chimney flashing repair in Sewickley, PA or nearby towns like Coraopolis, Ambridge, Franklin Park and Avalon, call (412) 663-3115 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. That is why chimney cleaning in Sewickley is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Chimney sweeps in Sewickley know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
Should chimney flashing be replaced with a new roof?
Replacing it during a reroof is strongly recommended. Since step flashing is layered with the shingles, replacing it later means disturbing the new roof. Reusing old flashing under new shingles is one of the most common causes of chimney leaks on newer roofs.
What is a chimney cricket?
A cricket, also called a saddle, is a small peaked structure built on the uphill side of a chimney to split water and snow around it. On a wide chimney, the back side becomes a dam where water and debris sit and eventually leak through. Building codes generally require a cricket on chimneys more than about thirty inches wide that do not meet the ridge.
Why does my chimney flashing keep leaking after it was sealed?
Caulk and roofing tar only seal the surface, and they crack and pull loose as the chimney and roof expand and contract. If the step or counter flashing is missing, rusted or installed wrong, no amount of sealant will fix it. Sometimes the source is the masonry or crown above, not the flashing at all.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
Look for stains near the chimney inside, damp or rotted framing in the attic and flashing that is lifted, rusted or covered in tar outside. Where the water appears is a clue: the firebox suggests the top of the chimney, and the ceiling beside it suggests flashing. Testing with a hose confirms which part is leaking.
Should I repair or replace my chimney flashing?
The answer depends on how much of the flashing is still sound. Sound flashing with a loose top edge can usually be reset into a fresh cut in the mortar. Corroded, damaged or heavily patched flashing is usually replaced outright.
More questions? Call (412) 663-3115
Often needed together
Chimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Protecting chimney masonry from rain with a penetrating repellent, to slow freeze-thaw damage and spalling.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Fixing cracked, thin or crumbling chimney crowns, before freeze-thaw damage spreads down the chimney.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Repairs for the masonry, crown, flashing and flue of a damaged chimney, before small damage turns into a rebuild.
Learn more
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(412) 663-3115
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