Front flashing
Front flashing is renewed so runoff clears the chimney where water from the chimney face drains off.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair New Hope, PA
A New Hope chimney technician can reset loose flashing, replace rusted pieces and add a cricket where water piles up behind the chimney, with step and counter flashing instead of caulk. Call (267) 714-1009 to reach a local chimney sweep.
The joint where a chimney passes through the roof is one of the most leak-prone spots on any house, and flashing is what keeps it dry. 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.
A correctly flashed chimney uses several pieces that work together. 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.
A New Hope chimney sweep will want to know a few things about the leak. Mention where the water shows up, how often it leaks and how old the roof is. Also mention any tar or caulk patches you can see from the ground, since repeated patching usually means the flashing itself has failed.
Chimney Flashing Repair is often paired with chimney leak repair and chimney waterproofing, depending on the cause.
Need chimney flashing repair in New Hope? Call (267) 714-1009 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
Flashing repair is about rebuilding the layers so water always runs over a joint, never into it.
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.
Test for leaks
A water test may be used to confirm the flashing is really the problem. New flashing will not stop a leak that starts at the crown.
Strip failed material
Old tar, caulk and loose or rusted metal are removed, and the shingles around the chimney are lifted where needed. Damaged roof deck is fixed while it is exposed.
Install step flashing
Step flashing goes in one piece per shingle course, so every piece overlaps the one below. An apron goes across the front, and an underlayment membrane is often added around the base for extra protection.
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
Flashing work a chimney sweep handles
Fixing old patches
Failed tar patches are stripped and replaced with real flashing before new metal goes on.
Chimney saddles
Missing or failed crickets are built or rebuilt and flashed to split water and snow around the chimney.
Counter flashing
Counter flashing that has pulled out of the mortar is reset into a fresh reglet so water cannot run behind the step flashing.
Side flashing
Side flashing is rebuilt piece by piece with the shingles so water runs down the roof instead of under it.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement New Hope, PA
Full replacement is the better choice when flashing is corroded, loose along much of its length or buried under layers of failed tar. The old metal comes off completely, and new step flashing, counter flashing, apron and cricket are installed as a system. Many roofers reuse old chimney flashing when they replace shingles, which is a common reason new roofs leak at the chimney.
For New Hope homeowners planning a new roof, it is worth asking that the chimney flashing be replaced at the same time. Plan it so the masonry side of the job, cutting the reglet and setting counter flashing, happens while the shingles are going on. While everything is exposed, a quick look at the crown, cap and upper mortar joints can save a second trip onto the roof.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
In New Hope, flashing tends to fail first on older roofs and on chimneys that sit below a long run of roof. Across New Hope and nearby places including Newtown Grant, Newtown, Doylestown and Richboro, the chimneys that leak most are the ones where water and snow collect on the uphill side, and fixing it before the decking rots keeps the repair small.
Need chimney flashing repair around New Hope? Call (267) 714-1009 for a New Hope chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. 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 New Hope is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why act early
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across New Hope and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
Should I repair or replace my chimney flashing?
What the metal looks like decides that. If the flashing is in good shape but the counter flashing has pulled out of the mortar, it can often be reset and resealed. Corroded, damaged or heavily patched flashing is usually replaced outright.
What is a chimney cricket?
A cricket is a little ridge framed behind the chimney so water flows around it instead of pooling against it. Wide chimneys block a lot of runoff, and without a cricket that water sits against the flashing. Building codes generally require a cricket on chimneys more than about thirty inches wide that do not meet the ridge.
What are the signs of bad chimney flashing?
The most common sign is a water stain on the ceiling or wall right next to the chimney, or wet wood beside the chimney in the attic. Water inside the fireplace points higher up, while water along the chimney chase or ceiling points to the roof joint. A water test can confirm it before any work is done.
Do I need new chimney flashing when I replace my roof?
Replacing it during a reroof is strongly recommended. Step flashing is woven in with the shingles, so the roof has to be open to replace it properly anyway. Many leaks on newer roofs come from reused chimney flashing.
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.
More questions? Call (267) 714-1009
Related services
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, with a proper overhang and drip edge.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Fixing cracked crowns, failing mortar, loose brick, leaky flashing and damaged flue tiles, so the chimney stays dry and safe to use.
Learn more
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