Fixing old patches
Failed tar patches are stripped and replaced with real flashing and the joint is flashed properly.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Severn, MD
Leaks at the roof line in Severn usually come from flashing that has pulled loose, rusted through or been patched with tar, with step and counter flashing instead of caulk. One call to (443) 899-3081 reaches a nearby chimney flashing pro.
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. Eventually caulk cracks, fasteners loosen, steel rusts and the top edge of the flashing separates from the brick.
Good flashing is a system, not a single strip of metal. Along the sides, individual step flashing pieces are layered with the shingles, while counter flashing is let into the mortar joints and lapped over them. On the uphill side, a cricket keeps water from pooling against the chimney, which matters most on wide chimneys.
A Severn 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. If you can see black tar smeared around the chimney, say so, because that usually means earlier patches have already failed.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney flashing repair in Severn, MD can go hand in hand with chimney leak repair and chimney waterproofing.
Looking for Severn chimney flashing repair? Call (443) 899-3081 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
The goal is a joint that sheds water without relying on sealant.
Check the flashing
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.
Confirm the source
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.
Remove old patches
Failed sealant and damaged flashing come off so the new work starts on a clean, sound surface. Damaged roof deck is fixed while it is exposed.
Side flashing
Individual L-shaped step flashing pieces are layered with the shingles up each side of the chimney. A front apron and a waterproof underlayment complete the lower layers.
Set counter flashing
Counter flashing is let into a cut in the mortar joint and lapped over the step flashing so water cannot get behind it. Surface-mounted flashing held on by caulk alone is avoided because it fails quickly.
Divert uphill water
Chimneys wider than about thirty inches usually call for a cricket on the high side under common building codes. It solves the most common cause of leaks on the uphill face.
What is included
Flashing work a chimney sweep handles
Crickets
Missing or failed crickets are built or rebuilt and flashed to split water and snow around the chimney.
Apron flashing
Front flashing is renewed so runoff clears the chimney with the counter flashing lapped over it.
Side flashing
Loose step flashing is reset or renewed so water runs down the roof instead of under it.
Counter flashing
Loose counter flashing is replaced and set into the masonry which closes the most common gap.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Severn, MD
When flashing is rusted, bent or covered in years of patches, replacing it outright is usually smarter than another repair. Replacement means removing everything down to the roof deck and installing new step flashing, counter flashing, an apron and, where needed, a cricket. Many roofers reuse old chimney flashing when they replace shingles, which is a common reason new roofs leak at the chimney.
For Severn 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 Severn, flashing tends to fail first on older roofs and on chimneys that sit below a long run of roof. Across Severn and nearby places including Gambrills, Jessup, Odenton and Elkridge, 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 Severn? Call (443) 899-3081 for a Severn chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Severn
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, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Severn, MD schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Severn and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
Should chimney flashing be replaced with a new roof?
Doing it with the new roof is the smart move in most cases. Proper step flashing goes in with the shingles, so it is easiest when they are being replaced. Reusing old flashing under new shingles is one of the most common causes of chimney leaks on newer roofs.
Should I repair or replace my chimney flashing?
That comes down to the condition of the metal. When only the counter flashing has come loose, resetting it is often enough. Corroded, damaged or heavily patched flashing is usually replaced outright.
Why did caulking my chimney flashing not stop the leak?
Surface sealant cannot keep up with the movement between masonry and roof framing, so it fails. If the step or counter flashing is missing, rusted or installed wrong, no amount of sealant will fix it. The leak may also be coming from the crown, cap or brick, which no flashing repair will touch.
What are the signs of bad chimney flashing?
Stains beside the chimney, dark wood in the attic and loose or corroded metal at the roof line are the usual giveaways. Water inside the fireplace points higher up, while water along the chimney chase or ceiling points to the roof joint. A controlled water test settles it.
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.
More questions? Call (443) 899-3081
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, applied after repairs so the brick sheds water but can still dry out.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Repairing the concrete slab that caps the top of the chimney, before freeze-thaw damage spreads down the chimney.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Chimney repairs from the cap and crown down to the firebox, so the chimney stays dry and safe to use.
Learn more
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(443) 899-3081
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