Side flashing
Rusted or missing step flashing along the sides is replaced so water runs down the roof instead of under it.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Perkasie, PA
A chimney sweep in Perkasie can repair or replace the flashing where the chimney passes through the roof, the most common source of chimney leaks into attics and ceilings, with step and counter flashing instead of caulk. Call (267) 452-8534 to reach a local chimney sweep.
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. Over time, sealant dries out, nails back out, metal rusts and the counter flashing pulls out of the mortar joints.
A correctly flashed chimney uses several pieces that work together. Step flashing is a series of L-shaped pieces woven in with each course of shingles along the sides of the chimney, and counter flashing covers the top edge of the step flashing and is set into a groove cut in the mortar joints. 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 Perkasie, a few details help. It helps to know the age of the roof, which side of the chimney the stain is on and whether it only leaks during heavy rain or snowmelt. If you can see black tar smeared around the chimney, say so, because that usually means earlier patches have already failed.
Chimney Flashing Repair is often paired with chimney leak repair and chimney waterproofing, depending on the cause.
Looking for Perkasie chimney flashing repair? Call (267) 452-8534 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Perkasie.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a flashing repair
Flashing repair is about rebuilding the layers so water always runs over a joint, never into it.
Look at every side
The technician checks the apron, step flashing, counter flashing and back pan or cricket, plus the shingles around the chimney. 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. That keeps you from paying for new flashing when the leak is somewhere else.
Clear the old work
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.
Weave in new flashing
New step flashing is installed piece by piece along the sides, interwoven with each course of shingles. An apron goes across the front, and an underlayment membrane is often added around the base for extra protection.
Cut a reglet
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. The metal is chosen to last, with copper or coated steel used where the flashing meets mortar.
Add a cricket
Chimneys wider than about thirty inches usually call for a cricket on the high side under common building codes. That removes the spot where water sits and soaks into the flashing.
What is included
What flashing repair covers
Chimney saddles
A saddle is framed on the uphill side so debris and ice stop collecting there.
Cap flashing
Loose counter flashing is replaced and set into the masonry so water cannot run behind the step flashing.
Fixing old patches
Failed tar patches are stripped and replaced with real flashing and the joint is flashed properly.
Front flashing
Front flashing is renewed so runoff clears the chimney with the counter flashing lapped over it.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Perkasie, PA
Chimney flashing replacement makes sense when the metal is rusted through, the counter flashing has pulled out of the mortar or the flashing has been patched so many times that nothing sound is left. It is a full redo of the joint, from the underlayment up to the counter flashing in the mortar. Many roofers reuse old chimney flashing when they replace shingles, which is a common reason new roofs leak at the chimney.
In Perkasie, the easiest moment to replace chimney flashing is while the roof is already torn off. Coordinate the chimney sweep and the roofer so the step flashing goes in with the shingles and the counter flashing is set into the brick. It is also a good time to have the crown and mortar checked, since the roof around the chimney is already open.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Around Perkasie, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. Across Perkasie and nearby places including Sellersville, Telford, Souderton and Quakertown, the chimneys that leak most are the ones where water and snow collect on the uphill side, so proper step and counter flashing, and a cricket where needed, is worth doing right once.
Need chimney flashing repair around Perkasie? Call (267) 452-8534 for a Perkasie chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Perkasie
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: 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. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. That is why chimney cleaning in Perkasie is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Perkasie and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
Why did caulking my chimney flashing not stop the leak?
Sealants dry out in the sun and split in the cold, so a leak patched with tar usually comes back. The real issue is usually the flashing layers underneath, not the bead on top. Sometimes the source is the masonry or crown above, not the flashing at all.
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. Without one, water, leaves and ice collect behind a wide chimney and work their way under the flashing. Building codes generally require a cricket on chimneys more than about thirty inches wide that do not meet the ridge.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
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. Testing with a hose confirms which part is leaking.
Should chimney flashing be replaced with a new roof?
Replacing it during a reroof is strongly recommended. Proper step flashing goes in with the shingles, so it is easiest when they are being replaced. Old flashing reused under a new roof often leaks within a few years.
Can chimney flashing be repaired, or does it need replacing?
What the metal looks like decides that. Sound flashing with a loose top edge can usually be reset into a fresh cut in the mortar. If it is rusted through, badly bent or buried under old tar, replacement is the better value.
More questions? Call (267) 452-8534
Related services
Chimney Leak Repair
Tracing chimney leaks to the real entry point and sealing it, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Waterproofing masonry chimneys with vapor-permeable repellents, not paint, applied after repairs so the brick sheds water but can still dry out.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Fixing cracked, thin or crumbling chimney crowns, before freeze-thaw damage spreads down the chimney.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Fixing cracked crowns, failing mortar, loose brick, leaky flashing and damaged flue tiles, matched to what an inspection actually finds.
Learn more
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