Fixing old patches
Old sealant repairs are cleaned off and the joint is flashed properly.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Jenkintown, PA
A chimney sweep in Jenkintown can repair or replace the flashing where the chimney passes through the roof, the most common source of chimney leaks into attics and ceilings, so the joint sheds water the way it was designed to. Call (267) 633-0240 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. Because masonry and roof framing expand, contract and settle at different rates, a rigid seal will crack, which is why flashing is built in overlapping layers. Years of sun, freezing and thawing loosen the counter flashing, rust thin metal and dry out every bead of caulk.
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.
Before the visit, a little information speeds things up. 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.
Chimney Flashing Repair is often paired with chimney leak repair and chimney waterproofing, depending on the cause.
Need chimney flashing repair in Jenkintown? Call (267) 633-0240 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
The goal is a joint that sheds water without relying on sealant.
Look at every side
The technician checks the apron, step flashing, counter flashing and back pan or cricket, plus the shingles around the chimney. Where possible, the attic is checked for wet or damaged decking.
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.
Remove old patches
Old tar, caulk and loose or rusted metal are removed, and the shingles around the chimney are lifted where needed. Any rotted decking found underneath is replaced before new flashing goes on.
Install step flashing
Step flashing goes in one piece per shingle course, so every piece overlaps the one below. The front apron and a self-adhering membrane around the chimney add a second line of defense.
Cut a reglet
Counter flashing is let into a cut in the mortar joint and lapped over the step flashing so water cannot get behind it. 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. It solves the most common cause of leaks on the uphill face.
What is included
Types of flashing repair
Step flashing
Side flashing is rebuilt piece by piece with the shingles so water runs down the roof instead of under it.
Front flashing
Front flashing is renewed so runoff clears the chimney to keep the front edge watertight.
Chimney saddles
Missing or failed crickets are built or rebuilt and flashed to split water and snow around the chimney.
Counter flashing
Loose counter flashing is replaced and set into the masonry so water cannot run behind the step flashing.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Jenkintown, PA
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. A common shortcut is to reuse the old flashing during a reroof, and that often leads to a leak within a few years.
If you are replacing the roof on a Jenkintown home, that is the ideal time to replace the chimney flashing too. 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 Jenkintown, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. From Jenkintown out to neighboring communities such as Wyncote, Glenside, Elkins Park and McKinley, freeze-thaw and summer heat both work on the joint between the chimney and the roof, and fixing it before the decking rots keeps the repair small.
For chimney flashing repair in Jenkintown, PA or nearby towns like Wyncote, Glenside, Elkins Park and McKinley, call (267) 633-0240 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
Chimneys in this climate
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. Most homeowners in Jenkintown, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in Jenkintown know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
Can chimney flashing be repaired, or does it need replacing?
What the metal looks like decides that. When only the counter flashing has come loose, resetting it is often enough. Corroded, damaged or heavily patched flashing is usually replaced outright.
What is a chimney cricket?
Also known as a saddle, a cricket is a small roof section behind the chimney that diverts runoff to either side. Without one, water, leaves and ice collect behind a wide chimney and work their way under the flashing. Common building codes call for a cricket on chimneys wider than about thirty inches, unless the chimney sits at the ridge.
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. Old flashing reused under a new roof often leaks within a few years.
Why did caulking my chimney flashing not stop the leak?
Caulk and roofing tar only seal the surface, and they crack and pull loose as the chimney and roof expand and contract. The real issue is usually the flashing layers underneath, not the bead on top. The leak may also be coming from the crown, cap or brick, which no flashing repair will touch.
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.
More questions? Call (267) 633-0240
Other services that may help
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
Treating chimney brick and mortar with a breathable water repellent, as the last step in keeping a chimney dry.
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, so the chimney stays dry and safe to use.
Learn more
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Call (267) 633-0240 for a local chimney sweep in Jenkintown and nearby towns.
(267) 633-0240
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