Tar patch removal
Layers of roofing cement and caulk from earlier patch jobs are removed and the joint is flashed properly.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Avonmore, PA
A Avonmore 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 (724) 817-2006 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.
Good flashing is a system, not a single strip of metal. 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. A front apron covers the downhill face, and on the uphill face a cricket or saddle diverts water and snow around the chimney.
A Avonmore chimney sweep will want to know a few things about the leak. 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. Visible tar or silicone around the base of the chimney is a sign someone has patched it before, which is worth mentioning.
Many chimney flashing repair calls in Avonmore also turn up a need for chimney leak repair or chimney waterproofing.
Looking for Avonmore chimney flashing repair? Call (724) 817-2006 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Avonmore.
Call nowThe process
The flashing repair process
Flashing repair is about rebuilding the layers so water always runs over a joint, never into it.
Check the flashing
The technician checks the apron, step flashing, counter flashing and back pan or cricket, plus the shingles around the chimney. The attic side of the roof deck is checked for rot as well.
Test for leaks
Before replacing flashing, the crown, cap and brick are checked, since they can send water down the same path. 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.
Install step 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
The top layer is set into the masonry itself, overlapping the step flashing below. Copper and coated steel are common choices, since bare aluminum can corrode where it meets mortar.
Add a cricket
Where water pools behind the chimney, a cricket, also called a saddle, is built to shed it. That removes the spot where water sits and soaks into the flashing.
What is included
Flashing work a chimney sweep handles
Counter flashing
The top layer of flashing is renewed and properly let into the mortar joints so water cannot run behind the step flashing.
Step flashing
Rusted or missing step flashing along the sides is replaced with every piece lapped correctly.
Chimney saddles
A cricket is added behind a wide chimney or one where water pools to end leaks on the high side.
Apron flashing
The lower apron is reset over the shingles with the counter flashing lapped over it.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Avonmore, 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. Many roofers reuse old chimney flashing when they replace shingles, which is a common reason new roofs leak at the chimney.
For Avonmore 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. 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 Avonmore, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. Homes in Avonmore and nearby towns like Vandergrift, Delmont, Hyde Park and Murrysville see the same seasonal cycle of heat, cold, rain and snow that loosens counter flashing and dries out sealant, which is why a real flashing repair outlasts another round of tar.
Searching for chimney flashing repair near me from Avonmore or Vandergrift, Delmont, Hyde Park and Murrysville? Call (724) 817-2006 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
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. Most homeowners in Avonmore, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Avonmore
Chimney sweeps in Avonmore know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQ
Can chimney flashing be repaired, or does it need replacing?
The answer depends on how much of the flashing is still sound. If the flashing is in good shape but the counter flashing has pulled out of the mortar, it can often be reset and resealed. If it is rusted through, badly bent or buried under old tar, replacement is the better value.
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. Old flashing reused under a new roof often leaks within a few years.
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. A water test can confirm it before any work is done.
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.
Why does my chimney flashing keep leaking after it was sealed?
Surface sealant cannot keep up with the movement between masonry and roof framing, so it fails. The real issue is usually the flashing layers underneath, not the bead on top. It is also possible the water is entering higher up, at the crown or through the brick, and only showing at the flashing.
More questions? Call (724) 817-2006
Other services that may help
Chimney Leak Repair
Tracing chimney leaks to the real entry point and sealing it, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Treating chimney brick and mortar with a breathable water repellent, applied after repairs so the brick sheds water but can still dry out.
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, before small damage turns into a rebuild.
Learn more
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Call (724) 817-2006 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Avonmore, PA.
(724) 817-2006
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