Cap flashing
Loose counter flashing is replaced and set into the masonry which closes the most common gap.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Glenside, PA
Leaks at the roof line in Glenside usually come from flashing that has pulled loose, rusted through or been patched with tar, with step and counter flashing instead of caulk. Dial (267) 633-0161 to talk with a local chimney sweep about the flashing.
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. 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 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. The low side gets an apron, and the high side gets a back pan or, on wider chimneys, a cricket that splits the water around the chimney.
A Glenside 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.
Chimney Flashing Repair is often paired with chimney leak repair and chimney waterproofing, depending on the cause.
Need chimney flashing repair in Glenside? Call (267) 633-0161 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The flashing repair process
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. 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. It makes sure the repair matches the actual source.
Clear the old work
Old tar, caulk and loose or rusted metal are removed, and the shingles around the chimney are lifted where needed. Soft or rotted sheathing under the old flashing is repaired first.
Weave in new flashing
New step flashing is installed piece by piece along the sides, interwoven with each course of shingles. The front apron and a self-adhering membrane around the chimney add a second line of defense.
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. Surface-mounted flashing held on by caulk alone is avoided because it fails quickly.
Build a saddle
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
Types of flashing repair
Fixing old patches
Old sealant repairs are cleaned off so the repair does not depend on sealant.
Step flashing
Loose step flashing is reset or renewed with every piece lapped correctly.
Apron flashing
The lower apron is reset over the shingles to keep the front edge watertight.
Chimney saddles
A saddle is framed on the uphill side so debris and ice stop collecting there.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Glenside, 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.
In Glenside, 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. 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
Around Glenside, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. Across Glenside and nearby places including Wyncote, Jenkintown, Oreland and Roslyn, the chimneys that leak most are the ones where water and snow collect on the uphill side, which is why a real flashing repair outlasts another round of tar.
Need chimney flashing repair around Glenside? Call (267) 633-0161 for a Glenside 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: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in Glenside, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Glenside
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Glenside and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQ
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. A leak in the firebox is more likely the cap or crown, while a leak along the ceiling beside the chimney is more often the 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. On a wide chimney, the back side becomes a dam where water and debris sit and eventually leak through. 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?
The roof replacement is the best time to do it. 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. When the flashing itself is the problem, sealant just hides it for a season. Sometimes the source is the masonry or crown above, not the flashing at all.
Should I repair or replace my chimney flashing?
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.
More questions? Call (267) 633-0161
Often needed together
Chimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
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, so water stops soaking into the masonry from the top.
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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