Side flashing
Loose step flashing is reset or renewed with every piece lapped correctly.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Monaca, PA
A chimney sweep in Monaca can repair or replace the flashing where the chimney passes through the roof, the most common source of chimney leaks into attics and ceilings, before the leak rots the roof deck and framing. Call (878) 235-3037 to reach a local chimney sweep.
Flashing is the layered metal seal around the base of a chimney, and it is behind more chimney leaks than any other part. 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. Eventually caulk cracks, fasteners loosen, steel rusts and the top edge of the flashing separates from the brick.
A correctly flashed chimney uses several pieces that work together. 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. 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.
When you call about a flashing leak in Monaca, a few details help. 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. Also mention any tar or caulk patches you can see from the ground, since repeated patching usually means the flashing itself has failed.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney flashing repair in Monaca, PA can go hand in hand with chimney leak repair and chimney waterproofing.
Looking for Monaca chimney flashing repair? Call (878) 235-3037 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The flashing repair process
Flashing repair is about rebuilding the layers so water always runs over a joint, never into it.
Look at every side
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
Flashing leaks can be confused with crown, cap or brick leaks, so other sources are ruled out. It makes sure the repair matches the actual source.
Remove old patches
The technician strips off old roofing cement and corroded pieces down to the roof deck. Soft or rotted sheathing under the old flashing is repaired first.
Install step flashing
Step flashing goes in one piece per shingle course, so every piece overlaps the one below. An apron goes across the front, and an underlayment membrane is often added around the base for extra protection.
Set counter flashing
The top layer is set into the masonry itself, overlapping the step flashing below. 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. It keeps debris and ice from building up behind the chimney.
What is included
Flashing work a chimney sweep handles
Crickets
A saddle is framed on the uphill side to split water and snow around the chimney.
Front flashing
The apron across the downhill face is replaced or resealed where water from the chimney face drains off.
Cap flashing
Loose counter flashing is replaced and set into the masonry instead of being held on with caulk.
Fixing old patches
Failed tar patches are stripped and replaced with real flashing and the joint is flashed properly.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Monaca, 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. 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.
If you are replacing the roof on a Monaca home, that is the ideal time to replace the chimney flashing too. 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
Flashing leaks in Monaca often show up after a big storm, heavy snow or a roof replacement that reused the old chimney flashing. Homes in Monaca and nearby towns like Freedom, Rochester, Beaver and Bridgewater 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 Monaca or Freedom, Rochester, Beaver and Bridgewater? Call (878) 235-3037 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Monaca
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. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in Monaca, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Monaca and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
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. Corroded, damaged or heavily patched flashing is usually replaced outright.
Do I need new chimney flashing when I replace my 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 does my chimney flashing keep leaking after it was sealed?
Caulk and roofing tar only seal the surface, and they crack and pull loose as the chimney and roof expand and contract. If the step or counter flashing is missing, rusted or installed wrong, no amount of sealant will fix it. It is also possible the water is entering higher up, at the crown or through the brick, and only showing at the flashing.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
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.
Why would my chimney need a 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.
More questions? Call (878) 235-3037
Related services
Chimney Leak Repair
Tracing chimney leaks to the real entry point and sealing it, whether the drip shows up in the attic, the ceiling or the firebox.
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
Repairing the concrete slab that caps the top of the chimney, so water stops soaking into the masonry from the top.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Chimney repairs from the cap and crown down to the firebox, matched to what an inspection actually finds.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a Monaca chimney sweep about chimney flashing repair
Call (878) 235-3037 for a local chimney sweep in Monaca and nearby towns.
(878) 235-3037
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