Chimney saddles
A cricket is added behind a wide chimney or one where water pools to split water and snow around the chimney.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair La Plata, MD
A La Plata chimney technician can reset loose flashing, replace rusted pieces and add a cricket where water piles up behind the chimney, before the leak rots the roof deck and framing. Dial (240) 622-3033 to talk with a local chimney sweep about the flashing.
Flashing is the layered metal seal around the base of a chimney, and it is behind more chimney leaks than any other part. A chimney and a roof never move together perfectly, so the flashing is made of separate overlapping pieces rather than one solid seal. Eventually caulk cracks, fasteners loosen, steel rusts and the top edge of the flashing separates from the brick.
Proper flashing has a few distinct parts. 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.
Before the visit, a little information speeds things up. 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.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a La Plata chimney sweep may also recommend chimney leak repair or chimney waterproofing.
Need chimney flashing repair in La Plata? Call (240) 622-3033 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The flashing repair process
The goal is a joint that sheds water without relying on sealant.
Inspect the roof line
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
Flashing leaks can be confused with crown, cap or brick leaks, so other sources are ruled out. That keeps you from paying for new flashing when the leak is somewhere else.
Strip failed material
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
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.
Set counter flashing
The top layer is set into the masonry itself, overlapping the step flashing below. The metal is chosen to last, with copper or coated steel used where the flashing meets mortar.
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
What flashing repair covers
Fixing old patches
Layers of roofing cement and caulk from earlier patch jobs are removed and the joint is flashed properly.
Counter flashing
Counter flashing that has pulled out of the mortar is reset into a fresh reglet instead of being held on with caulk.
Front flashing
Front flashing is renewed so runoff clears the chimney to keep the front edge watertight.
Step flashing
Side flashing is rebuilt piece by piece with the shingles with every piece lapped correctly.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement La Plata, MD
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. Many roofers reuse old chimney flashing when they replace shingles, which is a common reason new roofs leak at the chimney.
For La Plata homeowners planning a new roof, it is worth asking that the chimney flashing be replaced at the same time. 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
Flashing leaks in La Plata often show up after a big storm, heavy snow or a roof replacement that reused the old chimney flashing. From La Plata out to neighboring communities such as Bensville, Waldorf, Bryans Road and Accokeek, freeze-thaw and summer heat both work on the joint between the chimney and the roof, which is why a real flashing repair outlasts another round of tar.
Need chimney flashing repair around La Plata? Call (240) 622-3033 for a La Plata chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects chimneys around La Plata
The heating season here is shorter than up north, yet most winters bring plenty of cold nights by the fire. Temperatures cross the freezing mark again and again, which is hard on brick and mortar, and heavy rain through the year keeps chimneys wet. Warm, humid summers bring animals and damp odors to chimneys that sit unused. People in La Plata, MD usually schedule their sweep in October or November.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Chimney sweeps in La Plata know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQ
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. Wide chimneys block a lot of runoff, and without a cricket that water sits against the flashing. Common building codes call for a cricket on chimneys wider than about thirty inches, unless the chimney sits at the ridge.
Should I repair or replace my chimney flashing?
That comes down to the condition of the metal. Sound flashing with a loose top edge can usually be reset into a fresh cut in the mortar. Once flashing has rust holes or years of patches, replacing it is more reliable than another repair.
Should chimney flashing be replaced with a new roof?
The roof replacement is the best time to do it. Proper step flashing goes in with the shingles, so it is easiest when they are being replaced. Reusing old flashing under new shingles is one of the most common causes of chimney leaks on newer roofs.
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. Water inside the fireplace points higher up, while water along the chimney chase or ceiling points to the roof joint. A controlled water test settles it.
Why did caulking my chimney flashing not stop the leak?
Surface sealant cannot keep up with the movement between masonry and roof framing, so it fails. 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.
More questions? Call (240) 622-3033
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
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
Sealing cracked chimney crowns or rebuilding crumbling ones, 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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(240) 622-3033
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