Leaky chimneys present real problems for your home. The most common place we find leaks is where the chimney meets the roof. The area surrounding the chimney as it goes through the roof needs to be sealed with flashing so no moisture enters your roofing, attic or ceiling areas.
Torn, loose and missing chimney flashing can cause tremendous structural damage to your home including wood rot, mold and drywall damage. If you have any leaks at all around your chimney please allow us to do an inspection and make the proper repairs. Many times when leaks begin you won't even know it because the damage starts in areas that you don't see. A trip to the attic to inspect the area surrounding the chimney as it enters the roof may be a good preventative measure.
How does Chimney Flashing work?
Overlapping sections of metal that are custom fabricated to fit around your chimney at the roof line are called "Chimney Flashing". Flashing is installed in two layers and is fitted under the roof covering or shingles and then up along the wall of the chimney. Urethane caulking is used to create the water-tight bond needed to protect against damage. Chimney Flashing can be made of aluminum, stainless steel or copper, the longest lasting material.
When our Certified Chimney Sweeps do a Chimney Inspection, the flashing is one of the key areas that we look closely at. If your caulking is beginning to come loose or develop gaps it may need to be resealed to prevent further damage. When metal flashing is missing or corroding a new chimney flashing may be required.
To complete a chimney flashing job, exact measurements are taken of your chimney and the angles are measured where the chimney intersects the roof. Then the metal pieces are all fabricated to wrap around the chimney and brought to the job ready to install. If you are planning a re-roofing or a new roof on your home, that may be the perfect time to take a close look at your chimney flashing and see if it needs repair or replacement.
