Apron flashing
Front flashing is renewed so runoff clears the chimney with the counter flashing lapped over it.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Abingdon, MD
Leaks at the roof line in Abingdon usually come from flashing that has pulled loose, rusted through or been patched with tar, with step and counter flashing instead of caulk. One call to (443) 899-3074 reaches a nearby chimney flashing pro.
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. Over time, sealant dries out, nails back out, metal rusts and the counter flashing pulls out of the mortar joints.
Good flashing is a system, not a single strip of metal. Along the sides, individual step flashing pieces are layered with the shingles, while counter flashing is let into the mortar joints and lapped over them. A front apron covers the downhill face, and on the uphill face a cricket or saddle diverts water and snow around the chimney.
A Abingdon 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. Visible tar or silicone around the base of the chimney is a sign someone has patched it before, which is worth mentioning.
Chimney Flashing Repair is often paired with chimney leak repair and chimney waterproofing, depending on the cause.
Dealing with this in Abingdon, MD right now? Call (443) 899-3074 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Abingdon.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
The goal is a joint that sheds water without relying on sealant.
Inspect the roof line
All four sides of the chimney are checked, because a leak on one side often starts somewhere else. The roof deck under the flashing is checked for soft spots.
Test for leaks
Flashing leaks can be confused with crown, cap or brick leaks, so other sources are ruled out. New flashing will not stop a leak that starts at the crown.
Strip failed material
Failed sealant and damaged flashing come off so the new work starts on a clean, sound surface. Any rotted decking found underneath is replaced before new flashing goes on.
Side flashing
Individual L-shaped step flashing pieces are layered with the shingles up each side of the chimney. The front apron and a self-adhering membrane around the chimney add a second line of defense.
Seal into the mortar
Counter flashing is let into a cut in the mortar joint and lapped over the step flashing so water cannot get behind it. 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
Types of flashing repair
Fixing old patches
Failed tar patches are stripped and replaced with real flashing before new metal goes on.
Counter flashing
Counter flashing that has pulled out of the mortar is reset into a fresh reglet instead of being held on with caulk.
Chimney saddles
A cricket is added behind a wide chimney or one where water pools to split water and snow around the chimney.
Step flashing
Rusted or missing step flashing along the sides is replaced so water runs down the roof instead of under it.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Abingdon, MD
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. Replacement means removing everything down to the roof deck and installing new step flashing, counter flashing, an apron and, where needed, a cricket. Reusing worn flashing under new shingles is one of the most frequent causes of chimney leaks on newer roofs.
In Abingdon, 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. With the roof open, it makes sense to check the rest of the chimney top as well.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
In Abingdon, flashing tends to fail first on older roofs and on chimneys that sit below a long run of roof. Across Abingdon and nearby places including Riverside, Edgewood, Bel Air South and Joppatowne, the chimneys that leak most are the ones where water and snow collect on the uphill side, so proper step and counter flashing, and a cricket where needed, is worth doing right once.
Searching for chimney flashing repair near me from Abingdon or Riverside, Edgewood, Bel Air South and Joppatowne? Call (443) 899-3074 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: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. That is why chimney cleaning in Abingdon is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Abingdon
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Abingdon and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
Why would my chimney need a cricket?
Also known as a saddle, a cricket is a small roof section behind the chimney that diverts runoff to either side. Wide chimneys block a lot of runoff, and without a cricket that water sits against the flashing. For wider chimneys that do not sit on the ridge, a cricket is usually required by code.
Should I repair or replace my chimney flashing?
That comes down to the condition of the metal. 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.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
The most common sign is a water stain on the ceiling or wall right next to the chimney, or wet wood beside the chimney in the attic. 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.
Do I need new chimney flashing when I replace my roof?
Doing it with the new roof is the smart move in most cases. Since step flashing is layered with the shingles, replacing it later means disturbing the new roof. Reusing old flashing under new shingles is one of the most common causes of chimney leaks on newer roofs.
Why did caulking my chimney flashing not stop the leak?
Sealants dry out in the sun and split in the cold, so a leak patched with tar usually comes back. The real issue is usually the flashing layers underneath, not the bead on top. The leak may also be coming from the crown, cap or brick, which no flashing repair will touch.
More questions? Call (443) 899-3074
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
Protecting chimney masonry from rain with a penetrating repellent, as the last step in keeping a chimney dry.
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
Repairs for the masonry, crown, flashing and flue of a damaged chimney, before small damage turns into a rebuild.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to an Abingdon chimney sweep about chimney flashing repair
Call (443) 899-3074 for a local chimney sweep in Abingdon and nearby towns.
(443) 899-3074
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