Step flashing
Side flashing is rebuilt piece by piece with the shingles to stop leaks along the sides of the chimney.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Park Forest, IL
A chimney sweep in Park Forest can repair or replace the flashing where the chimney passes through the roof, the most common source of chimney leaks into attics and ceilings, so the joint sheds water the way it was designed to. Dial (708) 708-7348 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. 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. 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. 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.
When you call about a flashing leak in Park Forest, 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. If you can see black tar smeared around the chimney, say so, because that usually means earlier patches have already failed.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Park Forest chimney sweep may also recommend chimney leak repair or chimney waterproofing.
Need chimney flashing repair in Park Forest? Call (708) 708-7348 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
Flashing repair is about rebuilding the layers so water always runs over a joint, never into it.
Check the flashing
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.
Confirm the source
Before replacing flashing, the crown, cap and brick are checked, since they can send water down the same path. It makes sure the repair matches the actual source.
Strip failed material
The technician strips off old roofing cement and corroded pieces down to the roof deck. Any rotted decking found underneath is replaced before new flashing goes on.
Weave in new flashing
New step flashing is installed piece by piece along the sides, interwoven with each course of shingles. An apron goes across the front, and an underlayment membrane is often added around the base for extra protection.
Set counter flashing
Counter flashing is let into a cut in the mortar joint and lapped over the step flashing so water cannot get behind it. Surface-mounted flashing held on by caulk alone is avoided because it fails quickly.
Build a saddle
On wide chimneys, a cricket is framed and flashed on the uphill side so water and snow are split around the chimney. That removes the spot where water sits and soaks into the flashing.
What is included
Flashing work a chimney sweep handles
Cap flashing
Loose counter flashing is replaced and set into the masonry instead of being held on with caulk.
Tar patch removal
Layers of roofing cement and caulk from earlier patch jobs are removed and the joint is flashed properly.
Apron flashing
The lower apron is reset over the shingles where water from the chimney face drains off.
Chimney saddles
A saddle is framed on the uphill side to end leaks on the high side.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Park Forest, IL
When flashing is rusted, bent or covered in years of patches, replacing it outright is usually smarter than another repair. 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 Park Forest home, that is the ideal time to replace the chimney flashing too. The step flashing has to be woven in with the new shingles, so the timing between the roofer and the chimney work matters. With the roof open, it makes sense to check the rest of the chimney top as well.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Around Park Forest, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. Across Park Forest and nearby places including South Chicago Heights, University Park, Olympia Fields and Richton Park, 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.
Need chimney flashing repair around Park Forest? Call (708) 708-7348 for a Park Forest chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
Chimneys in this climate
This part of the country gets long winters, heavy snow in places and stretches of bitter cold. Heating systems and wood stoves work nearly nonstop for months, which means fast creosote buildup and a lot of stress on liners, crowns and flashing. Snow drifting against the back of a chimney melts slowly and works water under tired flashing. That is why Park Forest chimney sweeps are busiest every September and October.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Chimney sweeps in Park Forest know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
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. The real issue is usually the flashing layers underneath, not the bead on top. Sometimes the source is the masonry or crown above, not the flashing at all.
Do I need new chimney flashing when I replace my roof?
Replacing it during a reroof is strongly recommended. Proper step flashing goes in with the shingles, so it is easiest when they are being replaced. Many leaks on newer roofs come from reused chimney flashing.
What are the signs of bad chimney flashing?
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. Testing with a hose confirms which part is leaking.
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.
What is a chimney 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. Common building codes call for a cricket on chimneys wider than about thirty inches, unless the chimney sits at the ridge.
More questions? Call (708) 708-7348
Related services
Chimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, whether the drip shows up in the attic, the ceiling or the firebox.
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
Fixing cracked, thin or crumbling chimney crowns, before freeze-thaw damage spreads down the chimney.
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 Park Forest chimney sweep about chimney flashing repair
Call now for Park Forest chimney flashing repair and help in the towns around it.
(708) 708-7348
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