Step flashing
Rusted or missing step flashing along the sides is replaced to stop leaks along the sides of the chimney.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Northbrook, IL
A Northbrook 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. Call (224) 458-2675 to reach a local chimney sweep.
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. Years of sun, freezing and thawing loosen the counter flashing, rust thin metal and dry out every bead of caulk.
A correctly flashed chimney uses several pieces that work together. Step flashing is a series of L-shaped pieces woven in with each course of shingles along the sides of the chimney, and counter flashing covers the top edge of the step flashing and is set into a groove cut in the mortar joints. 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.
A Northbrook chimney sweep will want to know a few things about the leak. It helps to know the age of the roof, which side of the chimney the stain is on and whether it only leaks during heavy rain or snowmelt. 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 Northbrook chimney sweep may also recommend chimney leak repair or chimney waterproofing.
Looking for Northbrook chimney flashing repair? Call (224) 458-2675 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Northbrook.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
The goal is a joint that sheds water without relying on sealant.
Inspect the roof line
Each part of the flashing is inspected, along with the condition of the surrounding roofing. The roof deck under the flashing is checked for soft spots.
Confirm the source
A water test may be used to confirm the flashing is really the problem. It makes sure the repair matches the actual source.
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.
Side flashing
Individual L-shaped step flashing pieces are layered with the shingles up each side of the chimney. An apron goes across the front, and an underlayment membrane is often added around the base for extra protection.
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. Surface-mounted flashing held on by caulk alone is avoided because it fails quickly.
Add a cricket
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
Counter flashing
Loose counter flashing is replaced and set into the masonry which closes the most common gap.
Apron flashing
Front flashing is renewed so runoff clears the chimney to keep the front edge watertight.
Fixing old patches
Layers of roofing cement and caulk from earlier patch jobs are removed so the repair does not depend on sealant.
Crickets
Missing or failed crickets are built or rebuilt and flashed to end leaks on the high side.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Northbrook, 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. A common shortcut is to reuse the old flashing during a reroof, and that often leads to a leak within a few years.
If you are replacing the roof on a Northbrook 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. 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
In Northbrook, flashing tends to fail first on older roofs and on chimneys that sit below a long run of roof. Across Northbrook and nearby places including Deerfield, Glenview, Northfield and Glencoe, 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 Northbrook? Call (224) 458-2675 for a Northbrook 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 that piles up behind a chimney and melts slowly is a common source of leaks at the flashing. That is why Northbrook chimney sweeps are busiest every September and October.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Chimney sweeps in Northbrook know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
Do I need new chimney flashing when I replace my roof?
The roof replacement is the best time to do it. Step flashing is woven in with the shingles, so the roof has to be open to replace it properly anyway. Reusing old flashing under new shingles is one of the most common causes of chimney leaks on newer roofs.
Why does my chimney flashing keep leaking after it was sealed?
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.
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. On a wide chimney, the back side becomes a dam where water and debris sit and eventually leak through. Building codes generally require a cricket on chimneys more than about thirty inches wide that do not meet the ridge.
Should I repair or replace my chimney flashing?
What the metal looks like decides that. If the flashing is in good shape but the counter flashing has pulled out of the mortar, it can often be reset and resealed. If it is rusted through, badly bent or buried under old tar, replacement is the better value.
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. 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 controlled water test settles it.
More questions? Call (224) 458-2675
Often needed together
Chimney Leak Repair
Stopping chimney leaks at the source, 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, 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, before freeze-thaw damage spreads down the chimney.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Chimney repairs from the cap and crown down to the firebox, before small damage turns into a rebuild.
Learn more
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(224) 458-2675
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