Chimney Flashing Repair in Kinneloa Mesa

A chimney passes through the roof, and the gap around it is covered by layers of sheet metal. Short bent pieces lie under each course of shingles along the sides, each overlapping the one below, so water running down the roof steps outward. A second layer, set into a groove cut in the brick, folds down over those pieces so water running down the chimney face lands on top of them. When either layer lifts, rusts or loses its sealant, water slips behind and runs down the framing. The stain can appear inches or feet from where it entered.

Before taking anything apart we look for the real entry point. Sometimes it is not the metal at all but a cracked crown, porous brick or a loose cap letting water down inside the chimney. Running water on one section at a time with a hose, and watching from the attic, often settles it. Fixing the wrong part is the most common reason chimney leaks return, so this step comes first on every job.

On asphalt shingle roofs we lift the courses along the chimney, set new stepped pieces, cut a fresh groove in the mortar for the upper layer and seal it. Clay tile and concrete tile roofs, common on Spanish and Mediterranean houses in our area, need more care, because tiles break when lifted and the metal must be shaped to their profile. On those we often work with the homeowner's roofer. Chimneys wider than about thirty inches on the uphill side usually need a small peaked cricket behind them to split the flow of water, and we build one if it is missing.

If an insert or liner is planned, we look at the roof work together. A new liner may need a new top plate and cap, and a rebuilt crown may change where the upper metal sits. Doing the roof-line work once, in the right order, saves paying for the same section twice. Every flashing repair is quoted in writing after we have been on the roof.