Front flashing
The lower apron is reset over the shingles to keep the front edge watertight.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Sunbury, PA
A chimney sweep in Sunbury can repair or replace the flashing where the chimney passes through the roof, the most common source of chimney leaks into attics and ceilings, before the leak rots the roof deck and framing. One call to (272) 238-4101 reaches a nearby chimney flashing pro.
Flashing is the layered metal seal around the base of a chimney, and it is behind more chimney leaks than any other part. Because masonry and roof framing expand, contract and settle at different rates, a rigid seal will crack, which is why flashing is built in overlapping layers. Over time, sealant dries out, nails back out, metal rusts and the counter flashing pulls out of the mortar joints.
Proper flashing has a few distinct parts. 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.
Before the visit, a little information speeds things up. 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.
Many chimney flashing repair calls in Sunbury also turn up a need for chimney leak repair or chimney waterproofing.
Dealing with this in Sunbury, PA right now? Call (272) 238-4101 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The flashing repair process
Flashing repair is about rebuilding the layers so water always runs over a joint, never into it.
Look at every side
The technician checks the apron, step flashing, counter flashing and back pan or cricket, plus the shingles around the chimney. Where possible, the attic is checked for wet or damaged decking.
Rule out the masonry
Before replacing flashing, the crown, cap and brick are checked, since they can send water down the same path. New flashing will not stop a leak that starts at the crown.
Clear the old work
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.
Install step flashing
Step flashing goes in one piece per shingle course, so every piece overlaps the one below. An apron goes across the front, and an underlayment membrane is often added around the base for extra protection.
Cut a reglet
The top layer is set into the masonry itself, overlapping the step flashing below. Surface-mounted flashing held on by caulk alone is avoided because it fails quickly.
Add a cricket
Chimneys wider than about thirty inches usually call for a cricket on the high side under common building codes. It solves the most common cause of leaks on the uphill face.
What is included
What flashing repair covers
Fixing old patches
Layers of roofing cement and caulk from earlier patch jobs are removed so the repair does not depend on sealant.
Side flashing
Loose step flashing is reset or renewed so water runs down the roof instead of under it.
Cap flashing
Counter flashing that has pulled out of the mortar is reset into a fresh reglet which closes the most common gap.
Chimney saddles
A cricket is added behind a wide chimney or one where water pools so debris and ice stop collecting there.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Sunbury, PA
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. It is a full redo of the joint, from the underlayment up to the counter flashing in the mortar. Many roofers reuse old chimney flashing when they replace shingles, which is a common reason new roofs leak at the chimney.
In Sunbury, the easiest moment to replace chimney flashing is while the roof is already torn off. Plan it so the masonry side of the job, cutting the reglet and setting counter flashing, happens while the shingles are going on. 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
Around Sunbury, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. From Sunbury out to neighboring communities such as Northumberland, Winfield, Selinsgrove and Lewisburg, freeze-thaw and summer heat both work on the joint between the chimney and the roof, so proper step and counter flashing, and a cricket where needed, is worth doing right once.
Need chimney flashing repair around Sunbury? Call (272) 238-4101 for a Sunbury chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
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. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Sunbury, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Sunbury and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
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. Corroded, damaged or heavily patched flashing is usually replaced outright.
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 water test can confirm it before any work is done.
Why does my chimney flashing keep leaking after it was sealed?
Sealants dry out in the sun and split in the cold, so a leak patched with tar usually comes back. When the flashing itself is the problem, sealant just hides it for a season. The leak may also be coming from the crown, cap or brick, which no flashing repair will touch.
Why would my chimney need a cricket?
A cricket is a little ridge framed behind the chimney so water flows around it instead of pooling against it. 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 chimney flashing be replaced with a new roof?
The roof replacement is the best time to do it. Since step flashing is layered with the shingles, replacing it later means disturbing the new roof. Many leaks on newer roofs come from reused chimney flashing.
More questions? Call (272) 238-4101
Related services
Chimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Protecting chimney masonry from rain with a penetrating 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
Fixing cracked crowns, failing mortar, loose brick, leaky flashing and damaged flue tiles, matched to what an inspection actually finds.
Learn more
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(272) 238-4101
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