Chimney Flashing
Chimneys can leak for lots of reasons, but we often find that the culprit is faulty flashing. You’ll want to nip this problem in the bud quickly before your leaking chimney leads to wood rot and damage to your roof, attic, and ceiling.
Flashing is the sheet metal that wraps around the intersection of the chimney and roof to keep it watertight. Seems simple enough, but there’s a pretty specific technique for flashing installation to ensure that water does not enter your chimney. In this process, some of the sheet metal is woven into the shingles and folded along the side of the chimney, while some is embedded in the chimney mortar joints. This layering is what really keeps the water out, so having the flashing installed correctly is crucial for a watertight job that won’t leak. Water most often tends to penetrate the flashing at the corners. Knowing this, Ace Chimney Sweeps, Inc. seals all corners with a high-quality urethane caulk. Combined with the proper overlapping of sheet metal, this creates a seal that prevents water from getting in.
When we do a chimney flashing job, we first take measurements of your chimney. Then we do custom sheet metal work, creating all the pieces needed to wrap around all angles of your chimney where it intersects with the roofline. It’s best to leave this to a chimney professional because it will help your flashing better stand up to time and to the elements. Flashing that’s been installed incorrectly becomes loose, torn, or cracked much more quickly, and the caulk can come loose. Leaky flashing can usually be fixed quite easily and inexpensively by one of our chimney technicians. You won’t want to put off calling about your leaking flashing, as even a small leak can end up causing some very big water damage. Many times upon inspection, we see that the caulking has worked loose and a simple re-caulking will solve the leaking problem. Occasionally though, the old flashing will need to be replaced entirely to stop your chimney from leaking.
At the first sign of a leaky chimney, you should have a professional come out to do a visual inspection of your chimney system. If flashing has been ruled out as the source of the leak, your chimney may be leaking because it needs relining, or it may need a new rainhood or chimney cap. To prevent your chimney from leaking, we recommend having it professionally waterproofed. Call us today to set up your inspection or click here to schedule an appointment online!
Adding a rainhood or chimney cap to your chimney is an effective defense against unwanted water intrusion. Ask us about this step toward fixing chimney leaks today.
