Counter flashing
Counter flashing that has pulled out of the mortar is reset into a fresh reglet instead of being held on with caulk.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Coopersburg, PA
Leaks at the roof line in Coopersburg usually come from flashing that has pulled loose, rusted through or been patched with tar, so the joint sheds water the way it was designed to. Dial (610) 908-0851 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. Over time, sealant dries out, nails back out, metal rusts and the counter flashing pulls out of the mortar joints.
Good flashing is a system, not a single strip of metal. 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. On the uphill side, a cricket keeps water from pooling against the chimney, which matters most on wide chimneys.
A Coopersburg chimney sweep will want to know a few things about the leak. Mention where the water shows up, how often it leaks and how old the roof is. Also mention any tar or caulk patches you can see from the ground, since repeated patching usually means the flashing itself has failed.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney flashing repair in Coopersburg, PA can go hand in hand with chimney leak repair and chimney waterproofing.
Need chimney flashing repair in Coopersburg? Call (610) 908-0851 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a flashing repair
The goal is a joint that sheds water without relying on sealant.
Inspect the roof line
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.
Rule out the masonry
A water test may be used to confirm the flashing is really the problem. New flashing will not stop a leak that starts at the crown.
Clear the old work
Failed sealant and damaged flashing come off so the new work starts on a clean, sound surface. Soft or rotted sheathing under the old flashing is repaired first.
Install step flashing
Step flashing goes in one piece per shingle course, so every piece overlaps the one below. The front apron and a self-adhering membrane around the chimney add a second line of defense.
Cut a reglet
Counter flashing is let into a cut in the mortar joint and lapped over the step flashing so water cannot get behind it. The metal is chosen to last, with copper or coated steel used where the flashing meets mortar.
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. It solves the most common cause of leaks on the uphill face.
What is included
What flashing repair covers
Tar patch removal
Failed tar patches are stripped and replaced with real flashing and the joint is flashed properly.
Crickets
A cricket is added behind a wide chimney or one where water pools to end leaks on the high side.
Front flashing
The lower apron is reset over the shingles to keep the front edge watertight.
Side flashing
Side flashing is rebuilt piece by piece with the shingles to stop leaks along the sides of the chimney.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Coopersburg, PA
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 Coopersburg home, that is the ideal time to replace the chimney flashing too. Coordinate the chimney sweep and the roofer so the step flashing goes in with the shingles and the counter flashing is set into the brick. 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 Coopersburg, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. From Coopersburg out to neighboring communities such as Quakertown, Hellertown, Emmaus and Fountain Hill, 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.
For chimney flashing repair in Coopersburg, PA or nearby towns like Quakertown, Hellertown, Emmaus and Fountain Hill, call (610) 908-0851 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Coopersburg
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. That is why chimney cleaning in Coopersburg is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Coopersburg and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
Can chimney flashing be repaired, or does it need replacing?
The answer depends on how much of the flashing is still sound. When only the counter flashing has come loose, resetting it is often enough. Once flashing has rust holes or years of patches, replacing it is more reliable than another repair.
Should chimney flashing be replaced with a new roof?
Replacing it during a reroof is strongly recommended. 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.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
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. Where the water appears is a clue: the firebox suggests the top of the chimney, and the ceiling beside it suggests flashing. A water test can confirm it before any work is done.
What is a chimney 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. Without one, water, leaves and ice collect behind a wide chimney and work their way under the flashing. Building codes generally require a cricket on chimneys more than about thirty inches wide that do not meet the ridge.
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. Sometimes the source is the masonry or crown above, not the flashing at all.
More questions? Call (610) 908-0851
Other services that may help
Chimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Protecting chimney masonry from rain with a penetrating repellent, as the last step in keeping a chimney dry.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Fixing cracked, thin or crumbling chimney crowns, with a proper overhang and drip edge.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Repairs for the masonry, crown, flashing and flue of a damaged chimney, so the chimney stays dry and safe to use.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesNeed chimney flashing repair in Coopersburg, PA?
Call now for Coopersburg chimney flashing repair and help in the towns around it.
(610) 908-0851
Free to call. No forms to fill out.