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Chimney Flashing and Repair in Staunton, VA

Repairs to the flashing, crown and mortar joints where a chimney meets the roof on Staunton houses.

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  • Repairs and full replacements
  • Ice at the eaves, wind and hail damage
  • Historic-district, metal and slate roofs

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Chimney Flashing

Chimney Flashing and Repair: what it covers

Quick answer

Chimney flashing repair re-seals the metal and masonry where a chimney passes through the roof, a common place for water to enter an older house. In Staunton the work covers the step and counter flashing, the apron and the crown, each checked for the path water takes into the attic. Staunton Roofing connects callers with a local technician, and the price is confirmed on site.

Chimney Flashing and Repair illustration for Staunton, VA

A chimney is a joint that does not move. The brick or stone is rigid, the roof moves a little with the framing, and the flashing has to bridge the two. Where the metal lifts or the mortar cracks, water runs down the masonry and into the roof structure, often well below the stack, which is why chimney leaks are hard to trace from the room.

On older houses the chimney is often one of several flashed joints. The flashing has a few parts: base pieces that lap the roof, step pieces that run up the side, and a counter piece set into the masonry above. Each one has its own job, and a repair starts by working out which one has failed.

This page covers what a chimney repair involves, the signs of a failing stack and the points a homeowner can check from the attic and the yard. Repairs to the flashing at other walls and valleys are on the flashing page.

Service area
Staunton & Staunton city
Availability
Phones answered 24/7
Warning signs

Signs you need chimney flashing and repair

Chimney work is high and often on a steep roof. Do not climb onto the roof to look at the stack, and do not stand on the chimney top. Keep the area below clear of falling mortar and brick. If you smell smoke, or see staining near a flue, stop using the fireplace until it has been checked.

  • A stain on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney after heavy rain
  • Cracked or crumbling mortar in the joints of the stack, especially near the roof line
  • A crown or cap with cracks that let water run down the flue or the brick
  • Rust or gaps in the metal where it meets the brick at the counter flashing
  • A damp smell or dark marks on the attic rafters beside the chimney
  • Loose brick at the top of the stack, or a chimney that has begun to lean
Our process

How our chimney flashing and repair visit works

  1. Inspect the attic and the stack together

    The attic is checked for stains and wet framing beside the chimney, and the stack is looked at from the ground and, where it is safe, from the roof surface.

  2. Check each flashing part

    Base, step and counter pieces are each checked for position and sealant. The apron at the front of the stack is checked for lifting, along with the nail heads that hold it.

  3. Repoint, reseal or replace the faulty part

    Cracked mortar in the joints is repointed, a cracked crown is repaired or replaced, and failing flashing is re-set or replaced in matching metal.

  4. Test and document the repair

    The repaired area is checked with water where the crew can do so safely, and photographs of the finished joints are kept with the visit record.

Why does a chimney leak when the roof surface looks fine?

Water can come down the masonry, through a cracked crown or along a flashing joint, and reach the attic well away from the top of the chimney. A roof surface that looks sound can still hide a failed counter flashing or a cracked mortar joint behind the metal.

Brick is porous, so water soaks in and moves through the joints, and it can run down inside the stack before it finds the roof structure. The leak appears where the water leaves, which may be a long way from where it entered.

Ice and cold can widen a mortar crack that was small in autumn. A chimney checked after winter gives a clearer picture than one checked in the summer.

What does a chimney repair involve on an older house?

It usually involves the flashing, the crown and the mortar joints together, because each one protects the others. A repair that fixes only the metal leaves the masonry open, and a repair that fixes only the mortar leaves the metal lifting.

Mortar needs the most careful matching. Older masonry was often built with a softer mortar than modern products, and a hard mortar can crack the brick around it. The crew confirms the mortar before any joint is raked out.

Chimney work is height work. The ladder and the roof access are planned before the first joint is opened, and any loose brick is secured or removed before anyone stands below.

Is a chimney repair in Staunton subject to review or a permit?

It can be. In Staunton's downtown historic districts, exterior masonry and roof work are reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission. Elsewhere in the city and the county, ask the building office for the address whether a permit applies. Confirm either before any mortar is raked out.

The review decides which repointing mortar and which metal finish are acceptable at a historic address. Ask for that decision before the crew is scheduled.

Keep the photographs of each joint and a note of the mortar used. A later owner or inspector can then see what was done and when.

Options

Types and options for chimney flashing and repair

Flashing reset or replacement

The base, step and counter pieces are re-set or replaced. Counter flashing is set into a mortar joint, not simply laid over the masonry.

Crown and cap repair

The mortar crown at the top of the stack and the cap over the flue are repaired where they have cracked. A sound crown sheds water away from the flue.

Masonry and mortar repair

Cracked or open joints are repointed and loose brick is reset. The mortar is chosen to suit the older masonry, and the crew confirms it before starting.

Staunton city

Why chimney flashing and repair is different in Shenandoah Valley

A chimney placed where two roof planes meet puts its flashing at the busiest joint on the roof. On older Staunton houses with several planes, the technician checks those sides first.

Wind-driven rain from a storm can push water under the counter flashing on the windward side of a stack, so that side is checked first after a storm.

One call and it gets handled.

Most chimney flashing and repair calls are scheduled the same day when a technician is free, and you approve the price before any work starts.

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Where we work

Chimney Flashing and Repair across Staunton city

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Related

Flashing Repair

Re-setting and replacing the metal at valleys, walls and dormers on Staunton roofs, where water finds the joints first.

Roof Leak Repair

Finding where water really enters an older Staunton roof, then sealing that point and checking the attic below.

Ice Dam Prevention

Keeping snow melt from freezing at the eave of Staunton houses, with the barrier, the attic and the gutters checked together.

Roof Inspection

A written look at a Staunton roof from the attic and the surface, so the repair or replacement question is answered on paper.

Guides

Read before you book

FAQ

Chimney Flashing and Repair FAQs

Should I stop using the fireplace while the chimney is repaired?

If there is any staining near the flue, a cracked crown or a smell from the stack, stop using the fireplace until a qualified chimney professional has checked it. Repairing the flashing does not check the flue lining.

Why does my chimney leak on only one side?

Wind-driven rain pushes water under the counter flashing on the side it strikes, so the leak often shows on that side of the house. The technician checks that side first.

Can a chimney be sealed with a coating?

A coating can slow water entry into sound masonry, but it does not repair cracked flashing or loose mortar. The technician explains what suits the chimney and whether a coating is appropriate at the address.

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