Apron flashing
Front flashing is renewed so runoff clears the chimney to keep the front edge watertight.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Sharon, PA
A Sharon chimney technician can reset loose flashing, replace rusted pieces and add a cricket where water piles up behind the chimney, before the leak rots the roof deck and framing. Dial (724) 509-7140 to talk with a local chimney sweep about the flashing.
Chimney flashing is the metal that seals the gap between the chimney and the roof, and when it fails, water runs straight into the attic. 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. Eventually caulk cracks, fasteners loosen, steel rusts and the top edge of the flashing separates from the brick.
A correctly flashed chimney uses several pieces that work together. Step flashing is a series of L-shaped pieces woven in with each course of shingles along the sides of the chimney, and counter flashing covers the top edge of the step flashing and is set into a groove cut in the mortar joints. A front apron covers the downhill face, and on the uphill face a cricket or saddle diverts water and snow around the chimney.
A Sharon chimney sweep will want to know a few things about the leak. 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. Also mention any tar or caulk patches you can see from the ground, since repeated patching usually means the flashing itself has failed.
Many chimney flashing repair calls in Sharon also turn up a need for chimney leak repair or chimney waterproofing.
Dealing with this in Sharon, PA right now? Call (724) 509-7140 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.
Check the flashing
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. That keeps you from paying for new flashing when the leak is somewhere else.
Strip failed material
The technician strips off old roofing cement and corroded pieces down to the roof deck. Soft or rotted sheathing under the old flashing is repaired first.
Weave in new 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
The top layer is set into the masonry itself, overlapping the step flashing below. The metal is chosen to last, with copper or coated steel used where the flashing meets mortar.
Divert uphill water
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
Types of flashing repair
Fixing old patches
Old sealant repairs are cleaned off before new metal goes on.
Side flashing
Rusted or missing step flashing along the sides is replaced 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 so water cannot run behind the step flashing.
Crickets
A cricket is added behind a wide chimney or one where water pools to split water and snow around the chimney.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Sharon, PA
Full replacement is the better choice when flashing is corroded, loose along much of its length or buried under layers of failed tar. It is a full redo of the joint, from the underlayment up to the counter flashing in the mortar. A common shortcut is to reuse the old flashing during a reroof, and that often leads to a leak within a few years.
In Sharon, 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
In Sharon, flashing tends to fail first on older roofs and on chimneys that sit below a long run of roof. Across Sharon and nearby places including Farrell, Sharpsville, Hermitage and Greenville, the chimneys that leak most are the ones where water and snow collect on the uphill side, and fixing it before the decking rots keeps the repair small.
For chimney flashing repair in Sharon, PA or nearby towns like Farrell, Sharpsville, Hermitage and Greenville, call (724) 509-7140 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
Chimneys in this climate
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. 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 Sharon is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Sharon
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Sharon and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
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. Water inside the fireplace points higher up, while water along the chimney chase or ceiling points to the roof joint. A water test can confirm it before any work is done.
Why does my chimney flashing keep leaking after it was sealed?
Caulk and roofing tar only seal the surface, and they crack and pull loose as the chimney and roof expand and contract. The real issue is usually the flashing layers underneath, not the bead on top. Sometimes the source is the masonry or crown above, not the flashing at all.
Do I need new chimney flashing when I replace my 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. Old flashing reused under a new roof often leaks within a few years.
Should I repair or replace my chimney flashing?
That comes down to the condition of the metal. When only the counter flashing has come loose, resetting it is often enough. Corroded, damaged or heavily patched flashing is usually replaced outright.
Why would my chimney need a cricket?
Also known as a saddle, a cricket is a small roof section behind the chimney that diverts runoff to either side. 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.
More questions? Call (724) 509-7140
Other services that may help
Chimney Leak Repair
Tracing chimney leaks to the real entry point and sealing it, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Waterproofing masonry chimneys with vapor-permeable repellents, not paint, 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, with a proper overhang and drip edge.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Chimney repairs from the cap and crown down to the firebox, matched to what an inspection actually finds.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to a Sharon chimney sweep about chimney flashing repair
Call (724) 509-7140 for a local chimney sweep in Sharon and nearby towns.
(724) 509-7140
Free to call. No forms to fill out.