Chimney flashing reset, resealed or replaced in Brownsville

Reading the attic framing beside the chimney

If your attic is reachable, look at the framing and roof deck where the chimney passes through. Dark stains, damp wood or rusted nails beside the brick suggest water getting past the roof junction. Stains only on the chimney side may point higher up the stack.

Step only on framing, use a good light and keep away from wiring. Note which face of the chimney shows the marks and whether they were wet or dry. Tell us what you found when you book, because it helps us plan which faces to open first.

Questions worth asking about any flashing quote

A flashing quote can look complete and still leave the important parts vague. These questions help you see what is actually included, whoever wrote it.

Our estimate answers each of these in writing. If another company has quoted the same job, you can set the two side by side and compare the work rather than the headline figure.

• Which faces of the chimney are included
• Is the counter flashing set into a joint or surface-mounted
• What happens to the roofing around the chimney
• What is excluded, and why

Flashing matters even if the fireplace is unused

A fireplace nobody lights still has a chimney passing through the roof. The flashing around it keeps water out of the house regardless of whether anything burns below. An unused chimney can leak for a long time before anyone notices, because nobody looks at it.

If your chimney is out of use, the flashing and the top still need attention now and then. We can include them in a maintenance visit. If you plan to use the fireplace again, tell us, because the inside of the flue is a separate check.

Keeping people and pets clear of the work

During flashing work, tools, metal offcuts and pieces of roofing can come down near the chimney. Keep children and pets away from the area below while we are on the roof. If the space under the chimney is a patio or pool deck, we mark it off.

Tell us if anyone in the household needs to use a door or path near the chimney during the day. We can plan the work around it. At the end of each day the area below is cleared, and the last pass picks up nails and small offcuts.