Repairing chimney counter flashing in Margate

Water that soaks in above the flashing

Brick and mortar absorb some rain, and on a long wet day water can travel down inside the chimney wall. Brick industry details deal with this by carrying the counter flashing through the wall and turning it up inside. Water within the masonry is then caught and led out.

Counter flashing set only into the face joint does not catch water that is already inside the brick. If staining continues after the roof junction is sound, the masonry above the roof may be the next place to look. We explain that possibility rather than replacing the flashing twice.

When the water shows up matters

Water that appears inside while it is still raining usually has a short path from the outside. A gap in the flashing is one such path. Water that shows up hours later, after long rain, may have soaked through masonry first.

Keep a note of when you see the water, how heavy the rain was and how long it lasted. That record helps us decide whether the flashing is the likely route or whether the chimney wall above the roof deserves more attention. Share it when you book the free inspection.

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

Materials for roofing at the chimney in Broward County

In Broward County the code's high-velocity provisions cover roof assemblies, including the coverings near the chimney. When tile or shingles near the chimney are replaced during flashing work, those replacements fall under the same provisions as the rest of the roof.

We tell you before the work which roofing materials near the chimney may need replacing and how they will be sourced. If the exact product on your roof is not available, we explain the options and who decides whether a substitute is acceptable. That discussion happens before any roofing is lifted.