The chimney flashing at your roof line, repaired in Watergate
Our family team explains what the flashing needs in Watergate and leaves the decision with you.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
What failing flashing looks like from indoors
- Broken tiles around the chimney base
- Peeling paint on the wall near the fireplace
- Nail heads showing through the flashing
- Crumbling mortar right at the roof line
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Step and counter flashing work in Watergate
A chimney on a low-slope roof
Some chimneys rise through a flat or nearly flat section of roof. There the roofing membrane is usually turned up the chimney face as the base flashing, and a metal counter flashing covers its top edge. Water moves slowly on such a roof and can stand against the joint.
The membrane is roofing work, so a roofer often has to take part. We assess the counter flashing, the reglet and the masonry above it, and we describe where our scope ends. That boundary is written into the estimate, so the membrane and the metal are not each left to the other trade.
Flashing against a stucco finish
Where a chimney is finished in stucco, the counter flashing has to meet cement plaster instead of open brick joints. A reglet can be cut into the stucco, or the metal may be set with a stop that the plaster finishes against. Each approach needs the finish around it to be sound.
Cracked or hollow stucco near the roof line can let water in above the metal. We check the finish close to the junction and say whether stucco repair should come first. Stucco work beyond the flashing line is its own item, priced and approved separately.
Flashing at a framed chimney chase
Some chimneys are a metal flue inside a framed box covered with siding or stucco. Where that chase passes through the roof, the flashing ties into the wall covering and its weather barrier rather than into masonry. The detail looks more like a wall flashing than a brick one.
We check the base pieces, the wall covering above them and how the barrier behind the siding laps over the metal. If the framing inside the chase has softened, that is chase repair, which is written as a separate scope. The flashing work stays with the roof junction.
Booking a flashing check in Watergate
To book a flashing check in Watergate, call or use the form and tell us where the water appears. We ask a few questions about the roof and the chimney and then arrange the free inspection. The visit is booked around your schedule where we can.
Have someone at home who can show us the inside marks and give access to the attic, if there is one. The outside work does not need you on hand, but the conversation about findings is best in person. You receive the written estimate afterward, with time to consider it.
Included in your chimney flashing scope
- Counter flashing and its mortar joint
- Apron across the downhill face
- Reglet condition and sealant
- Crown and cap noted as separate items
Flashing questions we hear in Watergate
Is resealing enough, or does the flashing need replacing?
That depends on the metal. If the pieces are sound and lapped correctly, and only the sealant has failed, a reseal can be the right repair. Rusted, short or wrongly lapped metal needs replacing, and we explain which applies after the inspection.
Do you need to cut into the brick to fix the flashing?
Sometimes. Counter flashing is usually set into a mortar joint, and if the old joint is too worn to hold it, a fresh reglet is cut. The dust is controlled and cleaned up, and any repointing beyond the reglet is a separate item.
Does the flashing need checking if the fireplace is not used?
Yes. The chimney still passes through the roof, and the flashing keeps water out whatever happens in the firebox. An unused chimney can leak for a long time unnoticed, so a look during a maintenance visit is worthwhile.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Gas Fireplace VentingAssess and repair the gas fireplace vent arrangement using components suited to the identified system.
- Chimney RebuildRebuild the affected chimney section with the retained structure, roof connection and passage included in the plan.
- Fireplace Hearth RepairRepair the hearth surface after considering the supporting assembly and fireplace requirements.
- Chimney Leak RepairFind the chimney water entry point and plan a repair before restoring the damaged finish.
- Fireplace RestorationCoordinate fireplace repairs while preserving suitable existing features and defining the intended use.
We received your request
Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo