If you see water stains on the ceiling or walls next to your fireplace, or damp spots in the attic around the chimney, the chimney is one of the most likely suspects. Chimneys cut a big hole through the roof, and the seal around them takes a beating from snow, sun and freeze and thaw cycles.
We repair chimney leaks on brick chimneys and on the framed chimney chases common on newer homes. Call (801) 426-8831.
Where the roof meets the sides of the chimney, step flashing is woven with the shingles and counterflashing is set into the brick to cover it. If either piece is loose, rusted or sealed only with caulk, water runs right in.
A cricket is a small peaked section built on the uphill side of a wide chimney to split water around it. Without one, water and snow pile up behind the chimney and eventually get through.
The concrete or mortar cap on top of a brick chimney sheds water. Freeze and thaw cycles crack it, and water soaks down through the chimney.
Without a cap, rain and snow fall straight into the flue.
Brick and mortar soak up water like a sponge. Old, cracked mortar joints let even more in.
Many newer homes have a framed chimney box called a chase, with a metal cover on top. These covers can rust, dent and hold water, which then leaks into the chase and down the inside walls.
01Stains on the ceiling or wall next to the fireplace
02Water in the firebox or on the hearth after rain or snowmelt
03Damp or stained wood around the chimney in the attic
04White, chalky stains on the outside of the brick
05Rust on the fireplace damper or chase cover
06Flaking brick or crumbling mortar
Water can come from the flashing, the crown, the cap or the brick. We check each one before deciding on a repair.
We install new step flashing woven with the shingles and new counterflashing set into the mortar joints, not just surface sealed.
On wide chimneys without one, a cricket stops snow and water from piling up behind it.
Small cracks can be sealed. A badly broken crown may need rebuilding.
A proper cap keeps rain and snow out of the flue.
Rusted or sagging chase covers are replaced with a properly sloped cover.
Water can come from the flashing, the crown, the cap or the brick. We check each one before deciding on a repair.
Snow builds up behind chimneys during winter storms, then melts slowly and sits against the flashing for days. Each freeze and thaw cycle widens tiny cracks in crowns and mortar. Strong summer sun dries out old caulk. And many older homes near downtown have chimneys that have gone decades without new flashing.
Still have a question? Call and ask. We will give you a straight answer.
(801) 426-8831 →Often it is the joint between them, which is the flashing. Leaks can also come from the top of the chimney. We check both so the right part gets fixed.
Caulk alone is a temporary fix. It cracks after a few seasons of sun and cold. A lasting fix uses properly installed metal step flashing and counterflashing.
A cricket is a small ridge on the uphill side of a chimney that diverts water. Building codes call for one on wider chimneys. If yours is wide and water pools behind it, a cricket is often the cure.
Yes. The chase cover or the flashing where the chase meets the roof can leak. We repair both.
Our focus is stopping water where the chimney meets the roof and at the top. If larger masonry work is needed, we will tell you what we found.
The fastest way to reach us is by phone. There are no forms to fill out and no waiting for a callback email. Just call and talk to someone about your roof.