Chimney flashing repair. The most common source of interior leaks.
Nine times out of ten, water stains on the ceiling next to a chimney are flashing — not the chimney itself. We strip the failed flashing, install proper step flashing under each course of shingles, and counter flash into a fresh saw-cut reglet in the brick. Lifetime sealant. Properly tied to the roof underlayment.
What's included in this service?
- Strip and replace failed step and counter flashing
- Saw-cut reglet into masonry for proper counter flash anchoring
- Aluminum, galvanized, or copper flashing options
- Cricket fabrication for chimneys wider than 30" on the upslope side
- Tie-in to existing roof underlayment with proper overlap
- Sealant work with NovaFlash or similar lifetime polymer
- Coordination with your roofer on full reroofs
When do you need this service?
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall near the chimney during rain
- Visible rust, gaps, or roofing tar lumps around the chimney base
- You just had a new roof installed and the chimney was reflashed sloppy
- Flashing is older than 25 years (typical galvanized life in SD coastal)
- A chimney sweep camera scan found water on the smoke shelf
- Water is dripping into the firebox in storms
What do homeowners ask about Flashing?
How do I know it is the flashing and not the crown?
We do a leak diagnosis first. Crown leaks usually show up as efflorescence on the upper brick and water on the smoke shelf. Flashing leaks show up as wall stains at the ceiling line or in the attic where the chimney passes through. We confirm with a hose test — running water on each suspect area in turn while watching the interior.
Why did my new roof get installed without proper counter flashing?
Common shortcut. The roofer wraps L-flashing up the side of the brick and seals it with caulk. Looks fine on day one. Fails in 3–5 years when the caulk dries out. Proper counter flashing is set into a saw-cut groove (reglet) in the masonry — water-tight without depending on caulk.
What's a chimney cricket?
A small triangular roof structure on the upslope side of a chimney. Required by code for any chimney wider than 30" measured perpendicular to the slope. It diverts water and debris around the chimney instead of letting it pile up against the upslope flashing. Without one, the upslope flashing becomes a dam and fails fast.
Aluminum, galvanized, or copper flashing — which?
Aluminum is the modern default — won't rust, lasts 30+ years, paint-friendly. Galvanized is what most older chimneys have and what fails first near the coast. Copper lasts 70+ years and looks beautiful but costs 4x as much. We default to aluminum unless you ask for copper.
Do you reflash during a full reroof or after?
During is always better — coordinated with the roofer, single warranty, single liability. We work with most San Diego roofers and can sync the schedule. After-the-fact reflash is also fine but means lifting the lower courses of shingles.
Where do we offer Flashing in San Diego County?
We provide flashing in every city and community in San Diego County. Pick your city for local climate notes and service specifics.
See flashing in all 48 cities
Homeowners who hired us for this
Bought our 1980s house with no service history on the fireplace. Their camera scan found a cracked clay tile we never would have spotted. Sweep was dust-free — couldn't tell they'd been in our living room. Written report in my inbox the next morning.
Called for a leak that two roofers had blamed on the roof. Their tech ran a hose test and showed me it was the crown — pictures and everything. Crown rebuild stopped the leak the same week. Honest work and clear pricing.
Raccoons in the chimney for two seasons. Other companies wanted to sell me a full inspection package first. Draft Pro came out, installed a stainless cap with proper mesh, and the noises stopped that night. Fair price.
Need flashing in San Diego County?
Call for a free quote. Most work scheduled within the week.