Counter flashing and mortar joint
The most common chimney repair. The metal is re-cut into sound mortar and the joint repointed, so the flashing sits in the brick rather than on it.
Serving Essex County
Chimney Flashing Repair in Newark, NJ
Repairs to counter flashing, step flashing, crowns and caps on masonry chimneys in Newark, with the brick joint rebuilt before the metal is sealed.
- Flat roofs, rowhouses and two- and three-family houses
- Leaks, wind and storm damage, Ida's rain to Isaias's gusts
- Phone answered 24/7 across Newark and 29 nearby towns
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 751-2102. Or send this and we call you back.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair: what it covers
Quick answer
Chimney flashing repair restores the metal and mortar where a masonry chimney passes through a roof, and covers the crown and cap that shed water from the top. Many older Newark chimneys stand on houses built between 1890 and 1925, where the joint has aged with the brick. Newark Roofing connects you with a local technician who inspects the joint from the roof and attic.
A chimney is the most complicated joint on most pitched roofs. Four sides of metal meet a masonry shaft that moves a little with every temperature change, and water running down the brick has to be turned away on each side. When the flashing fails there, the water usually reaches the chimney's inner face first.
On the older houses of Newark, the chimney and its flashing were often built before the roof was last covered. Mortar, brick and metal have aged at different rates, so a repair usually means cutting into the joint and rebuilding it, not only sealing the metal.
- Service area
- Newark & Essex County
- Availability
- Phone answered 24/7
- Phone
- (833) 751-2102
Warning signs
Signs you need chimney flashing repair
Do not work on a chimney crown or cap from a ladder that is not secured at the top, and keep clear of loose brick and mortar falling from the stack. If there is smoke in the house, a strong smell of gas or a damaged flue, keep everyone out of the room, leave the area and call the gas utility before any roof work resumes, then call (833) 751-2102.
- A stain on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney, most visible after wind-driven rain
- Cracked or crumbling mortar where the metal flashing enters the brick
- Rust or a gap at the corners where two pieces of step flashing meet the chimney
- A cracked or missing crown, the top surface that sheds water off the chimney
- Daylight visible in the attic beside the chimney, or damp on the rafters that touch it
Options
Types and options for chimney flashing repair
Step flashing at the roof slope
The pieces that run up the sides of the chimney on the roof are replaced or refitted. They are the parts that lift when the covering moves.
Crown and cap repair
The top of the chimney is rebuilt or sealed so water sheds away from the flue. A cracked or missing cap lets rain into the chimney body.
Skip the guesswork. Call for a straight answer.
Tell us what's happening and we'll tell you honestly whether it's a quick fix, and what chimney flashing repair should cost.
Why does chimney flashing leak more than the rest of the roof?
A chimney passes through the roof, so its flashing has to shed water from four sides and seal against moving masonry. Every corner and every mortar joint is a place where water can enter, and the leak often appears inside the wall the chimney stands against.
Brick moves with temperature, and metal moves at a different rate. Over several seasons the joint between them opens, and wind-driven rain goes straight into the gap.
Water that enters at the chimney often runs down the inside of the chimney body or along the rafters beside it. The stain can show in a room on the far side from the chimney, which is why the attic is read first.
A technician also checks the flue cap, since a cracked cap lets water into the chimney and then into the joint from the inside.
Can chimney flashing be sealed instead of rebuilt?
Sealing is a short-term patch. It can close a small gap, but if the mortar is cracked or the metal is lifting, the seal fails and the water returns. A lasting repair re-cuts the flashing into sound mortar and repoints the joint where needed.
Sealant placed over a failed flashing hides the gap from the outside. The brick beneath can then stay wet, and the damp shows as a stain inside the house.
A repointed joint needs time to cure before the metal is fixed against it, and a good repair allows for that rather than rushing to close the job.
Ask the technician to say whether the repair is a seal or a rebuild, and to note which one was done.
What should a chimney repair quote name?
A chimney repair quote names each side of the flashing, the mortar work, any crown or cap repair and the test used afterwards. Because each side can need different work, a single figure hides the parts that set the scope. The price is confirmed on site.
List the mortar work separately from the metal. Repointing and crown rebuilding are different trades on some jobs, and each should be visible in the scope.
State the access. A chimney reached only from a ladder on a narrow lot takes more setup, and that is part of the quote.
The cost guide explains what moves the figure in Newark: the chimney's height, the number of sides needing work, the masonry condition and access.
- Flashing on each side of the chimney
- Mortar repointing at the joint
- Crown or cap repair and its condition
- Access height and staging
- Test performed after the next rain
Our process
How our chimney flashing repair visit works
Inspect the chimney from the roof and the attic
The flashing is checked on all four sides, and the attic is read for damp or daylight where the chimney passes through.
Check the brick and the crown
Mortar joints and the crown are sounded for cracks, because a loose crown can send water down the inside of the chimney.
Re-cut the counter flashing
Counter flashing is cut into the mortar joint, not caulked over, and the joint is repointed where it has crumbled.
Reflash and test
Step flashing is refitted to the roof covering and sealed, and the attic is checked again after the next rain.
Essex County
Why chimney flashing repair is different in Newark and the Essex, Hudson and Union County towns
Many of Newark's older houses have masonry chimneys that predate the present covering. In Forest Hill, houses were generally built between 1890 and 1925 in revival styles, and their chimneys carry that same age in their joints.
A chimney on a shared row or multi-family building also serves the neighbour's roof and wall. Its flashing is checked from the side that touches the neighbouring building, so the repair does not leave a gap at the party line.
Where we work
Chimney Flashing Repair across Essex County
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Ironbound
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Harrison
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Forest Hill
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Kearny
- Chimney Flashing Repair in East Orange
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Irvington
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Hillside
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Orange
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Belleville
- Chimney Flashing Repair in South Orange
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Bloomfield
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Maplewood
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Glen Ridge
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Elizabeth
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Bayonne
- Chimney Flashing Repair in West Orange
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Lyndhurst
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Nutley
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Union
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Jersey City
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Montclair
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Roselle Park
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Rutherford
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Hoboken
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Millburn
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Springfield
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Clifton
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Roseland
- Chimney Flashing Repair in Summit
- Chimney Flashing Repair in New Providence
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
Flashing Repair
Repairs to step, wall, parapet and counter flashing on attached and row buildings in Newark, where most leaks start at a joint.
Roof Leak Repair
Tracing and stopping roof leaks in Newark buildings, from the attic to the parapet, including water that travels along the framing before it stains.
Slate and Historic Roof Repair
Repairs to slate, tile and historic roof details in Newark's designated districts, with review and matching checked before the first slate lifts.
Attic Ventilation and Insulation
Attic ventilation and insulation work on older Newark frame houses, sealing the heat that melts ice dams and feeds moisture into the roof deck.
FAQ
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQs
Why does my chimney leak only in wind-driven rain?
Wind pushes water sideways into the joints around the chimney, where flashing and mortar meet. A joint that is tight in still rain can admit water when the wind drives it, which is why the stain appears after storms.
Should I replace the chimney cap?
If the cap is cracked, missing or lets water into the flue, yes. The technician checks the cap and the crown together, because repairing one without the other often leaves the chimney open.
Does chimney flashing repair need a permit?
It depends on the scope and the building. A flashing and mortar repair is different from structural rebuilding, and the Newark construction office should confirm the case for the address.