A properly flashed chimney should last 20 to 30 years without leaking. Most chimney leaks we repair were "fixed" previously with roofing tar that failed within one to two seasons. We install the real fix — a two-part step and counter flashing system that works.
The proper two-part system: base step flashing woven with shingles along the chimney sides, and counter flashing embedded into the mortar joints above it. Copper or galvanized steel — no caulk-only repairs.
The chimney crown is the concrete cap at the top of the chimney. When it cracks, water enters the flue and chase during every rainstorm. We repair or replace crowns with elastomeric crown coat for a watertight seal.
Deteriorated mortar joints between chimney bricks allow water to wick into the masonry. We tuckpoint failed joints with color-matched mortar and apply a penetrating waterproof sealer to the entire chimney exterior.
Chimney flashing leaks are almost always fixed incorrectly the first time — roofing tar smeared over the seam. Tar cracks, shrinks, and pulls away within one to two seasons. The only permanent repair is a properly installed two-part flashing system: base flashing embedded in the mortar course and counter flashing lapped over it. We have re-repaired hundreds of recent chimney "fixes" done with a caulk gun.
