Chimney Flashing Repair & Installation
Roofs and chimneys do not make seamless connections, as they are made from different materials. For this reason, the gap between the roof and the chimney of a home must be covered in order to keep rain from entering the chimney and house. This covering is called flashing, and are made of plates of metal. If flashing becomes loose or is cracked or torn, water can seep into the gaps and cause damage to the chimney and the house. Because of this, it is important to have damaged flashing repaired right away, before water damage can cause more expensive problems.
Mercer County Chimney Services employs fully licensed, insured, and trained technicians that are more than capable of repairing or replacing chimney flashing. It is recommended that chimneys are cleaned and inspected annually, and on an annual chimney sweep or inspection, our technicians can spot any damage to the flashing and recommend repairs. Often, problems with flashing stem from poor installation from someone without the proper knowledge or experience. Make sure you trust technicians who will be able to replace flashing correctly the first time.
What Is Chimney Flashing?
Chimney Flashing is essentially overlapping metal pieces that are custom fitted around the roofline of the chimney. These metal plates are installed in two layers that extend from underneath the shingles or roof covering up to the outer wall or the chimney, covering the entire seam. These plates are caulked together to make sure the gaps are water-tight. Flashing can come in a variety of materials, such as aluminum, stainless steel, and copper. Copper lasts the longest, but is more expensive than aluminum which is the least durable. It is critical that this material be installed correctly to hug the four corners of the chimney, or else water will be able to seep in.
Flashing damage can be caused by something small, such as a rusted nail. Damage to flashing might not be easy to catch. When there is damage to a chimney’s flashing, water can run down into the chimney system and home. Water damage can appear in attics, ceilings, and adjacent walls. This can become expensive to repair down the line, so it is important to fix leaks in the chimney before this happens, and one of the common places for leaks to occur is the flashing.
For a flashing job to be completed, exact measurements of the chimney and angels of the roof and chimney are taken, and the metal flashing plates are custom made to fit these measurements. The pieces are created to wrap around the chimney before they are brought to the job ready for quick installation. One of the best times for checking the chimney flashing is if you are constructing a new roof on your home. No matter when, it is important to make sure your chimney flashing is functioning well.
If you have a chimney that is in need of flashing repair, call us at 609-802-5288 for professional chimney repair that you can trust. Mercer County Chimney Services operate in cities across the county, including Plainsboro NJ, Ewing NJ, Hopewell NJ and Pennington NJ.
