Chimney Flashing Repair in Houston, TX
If you have a stain on the ceiling near the fireplace, the chimney is the first place we look. Not the shingles. Chimney flashing repair in Houston accounts for a large share of the leak calls we take, and most of those leaks have been going on longer than the homeowner realizes. The flashing is a thin metal seal at the joint where the chimney passes through the roof. It is the hardest detail on a roof to get right, and it is the first one a rushed crew gets wrong. We find the actual source before we quote a repair.
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What Chimney Flashing Is
Flashing is sheet metal that bridges the gap between the chimney masonry and the roof surface. A correct installation has several parts working together. Step flashing runs up the sides in individual pieces, one per shingle course, so each piece laps the one below it. Counter flashing is set into a groove cut in the mortar joint and folds down over the step flashing. Apron flashing sits at the front. A cricket, which is a small peaked structure, goes behind wide chimneys to split water around them. When any of those parts is missing or done wrong, water gets in, and what looks like a general roof leak repair in Houston is really a flashing failure. The most common shortcut we see is one continuous piece of bent metal instead of individual step pieces. It looks tidy. It does not shed water correctly.
Signs Your Chimney Flashing Has Failed
Chimney leaks are sneaky because water travels before it shows. These are the signs we see most. Water stains on the ceiling or wall near the fireplace. Damp or crumbling brick inside the firebox. A musty smell around the hearth after rain. Rust streaks running down the outside of the chimney. White chalky residue on the masonry, which means water is moving through the brick. Peeling paint or wallpaper on the wall next to the chimney chase. Visible gaps, lifted metal, or old roofing tar smeared at the flashing joint. Tar is a red flag. It is what somebody used when they did not want to open the roof up and do it properly. It fails within a couple of seasons. When the stain does not line up with the chimney, roof leak detection is the next step. The Chimney Safety Institute of America follows the NFPA 211 standard, which calls for chimneys to be inspected at least once a year. An annual look catches flashing problems while they are still cheap.
How We Repair Chimney Flashing
We do not guess. We start by confirming that the chimney is actually the source, because a leak near a fireplace can come from a vent boot, a valley, or a wall above the roofline. We use a water test when the source is unclear. Once we confirm it, we open the area up. We remove the shingles around the chimney and pull the old flashing. We inspect the decking underneath, since a long-running chimney leak usually means rotted sheathing. If the deck is soft, we replace it before anything else. Then we install new step flashing woven into each shingle course, new counter flashing set into a fresh reglet cut in the mortar, and new apron flashing at the front. If the chimney is wide enough to need a cricket and does not have one, we build one. We finish by sealing the counter flashing joint with a proper sealant, not roofing tar. Then we photograph the finished detail so you have a record. We also check the chimney crown and cap while we are up there. Those are masonry items, not roofing, but a cracked crown will keep your ceiling wet no matter how good the flashing is. We tell you when that is what we see.
Why Choose STX Roofing
Chimney leaks get misdiagnosed constantly. A contractor replaces a few shingles, the leak continues, and the homeowner pays twice. We take the time to find the source first, and we treat flashing as part of residential roof repair rather than a patch job. Russell Mullin, our founder, is a U.S. Air Force veteran and a former insurance adjuster. That background is why we document leaks with photos and moisture readings rather than a verbal description. If your leak is part of a storm claim, that record matters. We are GAF Master Elite and CertainTeed ShingleMaster certified, hold an A+ BBB rating, and are bondable to $750,000. Repairs carry a two-year warranty. We are available around the clock for active leaks. We never reuse old flashing. It is one of our standing rules. Metal that has been bent, nailed, and weathered for twenty years will not seal again, no matter how much sealant goes over it.
Where We Repair Chimney Flashing
We handle chimney flashing repair across Greater Houston and the Lake Houston area, including Huffman, Houston, Atascocita, Kingwood, Humble, Crosby, Porter, New Caney, Dayton, Baytown, La Porte, and Spring. Older housing stock around Humble, Crosby, and the inner-Loop neighborhoods tends to have masonry chimneys with original flashing that has never been replaced. Newer subdivisions often have prefabricated chimney chases with siding rather than brick, which fail differently. We adjust the repair to what is actually on your roof.
What Affects the Investment
Chimney flashing repair cost depends on the size of the chimney, the roof pitch, whether counter flashing needs to be cut into mortar, and whether a cricket is required. Decking damage under the flashing adds to the scope, and we will not know the extent until we open it up. We give you a written scope before we start and we photograph what we find. A flashing repair is far less expensive than the interior drywall, insulation, and framing repairs that follow if it is ignored. Financing is available on qualifying projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if the leak is the chimney or the roof?
Location is a clue but not proof. Water runs along rafters and decking before it drops. We confirm with a targeted water test, working from the bottom of the chimney upward until the leak reproduces.
Can chimney flashing be repaired or does it need replacing?
Small issues like a loose counter flashing edge can sometimes be re-seated and sealed. Most failures we see need new metal, because the original was installed as one continuous piece rather than proper step flashing.
Why is roofing tar around my chimney a problem?
Tar is a temporary patch that hardens, cracks, and pulls away within a season or two. It also hides the underlying defect, which means the leak keeps working on your decking while it looks fixed from the ground.
What is a chimney cricket and do I need one?
A cricket is a small ridged structure built on the upslope side of a chimney to divert water around it. Wide chimneys need one. Without it, water and debris collect behind the chimney and eventually find a way in.
Will my insurance cover a chimney leak?
It depends on the cause. Sudden storm damage to flashing is often covered. Gradual failure from age or a bad original installation is usually treated as maintenance. We document what we find either way so you have the evidence.
Do you work on the chimney itself?
We handle the roofing side, which is the flashing, the decking, and the roof covering around it. Masonry work such as crown repair or tuckpointing is a separate trade, and we will tell you when that is what you need.
Ready to Get Started?
A chimney leak will quietly rot your decking and framing while the ceiling stain stays the same size. Call STX Roofing at (281) 601-7663 or book a free roof inspection. We will find the real source, show you photos, and repair the flashing the way it should have been done the first time. Veteran-owned, based in Huffman, and available 24 hours a day for active leaks.
