Most leaks next to a chimney come from the metal flashing, not the brick or the shingles. Martin Exteriors Roofing & Siding finds where the water is getting in and replaces worn flashing so it stays out. Inspections are free for everyone, and we’re open 24/7 at (815) 624-6278.
What Flashing Does
Flashing is the metal that seals the joints where your roof meets something else: a chimney, a wall, a vent pipe or a skylight. Shingles shed water across the open roof, but at those joints water needs a path around the obstacle. Flashing gives it one.
Around a chimney, three parts usually work together:
- Step flashing. Short pieces woven in with each row of shingles up the sides of the chimney.
- Counter flashing. Metal set into the chimney that laps over the step flashing so water cannot get behind it.
- A cricket. A small peaked section built behind a wide chimney that sends water and snow around the sides instead of letting it pile up.
When any one of those parts is worn, bent or missing, water can follow the chimney straight into your attic.
Signs Your Chimney Flashing Is Leaking
Flashing leaks often show up inside before you can see anything from the ground. Watch for:
- Stains on the ceiling or walls near the chimney
- Damp or darkened wood around the chimney in the attic
- Drips after heavy rain or when snow melts
- Rusted, bent or lifted metal where the roof meets the chimney
- Dried out or cracked caulk at the joint, which can be a sign of an older patch
A stain near the chimney can also come from the shingles around it, from an ice dam, or from moisture that builds up when an attic does not breathe. Poor attic ventilation can leave damp wood that looks a lot like a leak, so the first step is finding the real source.
How We Repair Flashing
We start by finding where the water is getting in. At the free inspection we check the flashing, the shingles around the chimney and the attic below, and we look for signs of ice dams. If ice is the cause, our ice dam repair page explains that fix.
If the flashing is the problem, we remove the worn metal, install new flashing and replace the shingles around the chimney as needed so every piece laps the right way. Caulk alone is not how we repair flashing. It can hide a leak for a while, but new metal is what keeps the water out.
If water is coming in right now, call us. We’re open 24/7 and provide tarping within 24 hours. See emergency roof repair.
Sometimes the chimney itself is the problem, such as loose brick, worn mortar or a cracked crown. If that is what we find, we tell you, so you know exactly what needs fixing before you spend money.
Flashing With a New Roof
If your roof is due for replacement, the flashing is part of the job. When we replace a roof, every shingle and the old flashing come off, and new flashing goes on with the new roof, along with ice and water shield on every eave. See roof replacement and asphalt shingle roofing for the full system.
Vents, Walls and Skylights
Vent pipes. The rubber boot around a plumbing vent can crack with age and let water run down the pipe. Replacing the boot is a common roof repair.
Walls. Where a roof meets a wall, such as on a dormer or an addition, step flashing works the same way it does on a chimney. When it fails, water can show up on the wall inside the house.
Skylights. Most skylight leaks come from the flashing, not the glass. We are VELUX certified. See skylight installation and repair.
Why Martin Exteriors
- Family-owned since 2006
- GAF Master Elite, a status GAF gives to fewer than 2% of roofers
- What Rocks Rockford Best Roofer, 6 years running (2020 to 2025)
- Roof inspections that are free for everyone
- Open 24/7, with tarping within 24 hours
- Roof maintenance plans that check flashing on a schedule
- Financing as low as $149/month for qualified buyers. See financing options.
Areas We Serve
We repair chimney and roof flashing for homeowners in these towns:
- Rockford, IL
- Roscoe, IL
- Rockton, IL
- Loves Park, IL
- Machesney Park, IL
- Belvidere, IL
- Cherry Valley, IL
- South Beloit, IL
- Poplar Grove, IL
- Caledonia, IL
- Capron, IL
- Harvard, IL
- Beloit, WI
- Janesville, WI
- Clinton, WI
- Milton, WI
- Elkhorn, WI
- Delavan, WI
- Lake Geneva, WI
Chimney Flashing FAQ
Why does my roof leak around the chimney?
Worn, lifted or poorly lapped flashing is a common cause. The shingles around the chimney or an ice dam can also be to blame, so we find the source at the free inspection.
Can you fix chimney flashing without a new roof?
Yes. We replace the worn flashing and the shingles around the chimney as needed, without replacing the whole roof.
Can’t you just caulk it?
Caulk can hide a leak for a while, but it is not how we repair flashing. We replace worn flashing with new metal instead.
Do I need a cricket behind my chimney?
Wide chimneys often need one to move water and snow around them. We check for it at the inspection and tell you if your chimney needs one.
My chimney is leaking right now. What do I do?
Call (815) 624-6278. We are open 24/7 and provide tarping within 24 hours.
Is the inspection free?
Yes. Inspections are free for everyone.
Leak by the chimney? Schedule your free inspection or call (815) 624-6278. We’ll find the source and show you what we found.
