Chimney repair
Most chimney trouble starts at the top and works its way down. I fix crowns, caps and flashing, and when the brick is too far gone I rebuild from the roofline up.
A chimney takes more weather than any other part of the house. The crown is the concrete top that sheds water. The cap keeps rain and animals out of the flue. The flashing seals the joint where the chimney meets the roof. When any of those fail, water gets into the brick, freezes, and starts pushing it apart.
Caught early, it’s a crown or a flashing job. Left for a few winters, it’s a rebuild.
Signs to look for
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall near the chimney, or in the attic.
- Bits of brick or mortar in the gutter.
- A visible lean, or a gap opening between the chimney and the house.
- White powder on the brick, or brick faces flaking off.
How I do it
- I get up on the roof, photograph the crown, cap, flashing and brick, and show you what’s failing.
- If it’s the crown, I take the cracked one off and pour a new one that overhangs the brick so water drips clear.
- If it’s the flashing, I cut the old flashing out, reseal the roof side, and set new step and counter flashing into the mortar joints.
- If the brick is gone, I take the chimney down to sound brick, usually the roofline, and rebuild it to match, with a new crown and cap.
- I check inside the house with you after the next rain to make sure the leak is gone.
Seeing water near the chimney?
Text me a photo of the stain or the chimney top. I’ll tell you what I think it is before I come out.
PA HIC Reg. #PA______ (your number goes here)