Chimney Leaks & Waterproofing
We find where the water actually gets in, fix it, and seal the masonry.
There are only a handful of ways water gets into a chimney, and they're all findable. The expensive mistake is guessing — sealing the brick when the flashing was the problem, or replacing flashing when the crown was cracked. We find the actual entry point before anybody buys materials.
Signs you'd actually notice
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney
- A damp, musty smell near the fireplace after rain
- White chalky staining (efflorescence) on the brick
- Rusting damper or firebox components
- Peeling paint or crumbling plaster on the chimney chase
What happens on the visit
Diagnose before we quote
We work the four suspects in order: cap, crown, flashing, and the masonry face itself. Drone photos where the roof makes that the safer look.
Repair the flashing properly
The joint where chimney meets roof is the most common leak point and the most commonly botched repair. Caulk over failed flashing is a stopgap, not a fix. On a wide chimney on a sloped roof, the real answer is often a cricket — a small peaked diverter behind the stack that sends water around it instead of letting it pond against the brick.
Address the top
Crown repair or rebuild, cap replacement, chase cover if it's a framed chimney. Water almost always starts here.
Waterproof with a breathable repellent
Once the entry points are closed, the masonry gets a vapor-permeable water repellent. It stops water going in while still letting existing moisture out — a film-forming sealer traps it and accelerates spalling.
Why it matters
Water is what destroys chimneys. Not fire, not age — water. It rusts dampers, breaks down firebox mortar, spalls brick from the inside in freezing climates, carries salts to the surface, and stains the ceiling in the room next door. A leak fixed this spring is a repair; the same leak in three years is a rebuild.
Recent work
What the work looks like
Our own photographs, from real jobs. Before and after where we have both ends of it.
New flashing sealed at the roofline
New flashing run up the brick and out over the shingles, then sealed along every edge.
Flashing carried around the corner
The seal carried continuously around the angle where two roof planes meet the brick.
Flashing where the roof meets the stack
Flashing dressed into the shingles on both sides and sealed against the brick.
Book a sweep, an inspection, or a look at whatever's worrying you
Tell us what's going on and we'll call you back to agree a time. If you'd rather sort it now, the phone is faster.