Chimney Flashing and Deck Repair in West Michigan

We got the call from a new homebuyer right after their home inspection. The inspector flagged the chimney flashing, and the buyer needed it handled before closing. We had it done within one business day.

The chimney was leaking for a few reasons, and they stacked up. The step flashing had been reused from a previous roof instead of replaced. There was no kick-out flashing at the outside corners, so water ran down the wall instead of being thrown back onto the roof. And the counter flashing was the old step style, cut and stacked piece by piece, which we stopped using years ago because it has too many places to fail.

We took it all off. Every piece of step and base flashing and all the shingles around the chimney. Once the metal was off we found what usually hides under a chimney like this: rotted decking. We cut back to solid wood and replaced it. Then new ice and water shield, wrapped properly up the chimney, and new custom-bent flashing on top of it.

For the counter flashing, we ground a new joint into the chimney masonry and installed a single continuous piece. That does two things. It seals better than stacked steps, and it hides the shadow marks the old step flashing left behind on the brick, so the finished chimney looks like it was always done right.

While we were up there we knocked out a handful of small repairs elsewhere on the roof. All in, about five hours. Fifteen-year warranty on the chimney.