Chimney Repair and Sealing in Boardman, Ohio
Leaks around the chimney fixed at the source: the flashing and the seal where the chimney meets the roof.
What's included
- Chimney flashing repaired or replaced
- Chimney sealed against water
- Leaks around the chimney traced and fixed
- Done with the roof around it, not as a patch
- Free quote before any work starts
Signs you need chimney repair & sealing
What you might notice from the ground, or from inside the house.
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall next to the chimney
- Flashing that's lifted, rusted or patched with tar
- Damp in the attic around the chimney
- Water dripping into the fireplace
Why chimneys leak
A chimney is a big hole in the roof with a brick column through it, and the joint between the two is where the water gets in. The flashing that seals that joint lifts, cracks, or gets smeared over with tar that dries out, and the water runs down the chimney and into the house.
What we do
We trace the leak, repair or replace the flashing where the chimney meets the roof, and seal the chimney against water. Because the work is part of the roof, it's done with the shingles around it, not as a patch smeared over the top of them.
With a new roof
If the roof is being replaced, the chimney flashing should be replaced with it. Reusing tired flashing on a new roof is how a new roof ends up leaking.
How a chimney is flashed
A properly flashed chimney has two layers of metal working together. Step flashing is woven in with the shingles up each side, and counter flashing is set into the brick and folded down over it, so water running down the chimney is shed onto the roof instead of behind it.
On the uphill side of a wide chimney, a small peaked section called a cricket splits the water around it, so it doesn't pool against the brick.
Tar isn't a fix
Many chimney leaks have been "fixed" before with roofing tar smeared along the joint. It stops the water for a season or two, then it dries, cracks and pulls away from the brick, and the leak comes back. It also hides what's underneath. A lasting repair means proper flashing, not another layer of tar.
When it isn't the flashing
Not every leak next to a chimney comes through the flashing. Water can also get in through a cracked chimney crown, crumbling mortar joints or porous brick, and run down inside to the same stain. We'll trace where yours is really getting in, and if the brickwork itself needs rebuilding, we'll tell you.
Signs the leak is the chimney
- Stains on the ceiling or wall right next to the chimney
- Damp or dark wood around the chimney in the attic
- Rusted, lifted or tar-covered flashing
- Water in the firebox or on the hearth
- A leak that shows up when snow melts against the chimney
Water coming in right now? Call 330-531-1296. The phone is answered day and night.
When in the year
Any time the roof is dry enough to work on. Chimney leaks often show up in winter, when snow melts against the chimney, and in wind-driven spring rain.
How to get started with chimney repair & sealing
Four steps. The quote is free and there is no obligation.
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Call or send the form
Tell us what the roof is doing and where the property is. Photos of the problem help if you can take them from the ground safely.
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We look at the roof
We see what is actually going on before anything is priced, and tell you what we found in plain words.
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You get a free quote
The work and the price, before anything starts. Homeowners can ask about financing at the same time.
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We do the work
We book the job in and do it. If the weather turns on the day, we would rather move it than rush it.
Where we do chimney repair & sealing
Roofing for Boardman, Girard, Canfield, Poland, Austintown, Struthers, Campbell, Liberty, Hubbard and Niles, and out as far as Mosquito Creek Lake, Lowellville, East Liverpool and Akron.
Related work
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Roof Repair
Leaks, missing shingles, failed flashing and storm damage, found and fixed on shingle and metal roofs across the Mahoning Valley.
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Roof Replacement
A new shingle or metal roof, from the deck up, for houses and commercial buildings across the Mahoning Valley. Free quote before any work starts.
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Skylight Installation & Repair
Leaking skylights repaired or replaced, and new skylights installed and flashed into the roof properly.
Questions about chimney repair & sealing
My ceiling is wet next to the chimney. Is it the chimney or the roof?
Usually the flashing where the two meet. We'll find out where the water is actually getting in.
Can you seal a chimney?
Yes. Sealing the chimney against water is part of the chimney work we do.
Should the chimney flashing be replaced with a new roof?
Yes. New flashing is part of doing a replacement properly.
Someone put tar around my chimney. Is that enough?
Usually not for long. Tar dries and cracks and the leak returns. A lasting fix is proper flashing.
What's a cricket?
A small peaked section built on the uphill side of a wide chimney, so water flows around the chimney instead of pooling against it.
Water coming in, or a roof to plan?
If it is leaking now, call — the phone is answered day and night. If you are planning a repair or a new roof, send the quote form with a few photos and we will come back to you.