Chimney Flashing Repair in Salem, OR
Most "chimney leaks" aren't leaks in the chimney at all — they're failures in the flashing, the metal seal where the chimney meets the roof. We rebuild that seal so the rain stays outside where it belongs.
Why Your Chimney Leaks When It Rains
When water shows up on the ceiling near your chimney, the chimney itself usually isn't the problem. More often the leak starts at the flashing — the metal seal where the chimney passes through the roof. Salem gets rain most of the year, and even a small flashing gap lets water in with every storm.
- Brown or yellow stains on the ceiling near the chimney after rain
- Water marks on the roof framing around the chimney in the attic
- Damp brick, bubbling paint, or peeling wallpaper on the chimney wall
- Rust streaks on the flashing or the shingles below it
- Flashing that looks lifted, bent, or pulled away from the brick
If you're seeing any of these, the fix is usually straightforward — but only if the flashing gets rebuilt correctly. When the source isn't obvious, a full chimney leak diagnosis tracks the water to where it actually gets in.
Step Flashing and Counter Flashing, Explained
Good chimney flashing is a two-part system. Step flashing is a series of L-shaped metal pieces woven into the shingles as they climb alongside the chimney, so water running down the roof gets kicked out over the shingles instead of behind them.
Counter flashing is the second layer: metal set into a mortar joint in the chimney itself and bent down over the step flashing, so water running down the brick can't sneak in behind the top edge. When either layer is missing, corroded, or lapped wrong, the system leaks — and plenty of roofs we see only have one of the two.
Why Caulk and Tar Don't Fix It
A lot of leaking chimneys have been "fixed" three or four times with a tube of caulk or a bucket of roofing tar. It holds for a season, then Oregon's wet-dry cycle shrinks and cracks the sealant and the leak comes back — often worse, because tar traps water behind it instead of letting it drain.
Flashing has to work mechanically: overlapping layers of metal that shed water the same way shingles do. If those layers aren't there or aren't lapped right, no amount of goop on top will save it. That's why we rebuild flashing instead of smearing over it.
How We Repair Chimney Flashing
We start by checking the flashing, the crown, and the surrounding roof, so we know the flashing is truly the source. Then we lift the shingles along the chimney, pull the old metal, and fit new step flashing piece by piece as the shingles go back down.
For the counter flashing, we grind a clean groove into the mortar joint, lock the new metal into it, and seal the joint. Done this way, the metal sheds water on its own — the sealant is insurance, not the fix. Qualifying work is backed by our 10-year warranty, and we handle every chimney type: masonry, prefab, wood stove, and fireplace insert.
While we're up there, we'll tell you straight if the crown, cap, or brick needs attention. Salem's rain finds every weak point, and waterproofing the whole stack once the flashing is right is cheap insurance.
Serving Salem and the Mid-Willamette Valley
Green Chimney serves Salem, Keizer, Albany, Corvallis, McMinnville, Woodburn, Silverton, Dallas, and the surrounding mid-Willamette Valley. We're a come-to-you company with 20+ years of chimney experience, a 5.0 rating across 44 Google reviews, and we answer the phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — leaks don't wait for business hours.
Estimates are free, and we'll tell you exactly what's failing and what it takes to fix it. If you're due for a cleaning anyway, ask about our $99 chimney sweep special while we're out. Call (208) 728-6438 and we'll get eyes on your flashing before the next storm rolls in.
FAQs
How do I know the leak is the flashing and not the chimney itself?
The pattern tells you a lot: flashing leaks show up during or right after rain, usually as stains on the ceiling or attic framing right beside the chimney. Cracked crowns and porous brick tend to leak slower and show as damp masonry near the flue or firebox. We confirm the actual source on-site before recommending any repair.
Can't you just re-caulk the old flashing?
We could, but we won't sell it as a repair — caulk over failed flashing typically buys months, not years. Once the metal is corroded or the layers are lapped wrong, the only durable fix is new flashing installed as a proper overlapping system.
Do you repair flashing on prefab and wood stove chimneys?
Yes. Prefab chimney chases and stove pipe penetrations leak at the roofline just like masonry chimneys, and we work on all of them — masonry, prefab, wood stoves, and fireplace inserts. The details differ, but the principle is the same: metal layers that shed water.
Is flashing repair covered by your warranty?
Qualifying flashing work is backed by our 10-year warranty. We'll tell you up front exactly what's covered before any work starts, and the estimate itself is free.