Historic neighborhoods across Pittsburgh—such as Squirrel Hill and Shadyside—feature classic brick and stone masonry chimneys. However, chimney flashing is statistically the single most common leak origin on older homes.
Our Pittsburgh roof repair specialists regularly diagnose and rebuild leaking chimney flashings throughout Allegheny County.
Why Chimney Flashing Breaks Down
1. Differential Settling
Brick chimneys rest on heavy stone foundations, while roof rafters rest on wood framing. As the house expands and settles over decades, independent movement shears original solder joints and pulls aluminum counter-flashing away from brick mortar lines.
2. Freeze-Thaw Mortar Deterioration
Water absorbed by brick mortar freezes and expands during winter. As mortar crumbles, water slips behind step flashings, causing active ceiling leaks inside living rooms and bedrooms.
3. Missing Rear Crickets
Large chimneys wider than 30 inches trap water and snowmelt behind them. Without a custom metal diversion pyramid (cricket), standing water rots roof decking behind the chimney.
How Proper Flashing Repair Is Done
Proper flashing restoration requires grinding deep reglet channels into mortar joints, inserting new lead or copper counter-flashing, and sealing joints with polyurethane masonry sealant.
Explore our custom Flashing Repair solutions and specialized Chimney & Skylight Repair services.