Chimney Repair

This chimney repair started with a damp wall and a homeowner who'd been chasing a leak for two seasons. The previous contractor had caulked the flashing and called it done. Six months later, the stain reappeared and the masonry around the chase had started to show mold and white efflorescence — classic signs of ongoing moisture infiltration.

Once we got up to the roof, the picture was clear. The crown was cracked across the top, the mortar joints in the upper third had failed, and the old step flashing was pulling away from the brick. Water was getting in from three places at once. Caulk could never seal that.

We rebuilt the crown with a poured concrete cap pitched to shed water, tuckpointed the deteriorated mortar joints, and installed new step and counter flashing properly woven into the shingle courses. The masonry was then sealed with a vapor-permeable waterproofer to let the chimney breathe but block water entry.

Inside, the mold-affected drywall was removed, the framing dried, and the wall rebuilt. We came back after the next heavy rain to confirm the leak was gone for good.

Most chimney leaks come down to four causes — cracked crowns, deteriorated mortar, failed flashing, or a damaged cap. All four are fixable without rebuilding the whole structure. If you've got a chimney leak, we'll inspect for free and walk you through exactly what's needed.