How Often Should You Check or Repair Your Chimney Flashing?

Relaxing in your home in front of a lit fireplace is considered by many to be the epitome of comfort. Over the winter, families in Atlanta like to use their fireplace often to combat colder weather and create a cheery, hospitable atmosphere in their home. Using a fireplace safely requires your chimney be in proper working order.

Flashing is an important aspect of your chimney that helps ensure the places where it penetrates your roof don’t leak. Your chimney’s flashing can go without needing repair for multiple decades depending on the material used and the conditions in your area.

What Is Chimney Flashing?

Chimney flashing is a thin metal sheet made out of either copper or galvanized steel that is attached around the area where your chimney meets your roof. It keeps the connection between your chimney and roof watertight and prevents water leaking into your attic or living spaces around your chimney.

Stopping water from getting through your roof and into your attic and living spaces is essential for preventing wood rot, mold, mildew, dry wall damage and a slew of other issues that could potentially cause health problems and result in expensive damage repair.

There are three different types of chimney flashing: base flashing, L-flashing or step flashing, and cap or counter flashing.

• Base flashing: Base flashing are applied at the joint between your chimney and your roof.
• L-flashing or Step Flashing: L-flashing lays under your shingles at the base of your chimney.
• Cap or Counter Flashing: Cap or counter flashing covers the L-flashing and is installed in a groove along the base of your chimney.

How Often Should You Check your Chimney Flashing?

Chimney flashing is made out of durable materials so you should only have to check it once every two years for damage. When you check your chimney flashing, you should look for a few tell-tale signs of damage like:

• Cracks or gaps in the seal around your chimney flashing
• Local wildlife nesting in your chimney or inside your roofing
• Rust or water stains on your ceilings or walls around your chimney
• Leaks or puddles of water around your chimney
• Dripping sounds

If your chimney flashing is damaged, consider contacting a roofing specialist to inspect your flashing and your roof for damage that might have occurred as a result.

How Often Should Chimney Flashing Be Replaced?

How often you need to replace or repair your chimney flashing depends on a few factors like the materials used and the weather in your area.

Copper flashing tends to function longer than other materials and can last up to 30 years under the right conditions. Less expensive flashing options, like galvanized steel, might need to be replaced as often as every 15 to 25 years. Aluminum will need to be replaced more frequently than that.

Check Your Chimney Cap or Firebox

If you’re noticing leaks or water damage around your chimney, it’s important to note that the issue might not always be caused by your flashing. Your chimney cap or firebox might be damaged, which can be hazardous if not dealt with.

Check your chimney cap for any cracks and reseal them with an appropriate caulk. If there are cracks in your firebox, you should get them repaired immediately. They can place your home at risk of fire if you plan on using your fireplace at all.

Chimney and Roof Flashing Repair and Replacement in Atlanta

Damaged chimney flashing can let unwelcome guests like squirrels and bugs into your home. It can also lead to a damaged roof or leaks in your home. If bad chimney flashing caused damage to your roof, we can repair it and get your home back in shape.

Let our team of experts fix your flashing so you can enjoy your time inside. Total Roof Solutions has served Atlanta for over twenty years. Our work is competitively priced and reliable. Call us today at 678-752-8668 or find us online.