Repair Options

How we stop water at the roofline in Astor Farms

Sealant that belongs in a flashing joint

Sealant has a real place in a flashing detail, at the reglet and at laps, but the type matters. The Brick Industry Association recommends a good grade of polysulfide, butyl or silicone rubber sealant in chimney joints, never an oil-based one, with proper priming and backing.

We use sealant where the detail calls for it and rely on metal everywhere else. Our local team explains the difference on site in Astor Farms, and the written price comes before any work, with no hidden fees.

Galvanized steel and its limits

Galvanized steel is inexpensive and easy to find, but its life depends on the zinc coating, and heavier coatings can crack where the metal is folded. For chimney flashing in brick, the Brick Industry Association does not recommend it. Rust streaks on the brick below the flashing are often the first sign the coating is gone.

Your existing metal is identified, and what we would use instead is priced beside it. In Astor Farms, whichever you choose is 10% off when it is booked inside 72 hours of the inspection.

Corners, where leaks often start

The corners of a chimney are where the apron, the steps and the back flashing meet, and they are hard to fold well. Brick Industry Association details put tabs at each corner of the base flashing and note that preformed shapes are available for outside corners to reduce cutting. A corner cut short leaves a small gap that lets in a lot of water over time.

We look closely at all four corners of every Astor Farms chimney we inspect, and the inspection is free.

Mortar where the counter flashing sits

Counter flashing let into a mortar joint is only as good as that joint. If the mortar around the reglet has cracked or washed out, water gets behind the metal even when the flashing itself is sound. Repointing the affected joints, sometimes as part of chimney tuckpointing along the flashing line, restores the seal.

The joints along the flashing get checked on every visit, and any mortar work is priced as its own line for your Astor Farms home. Our 100% satisfaction guarantee covers the finished detail.

Water that gets in at the top of the chimney

Water that enters through a cracked chimney top or around the flue tile can run down inside the chimney and show up near the roofline. Florida code section R1003.9.1 wants the masonry chimney cap to have a drip edge, with a caulked bond break where it meets each flue liner, and the Brick Industry Association adds flashing below the crown.

Reflashing will not stop a leak that starts at the top. We check it on every flashing visit in Astor Farms and quote chimney crown repair separately if it is needed.