Problems We Fix
Flashing problems we fix on Heathrow roofs
Step flashing laid course by course
On a shingle roof, the sides of the chimney are usually protected with step flashing, short L-shaped pieces, one for each course of shingles, each lapping the piece below. Section R905.2.8.3 of Florida's residential code allows sidewall flashing either as step flashing or as one continuous L flashing. When steps are missing, reversed or rusted through, water runs straight past them.
We replace step pieces in the order the shingles were laid so every lap sheds water downhill. Our family-owned crew prices the side walls separately, and the first inspection in Heathrow is free.
The apron across the downhill face
On the downhill face of the chimney, the base flashing is one continuous apron. In the Brick Industry Association's sequence, base flashing goes on first, beginning at the lower faces, with tabs folded around each corner, and reaches at least 4 inches onto the roof and 4 inches up the brick.
An apron that is short, cracked at a corner or lifted by wind is a common place for water to get in. Our local team checks it first on every visit to Heathrow roofs, and the inspection costs nothing.
Chimneys that pass through a metal roof
Metal panels expand, contract and carry water in their ribs, so a chimney on a metal roof needs flashing formed to suit the panel profile. Panel makers publish their own details for roof penetrations, and the right one depends on the panel installed. A generic shingle-style detail on a metal roof often leaves gaps at the ribs.
Our crew studies how the existing flashing meets the ribs and explains what the manufacturer's detail calls for. Book a free inspection for your Heathrow home with our local flashing specialists.
Who handles the roofing around the chimney
Chimney flashing sits where two trades meet. The metal against the masonry and the reglet in the brick are chimney work. The shingles, tiles or panels lifted and relaid around it are roofing. On some jobs one crew handles both, and on others the roofer and the chimney crew work in sequence.
At the inspection you learn which parts of your Heathrow roof we handle and where a roofer is needed, so nothing is left in between. The scope is written down with no hidden fees.
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 Heathrow and quote chimney crown repair separately if it is needed.
