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Chimney Flashing by Chimney Cricket
Chimney flashing is
installed underneath the shingles, at a 90 degree angle with
one side resting on the chimney and the other on the roof.
The flashings should be covered with a counter flashing. To
install a proper counter flashing, a groove should be ground
out of the brick chimney and the metal should be fit into
this and bent to run down the chimney and overlap the
flashings. The counter chimney flashing is critical because the roof
and chimney expand and contract at different rates. A metal
counter flashing allows for this movement without breaking
any seals which would allow water to leak around the chimney.
Properly sealing your chimney flashing to weatherproof your chimney against the elements is always a suggested by Chimney Cricket.
Get a Quote on Chimney Flashing from Chimney Cricket
Chimney Flashing Tip:
Faulty chimney flashing can expose a
home to severe damage
 By Gene Gary
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
Q: When inspecting the gutters and condition of
the shingles on our roof, I noticed that the metal flashing
around our chimney is curled up at one of the ends. Is this
something that could cause a problem? If so, what should be
done?
A: Something should
be done about it immediately, In fact it is surprising that
you have not yet had a leak in the house.
Straighten out the end of the flashing so that it lies flat
against the roof. Drive a couple of nails through it into
the roof.
Completely cover the area with roofing cement.
Inspect the entire roof carefully to be sure that some other
parts of the flashing do not also need attention.
If you do not feel comfortable climbing on the roof and
handling roof repairs- this is one job that requires
complete knowledge of what you re doing-it would be best to
call in a professional roofer to handle the job.
This would also be a good time to inspect the entire chimney
system to assure safe operation.
Chimneys may appear fine from the exterior, but can be
damaged extensively on the interior, which can lead to
dangerous situations, such as chimney fires caused by
buildup of creosote on interior chimney walls.
Debris such as birds nests or even a buildup of falling
leaves can clog the chimney flue, resulting in a backup of
harmful gases into the home.
Additionally, water seeping into a chimney can erode bricks
and mortar and compromise the structural integrity of the
chimney.
I would recommend that you
have your chimney inspected by a
professional, such as a certified chimney sweep.
In fact, it’s a good idea to have your chimney examined once
a year by a pro. A professional can recognize problems
quickly, evaluate the system and offer recommendations for
safer, more efficient use.
A pro can check for external deterioration and make sure
that a 2 inch cleaner for com bustibles exists on all sides
of an internal chimney
(an important safety rule)
If your chimney does need cleaning, you can expect a
complete cleaning from a chimney sweep, which includes
removing creosote from the flue and stovepipe and cleaning
the door area.
On a fireplace, the smoke
chamber and smoke shelf will also be swept and vacuumed.
Chimney Cricket - chimney flashing and chimney flashing repair specialists - old homes or new homes.
Servicing
Michigan (MI), Ohio (OH), and Florida (FL) Including these
Metro Areas and Cities:
Metro Detroit, Troy, Southfield, Pontiac, Sterling Heights,
Warren, Grosse Pointe, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Hills,
Royal Oak, Plymouth, Novi, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Kalamazoo,
Battle Creek, Muskegon, Ann Arbor, Cleveland, Lorain,
Toledo, Bowling Green, Akron, Youngstown, Sarasota, Tampa,
St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Venice, Bradenton, Punta Gorda,
Port Charlotte
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