Skylight & Chimney Flashing in Riverhead, NY
Two skylights and a stone stack, sealed for good
A mauve-grey shingle roof where both skylights and the stone chimney were flashed with sealant, re-detailed in metal so the roof sheds water at every penetration.
Riverhead, NY
Scope of workA homeowner in Riverhead noticed persistent ceiling stains spreading near an upstairs skylight and around the brick chimney following heavy nor'easters. Having previously relied on quick tar patches that cracked every winter, the owner called Home Team Construction for a permanent fix.
The primary goals included:
- Locating the true source of water intrusion along two major roof penetrations.
- Stripping away deteriorated roofing layers and compromised underlayment down to clean wood decking.
- Installing custom, hand-bent metal flashing designed to withstand high winds and freeze-thaw cycles.
- Restoring a watertight seal without requiring a costly full-roof replacement.
Our crew inspected the attic crawl space, checked the chimney masonry for brick saturation, and outlined a targeted repair plan tailored to North Fork seasonal weather.
- Property
- Single-storey, wooded lot
- Penetrations
- Two skylights, one stack
- Chimney
- Stone veneer
- On site
- Two working days
What we found
Identifying Hidden Roof Deck Damage
When water enters around a roof penetration, the point of entry on the roof deck rarely lines up with where the ceiling stain appears inside. In this home, layered coats of hardened roofing tar from previous handymen had formed a dam that trapped moisture against the brickwork instead of shedding it away. Once our crew peeled back the surrounding courses of asphalt shingles, we discovered that moisture had been seeping into the roof deck for multiple seasons, softening the structural plywood around the skylight frame. Working on a steep pitch exposed to steady North Fork coastal winds meant our crew had to secure temporary weather shields daily while coordinating structural wood replacement and masonry prep side by side.
What the inspection turned up
- Hidden wood rot along the lower skylight curb
- Deteriorated mortar joints on the aged brick chimney
- Old cracked roofing tar masking underlying step flashing
- Steep roof pitch creating difficult access points
Nothing was leaking. They showed us photographs of what was under the sealant and we decided we would rather do it now than after a ceiling came down.
How we did it
Step by step
-
Teardown and decking inspection
Stripped shingles down to bare plywood around both penetrations to remove rotten wood and evaluate framing damage.
-
Custom metal fabrication
Hand-bent aluminum step flashing and copper counter flashing cut into mortar joints to handle driving North Fork rains.
-
Final shingle tie-in
Commercial-grade ice and water shield installed around curb perimeters, followed by matched shingles woven cleanly into the field.
The result
Complete Roof and Flashing Restoration
Our team approached the repair by eliminating patchwork fixes and rebuilding the water shedding system from the roof deck up:
- Precision Counter Flashing: We ground out old mortar joints in the chimney brick and installed new metal counter flashing anchored with lead wedges and polyurethane sealant. This diverts water down the roof slope rather than allowing it to run behind the brick.
- Seamless Skylight Curb Sealing: After replacing damp wood around the skylight curb, we wrapped the vertical edges in self-adhering membrane and placed preformed metal flashing along all four sides.
- Integrated Step Flashing: Each shingle course received its own individually layered metal piece, creating a continuous water barrier that moves naturally with home expansion.
- Weather-Matched Re-Shingling: We blended new architectural shingles directly into the existing roof field, ensuring the repair looked uniform while holding firm against coastal winds.
The finished installation held dry through subsequent seasonal storms, eliminating interior leaks and protecting the home’s framing for years to come.
This project reflects our chimney repair and skylight repair work across Suffolk County.
What went on
- Stripping failed roofing layers and rotten plywood down to clean, solid framing
- Grinding out aged mortar joints along the chimney to seat new counter flashing
- Fabricating custom metal step flashing to fit the exact pitch of the roof
- Sealing the skylight curb perimeter with self-adhering waterproof membrane
- Weaving new architectural shingles seamlessly into the surrounding roof field
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