Chimney Leak Repair in Brookhaven, NY
Four winters of leaks, traced in an afternoon
A leak that three contractors had chased to the wrong place, found at the junction where the chimney brick meets the siding and fixed with membrane and bent metal.
Brookhaven, NY
Scope of workA homeowner in Brookhaven reached out to Home Team Construction after noticing damp drywall and peeling paint on the ceiling surrounding their living room fireplace. The issue worsened significantly during wind-driven rainstorms sweeping off the South Shore. Previous attempts to stop the water with caulk guns and silicone bead lines had failed to keep the interior dry.
The primary goals included:
- Pinpointing the exact water entry points across the chimney stack, crown, and roof deck connection.
- Stripping away compromised materials to evaluate the condition of the underlying rafters and sheathing.
- Rebuilding the flashing and masonry barriers to withstand heavy coastal rains and seasonal freeze-thaw cycles.
- Ensuring the structural integrity of the fireplace framing without having to tear apart interior finished walls.
Our crew conducted a full roof-level assessment, examined the attic framing behind the chimney chase, and built a targeted restoration plan to stop the leak at the source.
- Property
- Two-storey, brick and siding
- Leak history
- Four winters, three contractors
- Fix
- Membrane, bent metal and a saddle
- On site
- One working day
What we found
The Inspection & Tear-Down
Water moving down a chimney chase can travel several feet along rafters before dripping onto drywall, making exterior diagnostics essential. When our crew arrived at the Brookhaven home, we discovered multiple failed barrier points working against the structure at once. The top of the masonry chimney was taking on water directly from above, while wind-driven rain was slipping behind the shingles where the roof slope met the brick walls.
Tar smeared over old rusted metal had hardened and split, forming small shelves that actually held standing water against the brick rather than shedding it down the pitch. Addressing the problem meant peeling back layers of bad repairs, stabilizing the brickwork, and rebuilding the flashing system from the bare deck up.
What the inspection turned up
- Cracked concrete chimney crown letting water soak into bricks
- Rusted through step flashing hidden beneath thick roof tar
- Deteriorated mortar joint lines across the prevailing weather side
- Damp plywood roof sheathing adjacent to the chimney base
Three people had a go at this. They were the first to say they did not know yet and then go and find it.
How we did it
Step by step
-
Demolition and deck prep
Removed layers of roofing tar, damaged shingles, and rusted metal down to bare plywood, replacing rotted wood sheathing around the chimney base.
-
Masonry repointing and crown repair
Ground out crumbling mortar joints, repointed the exposed brickwork, and poured a reinforced waterproof crown cap to shed rainwater off the top.
-
Flashing fabrication and roofing tie-in
Installed heavy-gauge step flashing courses paired with reglet-cut counter flashing, finishing with water barrier membrane and matched architectural shingles.
The result
Fixed Where The Water Was Actually Getting In
Our team resolved the intrusion by tackling both the masonry flaws and the roof connection points with permanent, code-compliant methods:
- Poured Waterproof Crown: We chipped away the fractured concrete cap and formed a new, reinforced crown with an integrated drip edge. This directs water away from the vertical brick faces rather than allowing it to run down the sides.
- Tuckpointing Brick Mortar: Our crew ground out cracked, sandy joints on the weather-facing side of the stack, packing in fresh, weather-resistant mortar to stop moisture absorption through the masonry.
- Two-Piece Flashing System: We installed individual aluminum step flashing cards under every shingle course, overlaid by a custom counter flashing set into a clean saw-cut reglet line and anchored with lead wedges.
- Ice and Water Barrier Integration: The plywood surrounding the stack was wrapped with high-temp self-adhering membrane running several inches up the brickwork before the first shingle was nailed down.
- Seamless Shingle Tie-In: New architectural shingles were woven cleanly into the existing roof field, ensuring the repair area blended with the rest of the home while shedding water effortlessly.
The completed repair fully sealed the chimney stack against South Shore storm winds, stopped the interior ceiling leaks, and gave the homeowner lasting peace of mind.
This repair is representative of our chimney repair and roof leak repair services across Suffolk County.
What went on
- Tearing out degraded shingles and rotten plywood down to clean, sturdy structural rafters
- Chipping off the fractured crown to pour a reinforced concrete cap with a shed pitch
- Grinding deteriorated mortar joints and repointing the brick faces with weather-grade mortar
- Cutting a clean reglet groove into the brickwork to seat new aluminum counter flashing
- Weaving matched architectural shingles into the roof field over fresh protective underlayment
Get Your Roof Fixed Right
Let’s talk about your project. No pressure, just honest answers and a quote you can count on.