Brick Chimney Flashing in Ridge, NY
New step flashing, and the leak stopped
A brick chimney on a tan shingle roof with nothing but caulk where the flashing should have been, stripped back and rebuilt with proper stepped metal.
Ridge, NY
Scope of workA homeowner in Ridge contacted Home Team Construction after noticing brown water marks appearing along the upper ceiling drywall near their central brick chimney. The issue worsened after long winter rainstorms and freeze-thaw cycles typical of inland central Suffolk County. Previous short-term fixes involved spreading roof cement across the seams, but the seal broke down under temperature swings and continued to let water bypass the roofline.
The primary goals included:
- Stripping away hardened tar patches down to clean brickwork and solid structural decking.
- Identifying whether water entry had caused hidden rot in the roof rafters surrounding the chimney opening.
- Fabricating and installing a custom two-piece metal flashing system cut directly into the masonry.
- Integrating durable waterproof underlayment to stop future wind-driven rain from creeping under the shingles.
Our team evaluated the chimney structure from the roof deck and inspected the attic rafters beneath to map out a lasting repair plan.
- Property
- Two-storey, c. 1985
- Chimney
- Red brick, single stack
- Flashing
- Stepped, cut into mortar
- On site
- One working day
What we found
Identifying Chimney Base Runoff Damage
Chimneys situated near the center of pitched roofs take on heavy runoff from the upper slopes, making the base junction a critical barrier. On this Ridge property, thick layers of dried roofing cement had pulled away from the masonry, leaving a hairline gap where roof runoff channeled directly down the back of the brickwork. Prying up the surrounding shingles revealed that water had been running along the roof plywood for months, softening the deck edges and corroding the original rusted tin step flashing underneath. Fixing this right required removing all compromised materials, cutting clean reglet joints into the brick, and setting up an overlapping metal barrier designed to move naturally with building settlement.
What the inspection turned up
- Hardened roofing cement separated from shifting exterior brickwork
- Rotted plywood sheathing edges flanking the rear chimney base
- Corroded tin step flashing perforated by persistent water traps
- Heavy upper roof runoff pooling against the back saddle
The last person just put more tar on it. This time someone actually took the shingles up and did it properly.
How we did it
Step by step
-
Demolition and deck restoration
Cleared away hardened roof cement, stripped shingles to bare framing, and replaced water-softened plywood around the chimney perimeter.
-
Masonry groove cutting
Ground a clean horizontal reglet groove into the chimney mortar lines to seat the new counter flashing securely into the brick.
-
Metal flashing and shingle tie-in
Fitted individual step flashing cards under each shingle course, sealed custom counter flashing with polyurethane, and tied shingles into the field.
The result
A Joint That Sheds Water By Design
Our team eliminated the leak by replacing the damaged decking and building a clean, mechanically fastened flashing system from the roof deck up:
- Sound Wood Decking: We cut out the rotted sheathing boards surrounding the chimney base, reinforced the structural framing beneath, and installed fresh CDX plywood to provide a solid nailing surface.
- Membrane Underlayment: The chimney base and vertical brick joints were wrapped in high-temp ice and water shield, running six inches up the brick to prevent water migration beneath the shingles.
- Layered Step Flashing: We bent and installed heavy-duty aluminum step flashing pieces with every course of shingles, ensuring each card directed water over the face of the shingle below it.
- Embedded Counter Flashing: Our crew saw-cut a precision reglet joint into the brick mortar, seated custom-bent aluminum counter flashing into the groove, anchored it with lead wedges, and sealed the seam with high-performance polyurethane.
- Integrated Shingle Field: Matched architectural shingles were woven cleanly across the repaired deck area, restoring a neat appearance while providing strong wind resistance.
The completed flashing system created a watertight seal around the brick stack, keeping the attic rafters dry and preventing water intrusion through seasonal storms.
See our chimney repair and roof leak repair services for more on how we stop leaks like this one.
What went on
- Prying away layers of brittle tar and rusted tin to expose the bare chimney base
- Cutting out softened plywood decking and securing fresh exterior-grade sheathing
- Grinding a horizontal reglet slot into the brick mortar line to anchor the metal
- Installing overlapping step flashing cards woven beneath each shingle row
- Sealing the counter flashing joint with weather-rated commercial polyurethane sealant
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