Roof Replacement
Complete tear-off, disposal, decking repair, underlayment, and a new roof installed as one system.
Roofing services
Roof Flashing & Chimney Leak Repair in Vancouver, WA & Portland, OR
Most roof leaks don’t start in the middle of the shingles — they start where the roof meets something else. Chimneys, walls, dormers, skylights, and valleys all depend on flashing to keep water out, and when that metal fails, water finds its way inside.
How chimney flashing is supposed to work
A chimney needs a layered flashing system, not a bead of caulk. Apron flashing wraps the downhill face. Step flashing is woven in with each course of shingles up the sides. Counterflashing is cut into the mortar joints of the chimney and folds down over the step flashing, so water running down the brick is shed onto the roof. On the uphill side, a cricket diverts water around the chimney.
On many older Portland and Vancouver homes, one or more of those pieces is missing, rusted, or was replaced with tar and sealant that cracks within a few seasons. Chimney leak repair means rebuilding the flashing correctly. The same principles apply where roofs meet sidewalls, dormers, and skylights.
Roof crickets
Roof crickets (chimney saddles)
A cricket — also called a saddle — is a small peaked section of roof built on the uphill side of a chimney. It splits the water and debris flowing down the roof and sends it around the chimney instead of letting it pile up against the back, where most chimney leaks begin.
Building codes generally require a cricket on chimneys wider than 30 inches measured across the slope, but crickets help on smaller chimneys in heavy-rain areas too. We frame, deck, and flash new crickets, and rebuild failing ones, either as a standalone repair or during a roof replacement.
Optional during reroofing
Not using the chimney anymore?
If your chimney no longer vents a fireplace or appliance, removing it during a reroof eliminates one of the most common leak sources on the roof. Learn about chimney removal during roof replacement.
Warning signs
Signs of a flashing or chimney leak
Not sure what you’re looking at? Photos from the ground with a zoom lens or from inside the attic are a safe way to check. Please don’t climb onto a wet or steep roof.
- Ceiling or wall stains near the chimney, a dormer, or an exterior wall
- Water in the attic around the chimney or in the firebox after rain
- Tar, caulk, or sealant patches where the roof meets the chimney
- Rusted, loose, or bent flashing
- Counterflashing pulling out of the mortar joints
- Leaks that appear only in wind-driven rain
- Rot or stains on siding below a roof-to-wall transition
Scope
What’s included — and what usually isn’t
Flashing and chimney leak repairs
- Leak tracing at chimneys, walls, and roof transitions
- Chimney step flashing replacement
- Counterflashing cut into masonry joints
- Apron and headwall flashing
- Roof crickets framed, decked, and flashed
- Kickout flashing at roof-to-wall transitions
- Valley flashing
- Pipe boot and vent flashing
Often separate from flashing work
- Chimney masonry, tuckpointing, and crown repair
- Chimney caps and flue liners
- Siding repair behind wall flashing
- Interior water-damage repairs
If the brick or mortar itself is failing, new flashing won’t last. We’ll point that out so a mason can address it.
The roof as a system
Types of roof flashing
Step flashing
L-shaped pieces woven in with each shingle course where the roof meets a chimney or wall.
Counterflashing
Metal set into the chimney’s mortar joints that laps over the step flashing to shed water running down the masonry.
Apron & headwall flashing
A continuous piece along the downhill face of a chimney, or where a roof slope meets a wall above it.
Crickets
A small peaked structure behind a chimney that diverts water and debris around it.
Kickout flashing
A small diverter at the bottom of a roof-to-wall joint that sends water into the gutter instead of behind the siding.
Valley flashing
Metal or membrane where two roof slopes meet and water flow is concentrated.
Process
How flashing repair works
Trace the leak
Water stains, attic signs, and the roof are checked to find where water is getting in.
Explain the fix
You’ll know which flashing pieces are failing and what will be replaced or added.
Open the area
Shingles around the chimney or wall are removed, and damaged decking is repaired.
Rebuild the flashing
Step flashing, counterflashing, aprons, and crickets are installed in the right order.
Close it up
Underlayment and shingles are woven back in, and the repair is reviewed with you.
Cost factors
What affects the cost of flashing repair
Flashing repairs are priced for your specific chimney or wall after the leak is traced.
- Chimney size and number of sides involved
- Whether a cricket needs to be built or rebuilt
- Counterflashing into masonry vs. siding
- Decking damage from past leaks
- Roof pitch and access
- Whether the work is done during a roof replacement
Where we work
Roof Flashing & Chimney Leak Repair in Vancouver, WA and Portland, OR
Brick chimneys on Portland’s older homes and wall-to-roof transitions on Clark County two-stories are two of the most common leak sources we see. We repair roof flashing and chimney leaks in Vancouver, Portland, and nearby communities.
FAQ
Roof Flashing & Chimney Leak Repair questions
Why does my chimney only leak when it rains hard?
Heavy or wind-driven rain pushes water past flashing that’s loose, missing pieces, or has failing sealant. Water piling up behind a chimney with no cricket is another common cause.
Is caulking the chimney enough?
Usually not for long. Sealant cracks and pulls away as it weathers. Properly layered step flashing and counterflashing shed water without relying on caulk.
What is counterflashing?
Counterflashing is metal set into the chimney’s mortar joints that laps down over the step flashing, so water running down the brick lands on the roof instead of behind the flashing.
Do I need a chimney cricket?
Codes generally require one on chimneys wider than 30 inches across the slope, and they help on smaller chimneys too. A cricket keeps water and debris from pooling behind the chimney.
Can flashing be fixed without a new roof?
Yes. Flashing can be replaced on an existing roof by removing and reinstalling the shingles around the chimney or wall. If the roof is near the end of its life, it may make sense to do it during a replacement instead.
Roofing estimate
Tell us about your chimney or flashing leak
Describe where the water shows up and when it happens, and we’ll follow up about tracing and repairing the leak.
- Prefer to talk? Call (360) 803-1509
- Share photos of the problem through our contact form
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Related services
Other roofing services
Roof Repair & Leak Repair
Leak tracing, damaged shingle replacement, localized repairs, and emergency tarping.
Asphalt Shingle Roofing
Architectural and designer shingles — including GAF Grand Sequoia — installed for Northwest weather.
Gutter Installation & Replacement
Seamless gutters and downspouts formed to fit your home and sized to carry Northwest rain away.
Skylight Replacement & Repair
Skylight replacement, reflashing, and leak repair — on its own or during a reroof.
Roof Ventilation
Ridge vents, intake vents, and balanced attic airflow to fight condensation, heat, and moisture.
Fascia & Bargeboard Replacement
Rotted or damaged fascia and bargeboards replaced so gutters and roof edges have solid backing.
Roof Inspections
A documented look at your roof’s condition so you can decide between repair, replacement, or waiting.