Flashing Failure
Flashing seals the transitions between roofing materials and vertical surfaces, chimneys, dormers, skylights, and walls. When flashing corrodes, separates, or was never properly installed, it becomes the most common entry point for water.
Symptoms to Look For
- Water stains on interior walls or ceilings near chimneys or dormers
- Visible rust streaks running down masonry from metal flashing
- Gaps between flashing and the roof surface or masonry
- Missing counter-flashing on chimney faces
Common Causes
- Galvanic corrosion when incompatible metals are used together
- Mortar joint failure releasing embedded counter-flashing
- Caulk-only "flashing" that cracks and fails within a few years
- Thermal expansion cycles separating step flashing from the roof plane
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Repair or Replace?
Flashing is relatively low material cost but high labor cost to do correctly. Caulking over failed flashing is a temporary measure that will fail again. The correct repair is to remove and replace with properly integrated step, counter, and cap flashing using copper or ice-and-water-protected aluminum.
Flashing Failure in northeastern Pennsylvania
Brick chimneys are nearly universal on pre-1960 homes in Scranton, Dunmore, Carbondale, and other Lackawanna County communities. Mortar deterioration from decades of freeze-thaw cycling is the leading cause of counter-flashing failure in the region.
Areas Where We Fix Flashing Failure
Dealing with Flashing Failure?
Don't wait. Call ShingleMe for a free inspection, we'll diagnose the problem and give you a straight answer.