Residential · Project playbook
The leak that didn’t need a new roof: chimney flashing rebuild
A ceiling stain two rooms away from the chimney, a roof with plenty of life left, and a repair that solved it in a day.
Illustrative walkthrough of a typical project — not a record of a specific RoofMaster job. Photos are licensed stock.
- Property
- Single-story brick home
- Existing roof
- Architectural shingles, ~8 years old
- Symptom
- Stain on living room ceiling after heavy rain
- Cause
- Failed counter-flashing and no cricket behind a wide chimney
- Repair time
- 1 day
The situation
The homeowner had been told by another company that the roof needed replacing. The roof was eight years old and otherwise in good condition.
In the attic, water staining ran along a rafter from the chimney chase down to the living room ceiling — about twelve feet from where the stain appeared.
Challenges
Water traveling
The visible stain was nowhere near the source, which is why surface patches above the stain had not worked.
Caulk instead of flashing
Counter-flashing had been “repaired” with sealant that had cracked in the sun.
Wide chimney, no cricket
Water and debris piled up behind the chimney, the exact place the flashing was weakest.
How it ran
- Visit 1
Trace & report
Attic and roof inspection, water path photographed from inside and outside. Written repair price.
- Day 1
Rebuild flashing
Shingles around the chimney removed, new step flashing woven in, counter-flashing cut into the mortar joints, and a small cricket framed and covered behind the chimney.
- Next heavy rain
Verify
Homeowner checks the attic after the next storm. Photo record of completed work delivered.
Key decisions
- Replace the roof?
- No. The roof had most of its service life left. Fixing the actual failure point cost a fraction of a replacement.
What drove the cost
- Chimney width and height
- Masonry condition for counter-flashing
- Cricket framing
- Shingle matching around the repair
The takeaway
A leak is a symptom. Find the source before anyone prices a new roof.
More walkthroughs: From hailstorm to finished roof: a two-story shingle replacement · Keeping tenants open: a retail center roof recover
Next step
Facing a similar decision?
Start with an inspection and a photo report. You’ll see the same kind of reasoning applied to your roof.