After some recent leaking-roof issues, I had two professionals out to my house, both of whom told me that I’d need to replace some worn roof flashing around a chimney. Both men assured me that it’s a job best left to professionals and then presented me with $1000-$1100 repair estimates.
This is a small job. The shingles are in good shape. The roof pitch and materials are standard. To my thinking, I could do this task. It’s just a matter of step-flashing the chimney (following the original method), and then sealing the joints with a good roofing adhesive. I’ve seen it done on “This Old House.” Doesn’t looked like nuclear physics.
Any technical issues that a reasonably handy fellow should know about? From what I’ve outlined, is this job too big for a reasonably handy person?
It’s worth a try–especially if you are, in fact, reasonably handy.
Chat with the folks at your local warehouse hardware store for tips–they probably even have a book with pictures to help. Try it yourself first–what could go wrong? It’s already leaking, right? While youre up there take a peek down the chimney with a good light to look for cracks in the clay liner (if you have one) or obviously shifting bricks inside the chimney. You also want to crawl into the attic and see if there is much water damage to the mortar on the outside of the chimney.
For what it’s worth, I’ve learned firsthand how to do tons of stuff around the house–almost none of it is brain surgury (well, I try to stay away from the main breaker box…but if I knew how to shut it off without calling the power company I’d have a go at it too). Professional opinions are good though, at least with a couple quotes you should have a good idea of just what it is that needs to be done.
If you are confident in your abilities and have the resources available, then go for it.
Does the chimney have a cricket? This detail, if necessary, when skipped, can be a source of problems.
For information about chimneys, crowns, and crickets, look at this site.
I am not a roofer, but I have re roofed several houses in the past. The big problem in replacing step flashings around the chimney is access to the nails under the roofing. These flashings are installed as the shingle courses rise, and were not intended for future removal without removing a whole wack of shingles.
I can’t understand why metal flashings need replacing unless they are rusted through, something which I’ve never seen with the common galvanized flashing. Is it not more likely that the adhesive on the top vertical portions of the flashings has failed ?
If so, you may want to rebond the existing flashing with new material. In that case, make sure the surfaces are clean and dry.
To do it right you actually mortar the flashing into the chimney either by cutting a single parallel slot along the sides or by stair-stepping it into the brick joints. I had a nice pamphlet laying around but can’t find it. I probably got it from Lowes or Builders Square. You might have to repoint the mortar in your chimney anyway so bending up some aluminum is just an added step.
If you stair-step it then you won’t need a masonary saw, you just chip out the morter where you want the flashing to go.
Try typing “how to,chimney flashing” into your browser. Lots of stuff.