Chimney Flashing Repair in Arleta, With the Leak Path Shown

Water at the chimney can come in through the crown, the masonry, the flue opening or the flashing, and stains on the ceiling look the same no matter which one is at fault. That is why our flashing reports start with a leak trace, not a flashing quote. From the attic we photograph the framing and decking around the chimney, looking for dark wood, rusted nails and drip marks, and note which side is wet. On the roof we photograph the step flashing woven into the roofing, the counter flashing set into the brick, the joint between them, and the cricket if the chimney is wide enough to need one. Then we check the crown, cap and brick above the flashing, because flashing often gets blamed for water that soaked in from above it.

The report names the most likely source with the photos that support it, and lists the other sources we ruled out. In Woodland Hills, many roofs are concrete or clay tile, which hides flashing under the tiles and makes a quick look from a ladder unreliable. Flashing on older ranch houses was often face-nailed and sealed with caulk that the summer heat has long since cracked. Both show up clearly once the right tile is lifted, and we photograph them before anything is put back.

Flashing repairs are quoted in writing after the trace. The quote says what will be removed, what goes back, and how the counter flashing will be fixed to the chimney: cut into a mortar joint and sealed, which lasts, or surface-mounted, which is sometimes the only option on stone. Where the roofing has to be lifted and relaid, we say who does it. On tile roofs we coordinate with a roofer if broken tiles need matching. On simple shingle roofs our crew handles it.

When the job is done, the completion page shows each side of the chimney before and after, and a photo of the attic side again after the next rain if you want to send one. That last photo is the real test. If the stain grows after a repair, the report gives both of us a baseline to compare against, and we come back to look again. Leaks that keep returning after flashing work often turn out to be a cracked crown or porous brick, so the first report's list of ruled-out sources is worth keeping.