Eight out of ten chimney-related leaks come from failed flashing, not the chimney itself. We diagnose, replace, and seal it properly.
Flashing is the metal that bridges the gap between your chimney and your roof. It's installed in two pieces: step flashing woven into the roof shingles, and counter-flashing embedded into the mortar of the chimney. When either fails — corrosion, separation, missing pieces, bad caulk — water gets between the chimney and the roof deck.
Most contractors smear roof tar over a failing flashing. That holds for a season, then leaks worse than before. We do it properly: chisel out the old counter-flashing, replace with new metal embedded in fresh mortar, install proper step flashing, and finish with high-grade polyurethane sealant. The fix lasts 20+ years.
Recent chimney flashing repairs across Quincy and the South Shore — leaks traced, re-sealed, and made watertight.
Every chimney we touch in Quincy gets the same diagnostic discipline — find the actual cause, fix it properly, and document the work. Here's a closer look at the chimney flashing repair problems we run into most.
Counter-flashing tucks into a mortar reglet (groove) on the chimney face. When the mortar pulls out, the flashing falls forward and water pours behind it. We chisel a fresh reglet, embed new flashing, and seal with polyurethane — not roof tar.
Step flashing is layered between every course of shingles climbing the chimney face. When shingles age and curl, water can short-circuit the step flashing. We lift and re-bed step flashing as part of any flashing re-do.
Lead is the historic standard for Quincy's older homes and still our default for premium work. Aluminum is fine for modern construction. Copper matches copper roofs and lasts a century. We spec based on the surrounding materials — never one-size-fits-all.
If your chimney is wider than 30 inches on the up-slope side, you need a saddle (cricket) above it to deflect water. We fabricate and install code-compliant crickets where missing — common omission on 1960s–80s Quincy construction.
Eight out of ten chimney leaks come from flashing. The other 20% come from the crown, spalled brick face, a missing cap, or — surprisingly often — somewhere entirely different on the roof. We diagnose before we quote.
Four clear steps — no vague pricing, no surprise add-ons, no rushed work.
We trace the actual water entry point — not just where it shows inside the house. Sometimes the flashing is fine and the leak is elsewhere (crown, brick face, missing cap).
Old flashing chiseled out, mortar reglet cleaned, surrounding shingles lifted, area dried out and prepped for new metal.
Step flashing woven into the shingles per code, counter-flashing embedded in fresh color-matched mortar (not just caulked on), all joints sealed with polyurethane sealant.
We run water over the chimney to confirm the leak is gone before we leave. Photos and workmanship guarantee emailed same day.
Standard chimney re-flash in Quincy: $549–$1,200 with new step + counter-flashing, properly sealed. Lead flashing premium: add $200–$400. Copper flashing: add $400–$800. Cricket fabrication: $349–$649 depending on width. We don't do tar smear-overs — they don't last and we won't warranty them.
Properly installed flashing lasts 20–30 years on lead, 15–20 on aluminum, 50+ on copper. We inspect flashing visually during every annual Level 1 inspection. The most common failure mode is the mortar reglet eroding — flag it early during a routine sweep before water gets behind the metal.
Chimney Goat is a local Quincy chimney company providing premium chimney repair, cleaning, inspections, masonry work, liners, caps, flashing, waterproofing, and fireplace services throughout Quincy and the surrounding areas.
Locally owned — Quincy crew, Quincy phone. 5.0★ on Google · 153 reviews. CSIA-certified, BBB A+, licensed & insured in Massachusetts. Same-day service across the South Shore and nearby Greater Boston.
The exact cities & neighborhoods served from our Quincy Google Business Profile — based in Quincy, proudly serving the South Shore and nearby Greater Boston communities.
Not on the list? Send us your address — if you're nearby, we'll be there.
Tell us about your chimney — street/neighborhood in Quincy, what you're seeing, and any timing needs. We'll reply within one business hour with next steps and an honest estimate.
We bring the same Quincy chimney flashing repair crew, same flat-rate pricing, and same workmanship guarantee to every South Shore and nearby Greater Boston town. Click any city for its dedicated chimney flashing repair page.
Same-day appointments available across Quincy and the South Shore. Free estimate over the phone. A real person picks up — no robots, no call centers.
