Chimney repair in Midland TX - flashing and a crown that keep the water out
Water stain on the ceiling by the chimney? We find where it's getting in, at the roof line or the crown, and seal it.
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Why is my chimney leaking, and what will it take to fix?
Chimney repair in Midland, TX seals the three places water usually gets into a chimney, which are the base, the spot where it passes through the roof, and the crown, the concrete cap on top. Done right, the flashing at the roof line keeps that water out of your house instead of letting it run down the inside of your walls.
Most people call us after they spot a brown stain on the ceiling next to the fireplace, or damp brick up in the attic. The price moves with which of those three spots is leaking, how much flashing or crown work it takes, the flashing metal you pick and how steep and high your roof is. The schedule turns mostly on whether the city wants a permit for your job. I'll tell you which repair you actually need at the estimate, in writing, with what's included spelled out.
How our chimney repair works
I start on the roof and check both places a leak usually comes from, the roof line and the crown, before I quote anything, because sealing one while the water comes in at the other just buys you a second bill. Your estimate says which flashing we'd use and where it goes. On the job we tear out the old flashing at the roof line and set new metal flashing, seal or rebuild the crown if it's cracked, and leave your roof clean when we pack up.
The base of the chimney is the third way in, usually through worn mortar or cracked brick. If the joints are crumbling, that's tuckpointing, where we grind out the old mortar and pack in new, and if bricks are cracked or flaking we take care of the brick repair on the same job. I'd rather tell you a few joints is all it needs than sell you a whole rebuild.
Chimney repair in Midland and the city's permit
The City of Midland's residential building permit list covers repairs along with new building and remodels, so a chimney repair here may need one, and the city is who decides that for your job. Work can't begin until a permit is issued. When a job calls for one, we handle the paperwork with the city and wait for it before we start, so it's worth building that step into your plans.
Most of the chimneys we get called to around here are brick on a shingle roof, and a lot of them have roof line flashing that's been patched with tar more than once. Tar is a fine way to make a leak somebody else's problem later. We scrape the old patches off down to clean brick before new flashing goes on, and it's the same story on jobs in Odessa and Big Spring.
Chimney and brick work
Get a written estimate for your chimney leak
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, check the roof line and the crown myself, and give you a free written estimate with what's included spelled out, with no obligation.
(432) 219-3791Chimney repair questions from Midland homeowners
How much does chimney repair cost in Midland, TX?
Chimney cap, crown and flashing repairs across the US usually run about $200 to $2,400 per job. That range is wide because resealing a cracked crown and reflashing a whole roof line are very different jobs. Our written estimate spells out what's included, so you can compare it line for line.
What is the best flashing metal for a brick chimney?
Use a metal flashing that isn't aluminum, because the alkalis in fresh mortar attack aluminum. Metal is the usual recommendation for chimneys since it stands up to heat and being outdoors. Copper works too, but it can stain the crown or the brick, so if looks matter to you, say so at the estimate.
What should a quote for a chimney leak at the roof include?
It should include both base flashing and counter flashing where the chimney passes through the roof. Base flashing sits on the roof around the chimney, and counter flashing is set into the brick and laps down over it, so water running down the chimney goes over the seam instead of into it. If a quote lists only one, ask why.
What causes a chimney to leak at the crown?
A cracked or poorly sealed crown lets water into the gap between the chimney wall and the flue liner, the pipe that carries smoke up. The crown gets overlooked a lot, and flashing and sealant there are what keep that gap dry. That's why it's worth checking even when the stain looks like a roof line leak.
How long before chimney repair can start in Midland?
If your job needs a city permit, plan for the city's plan review, which usually takes about 5 to 7 business days, before work can begin. On permitted jobs a city inspector also checks the work at different stages against code. Without a permit, the start comes down to scheduling, which we settle with you after the estimate.
Can a leaking chimney be fixed without rebuilding it?
Usually, yes, because a lot of chimney leaks come from worn flashing or a cracked crown, and fixing those leaves the brick standing. We only bring up a rebuild when the brick itself has failed, and the estimate will say so plainly.
Get your Midland chimney leak checked
Call (432) 219-3791 or use the form, and tell us whether the chimney is brick or stone and where you see the water, so we look in the right spot first.