How To Flash A Chimney: 6 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Flash a Chimney PDF download Download Article Explore this Article Steps Steps Other Sections Video Questions & Answers Tips and Warnings Things You'll Need Related Articles References Co-authored by Gerber Ortiz-Vega and Eric McClure

Last Updated: July 8, 2024 Approved

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This article was co-authored by Gerber Ortiz-Vega and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Gerber Ortiz-Vega is a Masonry Specialist and the Founder of GO Masonry LLC, a masonry company based in Northern Virginia. Gerber specializes in providing brick and stone laying services, concrete installations, and masonry repairs. Gerber has over four years of experience running GO Masonry and over ten years of general masonry work experience. He earned a BA in Marketing from the University of Mary Washington in 2017. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 81% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 262,736 times.

If you see or feel leaks around your chimney, or notice that your ceiling has water stains, you may need to replace the flashing on your chimney. You should reinstall chimney flashing before reshingling your roof, or when you notice that the existing chimney flashing is damaged or completely rusted. You can buy all the parts you need to secure the flashing on your chimney at a home improvement or hardware store. You also can have a sheet metal shop shape and pre-cut your flashing to fit your chimney. Use these tips to flash a chimney.

Steps

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  1. Step 1 Take off the old flashing. 1 Take off the old flashing. Scrape away old flashing and cement with a hammer and chisel.[1]
  2. Step 2 Cut the base flashing. 2 Cut the base flashing.
    • Use tin snips to cut the bent base flashing that you ordered from the sheet metal shop. Cut the flashing to fit along the chimney's front.
    • Bend 1 side of the flashing around 1 edge of the chimney.
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  3. Step 3 Secure the base flashing. 3 Secure the base flashing.[2]
    • Fit the flashing up against the front of the chimney. The part of the flashing that lies flush with the roof should overlap the roofing shingles. The bent edge should fit around 1 corner of the chimney.
    • Use tin snips to clip the flashing at the point where the other side of the chimney lies against the flashing.
    • Bend the clipped flashing around the chimney.
    • Hammer 4 galvanized roofing nails into the part of the flashing lying against the roof. Ensure that the nails are spaced evenly.
  4. Step 4 Attach the corner and step flashing. 4 Attach the corner and step flashing.
    • Fit an 8-inch (20.3-cm) piece of square step flashing over the chimney's front corner.
    • Set the flashing aside.
    • Place a small drop of caulk where the roof and chimney meet at the chimney corner.
    • Place the step flashing over the caulk and onto the chimney.
    • Hammer 2 roofing nails into the flashing and roof.
    • Secure a shingle over the corner flashing using a hammer and roofing nail.
    • Place a second piece of 8-inch (20.3-cm) flashing against the chimney. The flashing should partially overlap the shingle that covers the first piece of flashing.
    • Secure a shingle over the second piece of flashing with a nail.
    • Repeat the process until you have gone all the way around the chimney.
  5. Step 5 Secure the chimney saddle. 5 Secure the chimney saddle.
    • Fit the chimney saddle around the back of the chimney.
    • Use a hammer and roofing nails to attach the saddle to the roof. Insert roofing nails into the saddle and roof every 6 inches (15.2 cm).
    • Place shingles over the flat part of the saddle.
    • Nail the shingles and saddle into the roof.
  6. Step 6 Install the cap flashing. 6 Install the cap flashing.[3]
    • Use a circular saw to saw grooves into the mortar joints. The grooves should be 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep. Saw as high as the height of the cap flashing.
    • Fit the front cap flashing around the front of the chimney.
    • Bend the cap flashing around the front of the chimney.
    • Secure the cap flashing by inserting the flashing's flange all the way into the mortar.
    • Drill a hole on each side of the chimney front.
    • Hammer the plastic anchors into the holes.
    • Repeat the procedure around each side of the chimney. Ensure that each new piece of cap flashing overlaps the previous one.
    • Place caulking along the mortar joints to seal the flashing.
    7. Advertisement

Video

Community Q&A

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  • Question Can you measure and cut the sheet metal yourself or does it have to be ordered? Community Answer Community Answer You can cut it yourself. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 9 Helpful 17
  • Question What side does the bigger piece of flashing metal go on? Community Answer Community Answer For a chimney or skylight saddle, the larger piece goes at the top. It goes beneath the upper courses of roofing material, and overlaps the side or step-flashings. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 7
  • Question How many inches of flashing should there be at the bottom, lying against the roof, on all four sides? Community Answer Community Answer For a skylight or chimney on a composition roof, there should be 6 inches on bottom and sides, 9 to 12 inches on top. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 4 Helpful 2
See more answers Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Submit Advertisement

Tips

  • Measure the dimensions of the chimney and the slope of the roof before ordering the flashing pieces from a sheet metal company. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Wear safety goggles and work gloves when installing flashing. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Things You'll Need

  • Hammer
  • Chisel
  • Pre-ordered chimney flashing and saddle
  • Tin snips
  • Galvanized roofing nails
  • Shingles
  • Caulking
  • Circular saw
  • Drill
  • Plastic anchors

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/roof/installing-chimney-flashing/
  2. ↑ https://www.iko.com/blog/what-is-roof-flashing-how-to-install-it/
  3. ↑ https://www.familyhandyman.com/roof/installing-chimney-flashing/
  4. https://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/how-to-repair-leaking-chimney-roof-flashing/
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KiPyR3nsTA

About This Article

Gerber Ortiz-Vega Co-authored by: Gerber Ortiz-Vega Masonry Specialist This article was co-authored by Gerber Ortiz-Vega and by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Gerber Ortiz-Vega is a Masonry Specialist and the Founder of GO Masonry LLC, a masonry company based in Northern Virginia. Gerber specializes in providing brick and stone laying services, concrete installations, and masonry repairs. Gerber has over four years of experience running GO Masonry and over ten years of general masonry work experience. He earned a BA in Marketing from the University of Mary Washington in 2017. This article has been viewed 262,736 times. 20 votes - 81% Co-authors: 11 Updated: July 8, 2024 Views: 262,736 Categories: Fireplaces In other languages German Russian Dutch Japanese
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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 262,736 times.

Reader Success Stories

  • Jennifer Baker

    Jennifer Baker

    Aug 29, 2017

    "Step by step instructions with guided picture references, along with a list of tools needed for the job. Extremely..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story

Did this article help you?

Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Gerber Ortiz-Vega Co-authored by: Gerber Ortiz-Vega Masonry Specialist Co-authors: 11 Updated: July 8, 2024 Views: 262,736 81% of readers found this article helpful. 20 votes - 81% Click a star to add your vote Jennifer Baker

Jennifer Baker

Aug 29, 2017

"Step by step instructions with guided picture references, along with a list of tools needed for the job. Extremely..." more Barbara Boguski

Barbara Boguski

Sep 9, 2019

"I had no idea what a chimney saddle was, and now I do! I hope to have the flashing repaired using the saddle..." more Nate W.

Nate W.

Jan 23, 2024

"It provided information on chimney repair I was seeking." Don Taylor

Don Taylor

May 12, 2017

"Very good information to know when flashing a chimney." Jay Ruiz

Jay Ruiz

Mar 7, 2019

"Taught me the right way to flash a chimney." Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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