Chimney Leak Repair for Corte Madera Homes

What the town's flashing rules mean for a chimney leak repair

Many chimney leaks start where the masonry meets the roof. Three written requirements from the Town of Corte Madera apply to that spot. Here is what each one says and how it shapes an inspection or repair.

Counter flashing is required at the chimney

Counter flashing is the upper layer of a chimney's flashing. It is set into the masonry and laps down over the flashing that's tied into the roofing, so water running down the brick is shed onto the roof instead of behind it. The Town of Corte Madera's roofing guidelines (coastal zone flashing requirements) require counter flashing at all vertical surfaces, including chimneys (source: Town of Corte Madera Community Development Department, Roofing Guidelines, 2024-06-04).

On a leak call, we check three things: whether counter flashing is there at all, whether it's still sealed into the masonry, and whether it overlaps the lower flashing properly. A bead of sealant smeared over a gap doesn't do the same job, and leaks often come back where that was the only fix.

Wider chimneys need a cricket on the uphill side

A cricket, or saddle, is a small peaked section built behind a chimney. It splits water and debris around the chimney so they don't pool against the masonry. The Town of Corte Madera's residential construction guidelines require a cricket or saddle for chimneys 30 inches or wider (source: Town of Corte Madera Building Division, Construction Guidelines for Residential Construction).

If your chimney is that wide and the leak shows up on the uphill side, we measure it and check whether a cricket is there and in sound shape. Without one, water keeps collecting behind the chimney, and flashing work alone has a harder time keeping that side dry.

Damaged flashing gets replaced when the roof is redone

Corte Madera's roofing guidelines require missing, rusted or damaged flashing and counter flashing to be replaced with new materials during reroofing (source: Town of Corte Madera Community Development Department, Roofing Guidelines, 2024-06-04; Submittal Guidelines, Roofing). If you have a new roof planned, it makes sense to schedule the chimney work around it. The old flashing is coming off anyway, and the crown, cap and masonry are easy to reach while the roof around the chimney is open.

The repair in brief

Leaking chimney repair starts with tracing the water. It can enter through flashing at the roof line, a cracked crown, an uncapped or damaged flue top, porous brick or failed mortar joints. The stain inside isn't always directly below where the water gets in. Once we find the source, the fix matches it: resealing or replacing flashing, repairing the crown, tuckpointing, fitting a cap, or waterproofing the masonry. For the full process, read how chimney leak repair works.

When leak repair is the right job and when something else fits better

• Ceiling or wall stains near the chimney, damp framing in the attic, or water in the firebox after a storm all point to a leak. Here's what causes chimney leaking when it rains and how each cause shows itself.
• If you're planning a reroof, combine the flashing and counter flashing work with it, since the Town's guidelines call for new materials where the old ones are damaged.
• If water comes straight down the flue and there's no cap on top, a cap may be the main fix. Read about chimney cap installation for homes in Corte Madera.
• If you can't tell whether the chimney or the roof is leaking, start with a chimney inspection before paying for repairs.
• If the brick is crumbling or the mortar joints are open, masonry repair or tuckpointing may be the bigger job, with waterproofing afterward.

Getting a leak looked at

Same-day visits are available where the schedule allows, depending on how the day's bookings look. You can read more about the chimney leak repair service or browse the other chimney, fireplace and dryer vent work we do in Corte Madera. When you're ready, call or request an estimate.