Roofing · Long Island

Roof flashing repair.

Many roof leaks start at the flashing. We repair and replace flashing around chimneys, skylights, walls and vents so water stays out.

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Roof flashing is the metal that seals the joints in a roof: where it meets a chimney, a wall, a skylight or a vent pipe, and where two slopes meet in a valley. Those joints are where many leaks begin. Home Crew Construction repairs and replaces roof flashing on homes across Long Island, in Nassau County and Suffolk County.

Quick answer: What is roof flashing and why does it leak?

Roof flashing is the metal that seals the joints where a roof meets a chimney, wall, skylight, vent or valley. It leaks when it rusts, works loose or its sealant cracks. Home Crew Construction repairs and replaces roof flashing across Long Island, rebuilding it in overlapping layers instead of covering it with caulk.

How it works

How a roof keeps water out.

A roof is a system of layers, not just shingles. Each one has a job, and a leak usually means one of them has failed.

Illustration. Point at a part to see what it does.

Types of roof flashing

Aerial view of a roof replacement in progress, new blue underlayment going on beside a backyard pool — Roof replacement, underlayment going on· Home Crew Construction

Step flashing: L-shaped pieces woven in with each course of shingles where a roof meets a wall or the side of a chimney.
Counter flashing: the piece set into the chimney mortar or wall that covers the top of the step flashing.
Valley flashing: metal or membrane lining the valley where two roof slopes meet.
Drip edge: metal along the eaves and rakes that sends water into the gutters and away from the fascia.
Pipe boots and vent flashing: collars that seal plumbing vents and roof vents.
Skylight flashing: the flashing kit around a skylight frame. See skylight repair.

Signs your flashing needs repair

Illustration · FlashingMetal that seals the joints around pipes, chimneys, skylights and walls, where many leaks start.

Water stains on ceilings or walls near a chimney, skylight or vent
Rusted, bent or lifted metal around roof penetrations
Cracked or missing sealant where flashing meets brick or siding
Flashing held on with nothing but caulk or roofing tar
Damp wood or drips in the attic around the chimney
Missing or damaged shingles next to flashed areas

Caught early, flashing repair is a targeted job. Left alone, water gets behind the flashing into the deck, framing and walls, and causes rot and mold.

Need help with roof flashing repair?

Free quotes, a reply within 24 hours, and we answer the phone 24/7.

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What causes roof flashing to fail?

Aerial view of a large home with a cedar shake roof, surrounded by trees — Cedar shake roof· Home Crew Construction

Age. Metal rusts and rubber pipe boots crack after years of sun and cold.
Movement. Chimneys, walls and roofs expand and shrink at different rates, which loosens fasteners and opens joints.
Dried-out sealant. Caulk and tar harden and pull away, especially on south-facing slopes.
Shortcuts during installation. Flashing that was face-nailed, lapped the wrong way or held on with sealant alone.
Old flashing reused. A roof replaced without new flashing often leaks at the chimney or walls first.
Storm damage. High winds lift and bend flashing at edges and ridges.

Why caulk isn’t a flashing repair

A common quick fix is a bead of caulk or a smear of roofing tar over a leaking joint. It may stop the drip for a season, but sealant dries out and cracks in the sun and the cold. Flashing works because the pieces overlap so water runs over them, not because they’re glued shut. A lasting repair means rebuilding the flashing in the right layers, together with the shingles around it.

How we repair roof flashing

Illustration · ShinglesThe weather surface you see. Each course overlaps the one below it to shed water.

InspectWe check the flashing and the roof around it, and the attic when needed, to confirm where the water is getting in.
PriceYou get a clear written price before any work starts.
RemoveWe take up the shingles around the joint and remove the failed flashing and old sealant.
Check the deckAny soft or rotted wood underneath is replaced.
RebuildNew underlayment, then new step, counter, valley or vent flashing, installed in overlapping layers.
Reshingle and clean upThe shingles go back in around the new flashing, and we clean up completely.

Need help with roof flashing repair?

Free quotes, a reply within 24 hours, and we answer the phone 24/7.

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Get a Free Quote Call 631-965-0881

Chimney, skylight and wall flashing

Cedar shake roof with dormers and a stone chimney on a white house beside a pool, seen from above — Cedar shake roof with dormers· Home Crew Construction

Chimneys are one of the most common places for flashing to fail, because masonry and roof framing move differently through the seasons and mortar joints wear out. See chimney flashing for how we handle them. Skylights and walls need the same care: the flashing has to be woven in with the shingles, not laid on top.

Planning a roof replacement? That’s the time to replace all of the flashing, so the whole roof starts fresh. For a leak you haven’t pinned down yet, see roof leak repair.

Seeing stains near a chimney or skylight? Call 631-965-0881 or request a free quote. We reply within 24 hours.

Roof flashing repair FAQ

Common questions.

Still not sure?

Call 631-965-0881 any time. We'll tell you straight whether it's a repair or a replacement.

Can roof flashing be repaired without replacing the roof?

Usually, yes. We remove the shingles around the failed joint, replace the flashing and underlayment, and weave the shingles back in. A full roof replacement is only needed when the roof itself is worn out.

Why does my chimney leak when it rains?

The most common causes are failed step or counter flashing where the chimney meets the roof, cracked mortar joints, or a damaged chimney crown. An inspection tells you which one it is.

Is caulk a good fix for leaking flashing?

Only as a short-term patch. Sealant dries out and cracks, so the leak comes back. A lasting repair replaces the flashing and laps it correctly with the shingles.