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Water where it should not beChimney leak repair, flashing and waterproofing
Chimney leak repair begins with finding the entry point: the cap, the crown, the flashing where the chimney meets the roof, the brick itself or the flue. Sterling traces the water to its source before touching anything, so the fix lands where the leak starts. Then we seal, reflash or waterproof as the chimney needs.
Open 7 days, 8am-8pm
Drips right now? Move what you can away from the spot and call.
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- Open 7 days, 8am-8pm
- 10+ years
- Licensed, bonded & insured
- Same-week, evenings & weekends
Where is the water getting in?
A stain on the ceiling rarely sits under the leak. Water travels along framing before it shows. The pattern of the stain, and where on the chimney the damage is, point us to the real entry.
| Entry point | What it looks like | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| Cap or chase cover | Rust, a loose lid, water down the flue | Replace or reseat |
| Crown | Cracks across the top slab | Seal or rebuild |
| Flashing | Gaps or lifted metal at the roof line, stains close to the chimney | Reflash and reseal |
| Brick and mortar | Soft joints, flaking faces, dark wet patches after rain | Tuckpoint, then waterproof if sound |
| Flue | Water or rust inside the firebox | Check cap and crown first, then the flue |
Finding the leak before fixing it
Read the stain
We look at where the water shows inside, and at the attic or the wall nearby.
Climb to the chimney
We check cap, crown, flashing and mortar in order, and photograph what we find.
Use the camera if needed
If water is coming down the flue, a camera shows whether the flue itself is cracked.
Tell you the plan
You see the entry point, then decide on the repair.
What can I do before you arrive?
- Move furniture and rugs out from under the stain, and put a bucket where it drips.
- Take a photo of the stain, so you can show how it changes.
- Keep the damper closed and the glass doors or screen shut while water is coming in.
- Leave the fireplace unlit until we have looked.
Stay off the roof. A wet one is slippery, and we do the climbing.
Where does waterproofing fit in a leak repair?
Not for every chimney. Waterproofing is a clear repellent made for masonry, and it helps brick that is still sound. It does not fix a cracked crown or open flashing, so we repair those first. On sound brick, chimney waterproofing is a sensible last step.
Do ice dams cause chimney leaks?
They can add to the trouble. Snow and ice packed against the base of a chimney melt slowly, and the meltwater can find a gap in the flashing that rain alone would miss. We check the flashing for it.
Is a chimney leak covered by insurance?
That depends on your policy and the cause, so ask your insurer. If your insurer asks what is wrong, we can describe what we found and what the repair involves.
What does a leak repair cost?
Leaks are priced after we find the source, because a loose lid and rebuilt flashing are different jobs. The starting prices for crown repair, caps and waterproofing are on the services page.
Leak questions
Short answers first.
Is the leak the chimney or the roof?
Both can leak in the same spot, which is why we check the flashing where they meet. If the roof is the culprit, we tell you so and explain who to call.
Why does water appear only in heavy rain?
A small gap may only open when rain drives sideways or runs hard down the chimney. The gap is still there on dry days, waiting for the next storm.
Can flashing be fixed without replacing it?
Sometimes a reseal is enough, when the metal is sound. Rusted or lifted flashing needs replacing. We show you the metal before we say which.
Will waterproofing stop the leak?
Only if the brick is the entry point. We find the source first, so you are not paying to seal a part that was never leaking.
What if the stain is in the fireplace itself?
Water inside the firebox points to the cap, the crown or the flue. Tell us what you see and where, and we start at the top.
Leak repair near these towns
We chase chimney leaks across the east metro, including these places.
- 01
St. Paul Park
Along the Mississippi, with Newport to the north and Cottage Grove to the east.
- 02
Oak Park Heights
A community on the St. Croix bluffs, home to the Stillwater Overlook.
- 03
North St. Paul
Brick storefronts downtown and the Gateway State Trail across the city.
- 04
Hastings
Along the Mississippi, with the Vermillion River falls in town.
Related work
Many leaks end at the top of the stack, so look at caps, crowns and chase covers. Loose joints belong to chimney repair.
Stain on the ceiling? Start with a call.
Tell us where the water shows up and what the weather was doing. We will plan the first look.