Chimney Flashing Repair
in Seattle, WA

Seattle's storm events aren't primarily heavy rain falling straight down — they're sustained wind-driven rain that arrives horizontally, particularly during atmospheric river events in November through February. A chimney standing above the roofline acts as a wind break, and the weather side of that chimney-roof interface catches the full force of horizontal precipitation. This is why flashing failure in Seattle often starts on the weather side of the chimney rather than at the chimney base, and why standard sealant approaches fail faster here than manufacturer specifications suggest.

Craftsman bungalow roof geometry creates specific flashing challenges. The broad, low-slope eaves of a typical Ballard or Wallingford Craftsman create wide roof spans where chimneys penetrate at relatively shallow angles. The larger the chimney footprint and the shallower the roof pitch at the penetration point, the more critical the counter flashing and saddle flashing details become. Older Seattle homes frequently have chimneys wider than 30 inches — the threshold where a saddle (or cricket) is required to divert water around the uphill side. Many older installations lack this entirely.

Moss on the roof-chimney interface is a compounding factor. Seattle's climate supports heavy moss growth on north-facing roof sections — and most Seattle chimneys penetrate at the ridge or on a slope with some north-facing exposure. Moss retains moisture directly against the flashing, accelerating corrosion of aluminum or galvanized steel step flashing. Treating the moss before flashing repair is as important as the repair itself.

"Seattle chimneys tend to need extra care to maintain their original character during rebuilds. These older masonry systems were built with real craft — matching that when we work on them takes more time, but it's the right way to do it." — Sean, Lead Technician