Chimney Flashing Repair Lexington KY

Chimney flashing repair in Lexington, KY fixes the single most common cause of a chimney leak that isn’t the chimney at all. Flashing is the metal strip sealing the joint between the chimney and the roofline, and once it rusts, lifts, or was never step-flashed correctly, water tracks straight into the attic and ceiling below.

Why Is My Chimney Leaking Where It Meets the Roof?

A leak right at the roofline almost always means the flashing has failed, not the chimney’s masonry. Rusted-through metal, flashing that was caulked instead of properly step-flashed, or counter-flashing pulled loose by roof movement all let water run down behind it into the house.

Older Lexington homes with brick chimneys often have flashing that was sealed with roofing tar decades ago instead of cut into the mortar joints (counter-flashing). Tar dries out and cracks in 5–10 years, so a leak that “just started” is frequently that original seal finally failing. This is a different repair than a bad crown or a missing cap — both of which leak from the top down instead of at the roofline.

How Do You Know It’s Flashing and Not Something Else?

• Water stains on the ceiling or attic decking near where the chimney passes through the roof, not lower in the firebox
• Visible rust, gaps, or lifted metal at the base of the chimney where it meets shingles
• Leak gets worse in wind-driven rain specifically, versus a steady drip in any rain
• Old tar or caulk sealing the joint instead of counter-flashing cut into the mortar

What Chimney Flashing Repair Costs in Lexington

A standard flashing repair or replacement typically runs $300–$900, labeled as typical and depending on chimney size, roof pitch, and whether the counter-flashing needs to be re-cut into the mortar joints. A full re-flash on a large or steep-roof chimney can run higher. It’s usually far cheaper than the water and framing damage a failed flashing causes if it’s left through a wet season.

Can flashing be repaired without touching the roof shingles?

Often, yes, for step-flashing along the sides. A full re-flash sometimes requires lifting the row of shingles closest to the chimney, which is straightforward for a mason or roofer working together but not a caulk-gun fix.

Is caulking the flashing a real fix?

Only as a short-term patch. Caulk and roofing tar dry out and crack within a few years, which is exactly why so many “already sealed” chimneys start leaking again. Proper step- and counter-flashing is the permanent fix.

Chimney Safety Institute of America covers chimney component maintenance and inspection standards.

New: does your chimney need a cricket to stop it leaking?

Related: chimney repair · crown repair & rebuilds · chimney repair cost guide. Back to Lexington Masonry Pros.

Lexington Masonry Pros · Serving Lexington, Nicholasville, Georgetown, Versailles & Fayette County, KY · Call or text (859) 310-1209

Last updated August 24, 2026