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Chimney Repair

You notice water stains creeping down the wall near your fireplace, or you spot crumbling mortar and loose bricks when you glance up at your roofline. These are the early warning signs that your chimney needs attention, and ignoring them tends to turn a modest fix into a major structural project. A chimney is one of the most exposed and vulnerable parts of any roof, standing tall above every other surface and taking the full force of wind, rain, snow, and freeze-thaw cycles year after year. At Henris Roofing, we have spent more than 80 years helping homeowners and business owners protect this critical intersection between masonry and roofing.

Why Chimneys Deteriorate Faster Than You Expect

A chimney faces a punishing combination of forces that few other building components endure. Rainwater collects around the base, snow piles against the masonry, and the constant expansion and contraction of freeze-thaw cycles works mortar joints loose over time. Because the chimney penetrates the roof plane, it also creates a natural weak point where water can sneak beneath shingles and into the structure below.

The flashing that seals the joint between the chimney and the roof is often the first thing to fail. When flashing corrodes, lifts, or was poorly installed to begin with, water travels straight into the attic, the ceilings, and eventually the framing. This is why so many interior leaks that appear to come from nowhere actually trace back to a compromised chimney. Catching these problems early prevents rot, mold, and expensive interior repairs.

Our Chimney Repair Process

We approach every chimney with a thorough inspection first, because a repair is only as good as the diagnosis behind it. We examine the masonry, the mortar joints, the crown at the top, the flashing at the base, and the surrounding roof material to build a complete picture of what needs attention. This lets us recommend the right work rather than guessing.

Our typical repair scope covers several common trouble areas:

  • Flashing replacement: We fabricate custom flashing in our own metal shop, allowing us to match your chimney’s exact dimensions rather than forcing generic pieces to fit.
  • Tuckpointing and mortar repair: We remove failing mortar and replace it with fresh material that restores structural integrity and blocks water intrusion.
  • Crown repair and sealing: The concrete crown at the top sheds water away from the flue, and we rebuild or seal it when cracks appear.
  • Waterproofing treatments: We apply breathable sealants that keep moisture out while still allowing trapped vapor to escape.

Having our own metal shop sets us apart in a meaningful way. Rather than relying on off-the-shelf components, we bend, cut, and shape counterflashing, step flashing, and cricket assemblies to the precise geometry of your chimney. This custom fabrication produces tighter seals and longer-lasting results, particularly on older homes with irregular masonry.

Technical Details That Matter

Proper chimney flashing is a two-part system. Step flashing weaves into each course of shingles as they run up alongside the chimney, while counterflashing embeds into the mortar joints above it and laps over the step flashing to shed water. When these two layers work together correctly, water cannot find a path inside. When they are combined into a single caulked strip, failure is only a matter of time.

For larger chimneys on the upslope side of a roof, we often install a cricket, which is a small peaked structure that diverts water and debris around the chimney instead of letting it pool behind the masonry. This detail dramatically extends the life of both the chimney and the surrounding roof. As a GAF Master Elite and ShingleMaster Pro certified contractor, we integrate chimney work seamlessly with the broader roofing system so that every component functions as one weatherproof assembly.

Serving Homes and Businesses Across the Petaluma, CA and surrounding areas

We handle chimney repair for single-family homes, historic properties, apartment buildings, and commercial structures throughout Petaluma, CA and surrounding areas. Whether you own an older masonry home with decorative chimneys or a commercial building with utilitarian flue stacks, the principles of proper waterproofing and flashing remain the same, and we apply them consistently across Petaluma, Penngrove, Novato, Rohnert Park, Cotati, Santa Rosa, & Sonoma, CA.

Henris Roofing offers free estimates with no conditions, so you can understand the scope and options before committing to anything. We also provide 24/7 emergency service for urgent leaks that cannot wait. As a Timberline Solar Roofing Contractor and Energy Solar Certified company, we bring the same environmentally conscious practices and careful cleanup to chimney work that we bring to every project. We respect your property, protect your community, and leave your home better than we found it.