Replacing copper chimney flashing on a clay tile roof near Cleveland, Ohio.

Installing chimney flashing on a clay tile roof is a bit different than than that of asphalt or slate shingle roofs. Tile roofs, the round style like spanish or barrel tile, require a pan flashing along the sides of the chimney. The pan flashing is usually a rectangular length of sheet metal bent at 90 degrees on two sides. The side that goes against the chimney is bent up a least 3 inches, and the side under the tile is bent up about an inch.

Existing brick chimney flashing and spanish clay tile roof.

Looks fairly good from this angle. But there is peeling paint on the eave boards to the right, and the back side cricket and upper tiles have been tarred and repaired several times. The front lead apron flashing has been caulked but is still loose and the side copper counter flashing has been smeared with tar that is now dried and cracking.

A closer look at the left side of the chimney after the clay roof tiles have been removed.

 

There have been quite a few attempts at repairing the flashing around the chimney. Tar applied to the lower copper pan flashing at the corner of the chimney cricket. Tar applied to the top edge of the apron flashing joint. Tar and caulking smeared over the counter flashing on the side of the chimney. Tar smeared on the stone ledge of the chimney. It also looks like someone made a half hearted attempt to repair the leak by actually removing some tile and applying a piece of rolled roofing under the side flashing. All have been simple repairs made with roofing tar or caulking and none have solved the problem.

Roof decking water damage from leaking chimney flashing.

The results of years of the chimney flashing leaking without being resolved. If the flashing had been repaired properly the first time signs of water leakage showed up on the interior of the house, there would be little damage to the roof decking and structure, and no need for a major repair. Now a good section of roof boards and rafters need replacing as well as a large section of interior plaster and paint.

There is also a large section of roof eave, the outer edge of the overhang, that has been damaged and will also need replacing. This is the right side of the chimney which was leaking. The water running down the roof over the tarpaper till it eventually wore through the tar paper, or holes made by roof nails, and began to soak the roof boards. Eventually rotting them and the rafters.

Replacing the base flashing.