Old copper chimney step flashing.

An excellent way to install copper roof flashing on a brick chimney.

This chimney flashing was installed over eighty years ago at the time the house was built and the roof installed.

There are copper step flashing tins between each course of slate extending up the chimney and onto the slate. These are covered by a one piece copper counter flashing that is mortered into the chimney joints.

We can tell that the flashing was mortered at a different time than the brick by the different shade of the morter. In the good old days, chimney masons would build the house chimney and rake out the mortar between the bricks where the flashing was to be installed. Once the flashing metal was installed by the roofers, the masons would return to point, or fill the joints with mortar.

The copper is cut to step up at each joint and the rise is cut at an angle for added protection from the rain. This style of flashing (angling the vertical cut) is mainly used in the old country. I try to use it now as much as possible as an option for the homeowner.

The fasteners unfortunately, are steel nails and have rusted, causing staining of the copper. Copper nails would have been a better choice as they would not stain or deteriorate. Even so, the flashing has lasted the life of the roof and should continue to perform well into the future.