What does a chimney leak repair cost?
Short answer. Chimney leak repair cost depends on what is actually failing: resealing or resetting counterflashing is a small job, replacing the step and counterflashing is a moderate one, and adding a cricket, rebuilding a crown, or rebuilding the chimney above the roofline costs more. Chimney size, roof pitch, brick condition and interior damage all push the price up.
Repairs from smallest to largest
- Reset or reseal counterflashing. When the metal has pulled out of its mortar joint but the step flashing below is sound.
- Install a chimney cap. When rain is coming straight down the flue.
- Crown repair. Sealing hairline cracks, or rebuilding a failed crown.
- Full reflash. Removing the shingles around the chimney, installing new step flashing woven with each course, new apron and back flashing, and new counterflashing cut into the mortar joints.
- Add a cricket. Framing and flashing a small peaked roof behind a wide chimney.
- Masonry work. Repointing, replacing spalled brick, or rebuilding the stack above the roof.
What moves the price
- Size. Wider and taller chimneys need more flashing and more time.
- Pitch and height. Steep or high roofs need more safety setup.
- Brick condition. Soft mortar may need repointing before new counterflashing can hold.
- Shingle matching. Older or discontinued shingles around the chimney may be hard to match.
- Hidden rot. Decking or framing damaged by a long-running leak.
- Interior repairs. Drywall, insulation and paint are additional.
Insurance and timing
Flashing that wore out over time is usually treated as maintenance. If a storm damaged the chimney or its flashing, the repair may be part of a claim. If your roof is near replacement age, reflashing the chimney as part of the new roof is usually the best value, since the flashing gets replaced along with everything around it. For scale, a typical North Georgia full replacement runs roughly $8,000 to $16,000.
See chimney leaks and crickets and roof replacement cost in Georgia.