Chimney Services
Chimney Flashing, Caps, Crowns & Tuckpointing in Louisville, KY
A brick chimney is one of the biggest openings in your roof, and it takes a beating from Kentucky weather. Rain, freeze-thaw cycles, and summer storms work on the flashing, the crown, and the mortar year after year. When one of those gives out, water finds its way in.
Falls City Contracting is a veteran-owned, family-operated contractor in Louisville. Our team repairs chimney flashing, installs chimney caps, repairs and rebuilds chimney crowns, and tuckpoints brick for homes and buildings across Kentuckiana. We look at the chimney and the roof around it together, because that is where most chimney leaks start.
Chimney Flashing Repair
Flashing is the metal that seals the joint between your chimney and the roof. On most chimneys it is two layers: step flashing woven in with the shingles, and counter flashing set into the mortar joints of the brick and lapped down over the step flashing. When counter flashing is only glued or caulked to the face of the brick, or the sealant has dried out, water gets behind it.
We remove failed flashing, check the roof deck around the chimney for soft spots, and install new step and counter flashing cut into the mortar joints. On wider chimneys that sit below the ridge, we may recommend a cricket, a small peaked section behind the chimney that keeps water and leaves from piling up. If the shingles around the chimney are near the end of their life, we will tell you, so you can decide whether to repair now or plan for a replacement.
Chimney Caps and Crowns
The crown is the concrete or mortar slab that covers the top of the chimney around the flue. Many crowns were built as a thin layer of mortar that cracks after a few winters. Once water gets into those cracks, freezing and thawing open them wider and push water down into the brick.
Depending on its condition, we can seal small cracks in a crown that is still sound, or remove a failing crown and build a new one that sheds water past the face of the brick with a proper overhang.
A chimney cap sits over the flue opening to keep out rain, animals, and debris. We install caps sized to your flue, including caps that cover more than one flue. A good cap and a sound crown together are one of the simplest ways to keep water out of a chimney.
Tuckpointing and Brick Repair
Mortar wears out faster than brick. When the joints erode, water soaks into the chimney and freeze-thaw cycles start breaking down the brick itself. Tuckpointing, also called repointing, means removing the worn mortar to a consistent depth and packing in new mortar matched to your brick in strength and color.
On older chimneys we use a softer, compatible mortar so the new joints do not damage historic brick. Cracked or spalled bricks can be replaced with the closest match we can find. If the top of a chimney has loosened or started to lean, we will explain whether it needs to be partly rebuilt.
Our team also tuckpoints brick walls, foundations, and stone. See our masonry services page for more.
Signs Your Chimney Needs Attention
Chimney problems usually start small. Watch for:
- Water stains on a ceiling or wall next to the chimney, or damp wood around it in the attic
- Rusted, loose, or caulk-patched metal where the chimney meets the roof
- Cracks or crumbling in the concrete or mortar on top of the chimney (the crown)
- A missing, rusted, or bent chimney cap, or birds and debris getting into the flue
- Mortar joints that are recessed, sandy, or missing
- White staining (efflorescence) or brick faces flaking off (spalling)
- Worn, lifted, or patched shingles around the chimney
Most of this is hard to see from the ground, and that is normal. We will take a closer look and show you photos of what we find.
Frequently Asked Questions
My chimney only leaks in heavy rain. Is it the flashing or the brick?
It can be either, and sometimes both. Flashing leaks often show up with wind-driven rain, while leaks through worn mortar or a cracked crown tend to show up after long, soaking rains. An inspection usually narrows it down.
Can you just re-caulk the flashing?
Caulk can buy some time, but it dries out and cracks in our summer heat and winter cold. For a lasting repair, we install counter flashing set into the mortar joints.
How often does a chimney need tuckpointing?
It depends on the mortar, how exposed the chimney is, and how well the crown and cap keep water out. We would rather look at your chimney and tell you what we see than guess at a schedule.
Do you sweep chimneys?
No. We don't sweep chimneys or work on flues or flue liners. Our chimney work is on the outside: flashing, caps, crowns, brick, and mortar. If we notice anything that suggests a problem inside the chimney, we will let you know so you can have a chimney sweep take a look.
How a Chimney Repair Works With Us
Step 1: Inspection
We look at the flashing, crown, cap, brick, and mortar, plus the roof around the chimney, and take photos.
Step 2: Written plan
You get a clear scope and price, including what needs attention now and what can wait.
Step 3: Repair
Our team does the work and keeps the jobsite clean and organized.
Step 4: Walkthrough
We go over the finished work with you, with photos of anything you can't see from the ground.
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Get Your Chimney Checked
Falls City Contracting is a veteran-owned, family-operated contractor in Louisville, focused on the best solutions in roofing and restoration. Call (502) 438-9306, Monday–Friday, 8am–6pm, or fill out our form to schedule a free inspection.
