Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair in Washington

Washington rowhouses leak at the same places year after year: the chimney cricket, the skylight curb, the party-wall seam, and the cornice flashing. If you own a brick rowhouse on Capitol Hill, a Victorian in Dupont Circle or Logan Circle, or a Colonial Revival in Cleveland Park, your roof is only as watertight as its weakest flashing detail. Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair in Washington is the work that stops the drip before it rots the deck and stains the plaster ceilings below. We have been bending and installing metal flashing here since 2009, and we know how these old buildings actually fail. When a leak starts, the fastest path is usually a targeted metal roof leak repair visit, not a full re-roof.

Why Flashing Fails First on Washington Rowhouses

Most of the housing stock here was built between the 1870s and the 1930s, and the flashing on those roofs has been patched, tarred, and caulked for a century. Brick chimneys settle, skylight curbs crack, and the original copper or galvanized steel finally thins out. Add violent summer thunderstorms, the June 2012 derecho, and ice storms, and every seam gets tested hard. The failure mode that dominates in this city is water backing up and creeping behind failed step flashing at the chimney and party wall, not wind uplift on open panels.

• We inspect the chimney cricket and counterflashing, where most rowhouse leaks begin.
• We check skylight curbs and the sealant joint that cracks after a few freeze-thaw cycles.
• We probe dormer and bay-front flashing on Victorian and turret roofs.
• We trace party-wall and cornice seams that let water into neighboring units.
• We document every failed detail with photos for your records or insurance file.

Once we know exactly which detail is letting water in, we can quote the repair instead of guessing at the whole roof.

Key info: On a Shaw or Columbia Heights rowhouse, a single failed chimney cricket can send water down three floors into a rear addition. We have seen it after heavy snowmelt in February and after a July thunderstorm in the same block.

For official guidance on what work needs a permit, check the DC Department of Buildings before you schedule anything.

How We Repair and Fabricate Flashing in Washington

We do not rely on tubes of caulk and a ladder. We measure the detail, bend new metal to fit, and install it so water sheds the way it should. That means matching the profile to the building, whether it is a standing seam mansard roof in Dupont Circle or a painted tin porch roof in Petworth. Our in-house brake lets us form step flashing, counterflashing, crickets, and skylight curbs to the exact dimensions of your chimney or opening.

1. We start with a close inspection of the chimney, skylight, dormer, or party wall from the roof and from inside the attic where possible.
2. We remove the failed flashing, old sealant, and any rotten decking or sheathing underneath.
3. We fabricate new flashing from copper, galvanized steel, or the metal that matches your roof.
4. We install step flashing and counterflashing in the correct lapping order so water cannot get behind the metal.
5. We seal, fasten, and test the detail before we close up the work area.

Every repair ends with a water test and a walkthrough so you can see what changed.

Key info: A Cleveland Park Tudor with a brick chimney and a low-slope dormer needed a new copper cricket and counterflashing. We bent both on site in one morning and stopped a leak that had stained the ceiling for two winters.

If the flashing problem is really a fastener problem, we will point you to screw replacement and re-fastening instead of selling you flashing you do not need.

Repair Approaches We Use Around Chimneys, Skylights and Walls

Not every leak calls for the same fix. The right approach depends on the roof pitch, the material, and how much of the original detail is still sound. Here is how we decide.

We pick the least invasive approach that will actually stop the leak and hold up through the next storm season.

Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair Cost in Washington: What to Expect

Most flashing repairs start around $600 and go up from there. That starting figure covers a straightforward repair on an accessible detail, such as resealing and replacing a short run of step flashing at a chimney. The price climbs when access is difficult, when the chimney needs a new cricket, or when a skylight curb has to be rebuilt. Steep mansard roofs and tight rowhouse lots take more time and more careful staging.

Getting two or three estimates is smart because flashing work is easy to underbid and hard to inspect later. Ask each contractor to show you the failed detail and explain exactly what they will replace. You can see how we structure our numbers on the pricing overview before you call.

What to Look For in a Metal Roofing Contractor Near Washington

Flashing repair is detail work, and the contractor matters more than the material. Ask for proof of licensing and insurance before anyone gets on your roof. Get at least three written estimates that describe the flashing detail, not just a lump sum. Check references from rowhouse or historic-district jobs, because those buildings have quirks that a new subdivision does not.

If your home sits in a historic district or under an HOA, confirm who handles design review before work starts. And if the repair touches a full re-roof, verify the permit requirements with the local building department, since thresholds and fees vary by jurisdiction. You can reach us through the contact page to set up an inspection.

You can also see how we handle flashing on specific Washington neighborhoods on our 20036 service page.

Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair in Washington: Pricing Guide

Indicative pricing, the exact cost depends on square footage, finish, and site access. Free personalized estimate within 24h at (771) 254-1880.