Chimneys and flashings cause more roof leaks in NM than the shingle field ever will. Between step flashing, counter flashing, chimney crowns, chase pans, and crickets, there are five separate failure modes in one small area — and most 'chimney repairs' fix the wrong one. I audit each mode independently, tell you which one is actually leaking, and give you a scope so the next repair is the last one. Free post-storm chimney check after any 55+ mph NM wind event.
Step flashing lap, weave, and corrosion audit (per shingle course)
Counter flashing reglet-cut depth, sealant, and termination bar scoring
Chimney crown crack mapping and re-cast vs seal recommendation
Chase pan (framed chimneys) rust-through and slope audit
Cricket sizing verification per IRC R1003.20 (required at 30" wide+)
Free post-storm chimney check after 55+ mph NM wind events
Full roof walk with dedicated chimney-perimeter audit. Step flashing weave and lap-length verification at every shingle course on the roof-to-brick side walls. Counter flashing reglet depth (¾" minimum), sealant condition, and termination-bar attachment audit. Chimney crown crack mapping — hairline, spider, corner spall, and rebar exposure classification. Chase pan (framed chimneys) rust-through probe, slope check, and cap seam audit. Cricket sizing verification per IRC R1003.20 — required on any chimney 30" or wider across the slope. Interior audit at chimney-adjacent ceilings and closets for staining or efflorescence patterns. Written scope with per-mode repair recommendation, cost band, and priority ordering.
Homeowners with an active chimney leak — especially one that's been 'repaired' before. Homeowners planning a re-roof who want flashings and chimney details replaced (not reused). Buyers under contract on a home with a masonry or framed chimney. Homeowners with stucco damage, efflorescence, or paint bubbling near a chimney chase. Insurance-claim homeowners after a wind or hail event that likely damaged crown or cap.
Free Post-Storm Chimney Check — $0 (after 55+ mph events within 30 days) Verbal Walk — $99 Standard Flashing + Chimney Report — $349 Detailed w/ Per-Mode Photo Grid + Prioritized Scope — $549 Multi-Chimney or Commercial — Custom Most flashing + chimney inspections are $349–$549. Compared to a $4,000–$12,000 chimney rebuild caused by 3 years of unrepaired crown leak, this pays for itself the first winter.
Because a chimney is five different failure modes stacked in one place: step flashing (roof-to-brick), counter flashing (brick-into-reglet), the chimney crown (mortar cap on top), the chase pan (metal cover on framed chimneys), and the cricket (diverter uphill on wide chimneys). Any one of them can leak, and most 'chimney repairs' fix the wrong one. I audit all five separately.
Step flashing is the L-shaped pieces woven between shingle courses at the roof-to-brick side wall — it does the actual water-shedding work. Counter flashing is the piece cut into a mortar reglet above it that covers the step flashing's vertical leg. Both need to be present and in good shape; a 'chimney re-flash' that only replaces one of the two will leak within 2 years.
Ground-level with binoculars: look for hairline or spider cracks on the mortar cap, missing chunks at corners, or exposed rebar. In NM's freeze-thaw a hairline crack becomes a ½" gap in 3 winters. Crown re-cast is $400–$900; chimney rebuild from crown-failure water damage is $4,000–$12,000. I score it, tell you which stage you're at, and give you the right repair scope.
Yes — $0 after any NM windstorm over 55 mph, in person. Chimneys take wind load worse than the rest of the roof (they stick up into the flow), and crown/cap damage after a big gust is common and often missed. Ground-and-eave visual, and I only quote a paid report if there's something worth documenting.
Step, counter, cricket flashing audit.
SMACNA sizing + downspout audit.
Bid + scope compared line-by-line.
Hail/wind + NOAA event correlation.
I've watched too many neighbors sign contracts they didn't understand for roofs they didn't need. That stops with a written report they own.