Lowes Chimney Sweep Blog

Should You Repair the Chimney Before or After Replacing the Roof?

By the Lowes Chimney Sweep crew · Plano, TX

You're planning a new roof, and you know the chimney needs some attention too — maybe a cracked crown, some tuckpointing, or you're just not sure. So which comes first? It's a smart question to ask before the crews show up, because getting the order wrong can mean paying twice, damaging brand-new shingles, or ending up with the same chimney leak you were trying to solve. The short answer: chimney masonry and crown work should generally happen before or alongside the roof, and the flashing has to be coordinated between the two. Here's how to sequence it so both jobs come out right the first time.

Why the Order Matters at All

Roof and chimney work meet at one critical point: the flashing, the layered metal that seals the joint where the chimney passes through the roof. That seam is where roofing and masonry overlap, and it's the number-one place chimney leaks start. Because both trades touch it, the sequence and coordination determine whether that joint ends up watertight or becomes a leak waiting to happen. On top of that, chimney masonry repair is messy, heavy work done on the roof — and you don't want that happening on top of shingles you just paid for. Get the order right and everything protects everything else; get it wrong and the trades work against each other.

Chimney Masonry and Crown Work: Do It First

If your chimney needs structural or masonry work — crown repair, brick replacement, tuckpointing, or a partial rebuild — that should happen before the new roof goes on, or at least be coordinated to come first. There are two reasons. First, this work is done from the roof and involves mortar, debris, and foot traffic that can scuff, crack, or dirty new shingles. Second, you want the chimney sound and watertight before the flashing is set against it, because flashing installed against crumbling brick or an unrepaired crown won't seal properly. Fix the chimney structure first, then flash to a solid, finished chimney. Doing masonry repair after a fresh reroof risks damaging the very roof you're protecting.

Flashing: This Is Where It Goes Wrong

Flashing is the piece that must be handled as part of the roofing job — and it's exactly where most people get burned. When a roofer reroofs, new flashing (or properly re-integrated flashing) should be installed as part of that work. The problem is that many roofers rush it: they reuse the old flashing or smear roofing tar over the seam to save time. It looks fine, passes a glance, and then leaks at the next hard rain — long after the crew is gone. So the key isn't just "when," it's "make sure it's done right." Proper chimney flashing means real layered step-and-counter flashing integrated with both the new shingles and the masonry, not caulk. This is the single detail that decides whether your chimney stays dry after the new roof.

The Ideal Sequence

Put together, the smart order looks like this: first, have the chimney inspected so you know its true condition and what it needs. Second, complete any chimney masonry, crown, or structural repairs so the chimney is sound. Third, replace the roof, with proper new flashing installed and integrated as part of that job. Finishing with a chimney cap and waterproofing, if needed, protects everything you just paid for. Coordinating it this way means you're not sending anyone back up to disturb new work, the flashing seals against a finished chimney, and you get one watertight result instead of a sequence of do-overs.

Why an Inspection Should Come Before Either Job

Before you schedule a roof or a chimney repair, the single most useful step is a chimney inspection. It tells you exactly what the chimney needs — is the crown cracked, is the flashing failing, is the masonry sound — so you can sequence the work correctly and get accurate quotes instead of guessing. It also prevents the classic mistake of putting a beautiful new roof over a chimney that's about to leak, which forces you to disturb the new roof to fix it. Knowing the chimney's condition up front lets you plan both projects as one coordinated job rather than two that collide.

How We Help You Coordinate It

When homeowners call us before a reroof, we inspect the chimney, show them photos of exactly what needs doing, and give an itemized plan they can hand to their roofer so the two jobs line up. We handle the chimney masonry, crown, and repair work, and we make sure the flashing is done as real layered metal, not caulked over. The goal is simple: a sound chimney and a new roof that work together, sealed at the joint, with no leak surprises after the crews leave. No pressure, no upsell — just the right work in the right order.

Why DFW Homeowners Call Lowes Before a Reroof

Coordinating chimney and roof work is one of those things that's easy to get wrong and expensive to redo, and it's exactly what we help with. Lowes Chimney Sweep is certified, insured, and 5-star rated across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, we document the chimney's real condition so you and your roofer are on the same page, and we schedule quickly so we don't hold up your roof project. Planning a new roof with a chimney that needs work? Call (214) 225-8874 and let's get the order right.

Reroofing soon? A chimney inspection and proper flashing keep both jobs watertight — or request your Free Online Quote below.