Arlington homes take a beating from hail, wind, and shifting clay soil — and the chimney flashing is usually the first thing to give.
From the brick ranch homes scattered through East Arlington to the split-levels near South Arlington and the newer construction going up around Viridian, one detail keeps showing up on service calls: failed chimney flashing. Arlington sits in one of the hardest-hit hail zones in the country, and between wind-driven storms and the slow, steady shifting of the area's clay soil, the metal flashing sealing the chimney to the roof deck takes a constant beating. When it fails, water finds its way into the attic, the ceiling, and eventually the framing around the chimney. Lowes Chimney Sweep installs proper step and counter flashing throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and we're on call in Arlington seven days a week, including Sundays.
A lot of flashing problems in Arlington get patched instead of fixed. Roofers or handymen run a bead of tar or roofing cement over the gap where flashing meets the chimney, and it holds for a season or two before the sun bakes it, the clay soil shifts the foundation slightly, and the seal cracks open again. That approach treats the symptom, not the actual failure point. A true chimney flashing replacement removes the old metal entirely and installs new step flashing woven into the roofing courses along with counter flashing that's let directly into a fresh mortar joint on the chimney itself — not caulked to the brick face, but physically anchored into it. That's the difference between a fix that lasts one rainy season and one that lasts for decades.
Arlington's housing character matters here. Much of the city, from Interlochen to the streets around the Dalworthington Gardens area, was built between the 1970s and early 2000s, meaning a mix of traditional masonry chimneys and factory-built prefab units, each with its own flashing profile and its own failure pattern. Add in Arlington's hail exposure — consistently ranked among the worst in the U.S. — along with high wind events and heavy spring storms, and the metal flashing on these chimneys gets dented, lifted, and pried loose faster than in calmer climates. Underneath all of it, Arlington's clay soil expands and contracts with moisture swings, causing slight foundation and slab movement that can widen the very gap the flashing is supposed to seal. It's a combination that shows up again and again on roofs across South Arlington and East Arlington alike.
Proper flashing replacement starts with removing the failed metal and any degraded mortar joint around it. New step flashing pieces are layered with each course of shingles so water sheds down and over, never behind, the metal. Counter flashing is then cut into a fresh reglet in the mortar joint and mortared in place, locking it to the masonry so there's no reliance on caulk or sealant to keep water out. This is also the point where an existing chimney leak repair often turns out to be a flashing problem in disguise, and it pairs naturally with a broader chimney inspection to check the crown, cap, and mortar joints while the flashing is already exposed.
The ideal time to replace chimney flashing is during a reroof, since the shingles around the chimney are already coming up and the step flashing can be integrated cleanly with the new roofing material. If Arlington homeowners are already scheduling roof work after a hail event, this is the moment to have the chimney flashing done right instead of resealed again. We coordinate directly with roofing crews across the Dallas-Fort Worth area so the counter flashing, mortar work, and shingle tie-in happen as one job instead of two separate contractors working around each other.
Get a straight answer on what full flashing replacement looks like for your Arlington home.
(214) 225-8874Flashing replacement pricing depends on a handful of real factors: the chimney's height and roof pitch, whether it's a traditional masonry chimney or a factory-built unit with its own flashing collar, how much mortar repair is needed at the counter-flashing joint, and whether the work is being coordinated with an existing reroof or done as a standalone project. Chimneys with extensive hail or wind damage, or ones where clay-soil movement has cracked the surrounding mortar, typically need more prep work before new flashing goes in. All Lowes Chimney Sweep services start at $99, and every job comes with an up-front number before any work begins — no guessing, no surprise add-ons. Arlington homeowners can request a Free Online Quote or call directly, and while the flashing is being done it's worth also asking about crown repair, masonry repair, or chimney cap installation since all three are common companions to a proper re-flash. For more on spotting trouble early, see the signs your chimney flashing has failed and how hail damage shows up on a chimney.
"Very pleased with the professionalism and promptness of service. The chimney sweep was done quickly and efficiently at significantly less cost than the first quote I got from another company. Happy to recommend Lowes Chimney Sweep to anyone in Plano!"
"Outstanding chimney sweep service from start to finish. They were punctual, courteous, and left our chimney spotless with no mess in our home. I won't use anyone else for chimney services in Dallas TX!"
More reviews from homeowners across the metroplex are on our reviews section, or learn more about our team before you book.
Look for rust streaks on the brick, gaps where the metal has pulled away from the mortar joint, or water stains on the ceiling near the fireplace. In Arlington, hail impacts and wind uplift often bend or loosen flashing enough that caulk alone won't hold a seal for long. If the flashing has separated from the mortar joint itself, it needs to be re-let and replaced, not resealed.
Yes — Arlington sits in one of the more hail-prone parts of the country, and flashing metal is thin enough that repeated hail impacts dent it, loosen its fasteners, and create small gaps where wind-driven rain can get underneath. Homes in South Arlington and East Arlington with older, worn flashing tend to show this damage first after a hail event.
Yes, and it's often the ideal time. When shingles around the chimney are already being removed for a reroof, new step flashing can be integrated cleanly with the roofing material while counter flashing is cut into a fresh mortar joint on the chimney. Arlington homeowners scheduling roof work after storm damage should have the chimney flashing addressed in the same project.
A sealant-only fix doesn't address movement in the mortar joint or metal that's already lifted or corroded. Arlington's clay soil shifts with moisture changes, which can widen the gap between the chimney and roof deck over time, reopening a sealed joint. A full flashing replacement with step and counter flashing let into the masonry removes that reliance on sealant altogether.
Yes. Many Arlington homes built from the 1970s through early 2000s have factory-built, prefab chimneys with a flashing collar system, while older masonry chimneys use step and counter flashing set into a mortar joint. Both fail in similar ways under hail and wind, but the replacement approach differs, which is why an inspection of the specific chimney type comes first.
Straight answers from our DFW chimney pros before you book.
