From historic downtown McKinney masonry to the prefab fireplaces of Stonebridge Ranch and Craig Ranch, we re-flash chimneys to stop leaks for good — not just patch them.
If you've noticed a water stain creeping down the wall next to your fireplace, chances are the flashing where your chimney meets the roof has failed. This is one of the most common calls we get across McKinney, from the century-old brick homes near historic downtown McKinney to the sprawling rooflines of Stonebridge Ranch, Adriatica, and Craig Ranch. Collin County's mix of hail, high wind, and constant freeze-thaw swings works flashing loose year after year, and a quick tar-and-patch job rarely holds. A proper flashing replacement — step flashing plus counter flashing let into the mortar joint — is built to actually last.
Flashing is the metal barrier that seals the joint between your chimney and roof, and it's designed to shed water in layers. Over time, several things common to this area cause it to fail:
Once that seal is compromised, water works its way behind the flashing and into the attic, ceiling, or masonry itself.
A lot of homeowners call us after a handyman or roofer has resealed a leaky joint with caulk or roofing cement. That's a short-term fix, and in McKinney's climate it usually fails again within a season or two once the sealant dries out and cracks. A full re-flash removes the old material entirely and installs new step flashing (interlocked with each shingle course) and counter flashing (cut into the mortar joint) so water is mechanically directed away from the chimney rather than just caulked shut. This is especially important if you're already coordinating a reroof — replacing flashing at the same time avoids re-opening finished roof work later. We separate this service from a simple chimney leak repair because flashing replacement addresses the structural water barrier itself, not just a symptom.
McKinney is unusual in how much its chimney stock varies block to block. In the historic district, turn-of-the-century masonry chimneys often have flashing that was never properly let into the mortar joint to begin with, or it's been painted over and patched so many times the original metal is unrecognizable. Re-flashing these chimneys means carefully cutting a new reglet line into old, sometimes soft mortar without damaging the surrounding brick. In newer master-planned neighborhoods like Craig Ranch, Stonebridge Ranch, Adriatica, and Tucker Hill, many homes have prefab metal fireplace chases rather than full masonry chimneys, and the flashing detail around these chase covers is a different animal — it's sheet-metal-to-sheet-metal rather than metal-to-mortar, and it needs to be matched to the chase pan design. Either way, the fix has to match the actual structure in front of us, not a one-size-fits-all kit.
If any of this sounds familiar, it's worth pairing a flashing inspection with a broader chimney inspection to catch related issues like cap or crown damage before they compound.
McKinney's hail and wind season doesn't wait — get your flashing checked now.
(214) 225-8874We start by removing the failed flashing and inspecting the mortar joint or chase pan underneath for hidden damage. Step flashing is woven in with the shingles, and new counter flashing is cut into the mortar (or fitted to the chase cover) so it locks water out mechanically rather than relying on sealant alone. We coordinate closely with roofers when this is done alongside a reroof, and we clean up thoroughly since this work sits right at your roofline. Many McKinney homeowners pair this with chimney cap installation or chimney crown repair while we're already up there, since addressing the whole top of the chimney at once reduces repeat trips.
Flashing replacement pricing depends on several factors: the chimney's height and roof pitch, whether it's a masonry chimney needing a new mortar reglet cut or a prefab chase needing custom-fitted metal, the extent of any hidden decking or mortar damage found once the old flashing comes off, and whether the work is being coordinated with a reroof already in progress. Services with us start at $99, and we won't guess at a number over the phone — every job gets an on-site look and an upfront, written quote before any work begins. Start with a Free Online Quote and we'll walk you through exactly what your chimney needs, whether that's a targeted re-flash or something more involved like the fixes covered in our guide to chimney leak causes or our notes on reroofing around an existing 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.
Flashing leaks usually show up as stains along the wall or ceiling right where the chimney meets the roofline, while crown leaks tend to show up as staining lower down inside the firebox or flue. We see both in McKinney, especially after hail season, so it's worth having a technician check both areas rather than guessing. A proper inspection can tell you which one — or both — needs attention.
Yes, though older masonry in the historic district often has softer, more brittle mortar than newer construction, so the reglet cut for counter flashing has to be done carefully to avoid damaging surrounding brick. We assess the mortar condition on site before starting. In some cases minor mortar repair is done alongside the flashing work to give it a solid seat.
Yes, prefab metal chases still need flashing where the chase meets the roof, it's just a metal-to-metal detail around the chase pan rather than metal cut into mortar. These developments are common throughout McKinney's newer neighborhoods, and the flashing on chase covers can fail just as easily as masonry flashing, especially after wind or hail. We match the repair to your specific chase design.
If you're already seeing staining or rust at the roofline, it's best not to wait — Collin County's hail and high-wind patterns tend to worsen an existing gap rather than let it be. A short delay is reasonable if there's no active leak, but we'd recommend having it checked before spring storm season rolls through.
Yes, this is actually one of the ideal times to do it, since the roofer will already have shingles pulled back near the chimney. We work directly with roofing crews across McKinney to time the flashing work so it's installed properly under the new shingles rather than added afterward. Just mention the reroof timeline when you call so we can schedule around it.
Straight answers from our DFW chimney pros before you book.
