Chimney Repair in Duluth, GA

Chimneys are the most failure-prone penetration on any residential roof — and the most frequently misdiagnosed. When water shows up near a fireplace, most homeowners assume the chimney itself is leaking. Most contractors respond by coating the base in roofing cement. And most of the time, the actual problem is a specific component failure that demands a specific fix.

A chimney is a stack of masonry punching through your roof plane, sealed at the base by metal flashing, protected at the top by a cap and crown, and — if it's wider than 30 inches — backed by a cricket that diverts water around the rear face. Each component ages independently. Each fails differently. Coating everything in cement because "it's the chimney" is why we get calls from Duluth homeowners who've had the same leak "fixed" three times.

A Real Job: Missing Cricket on a Wide Chimney — Eastern Duluth, 30097

A 3,000-square-foot colonial east of Satellite Boulevard. Wide masonry chimney — 38 inches across, well over the 30-inch Georgia code threshold for a cricket. Built in 1999. Water damage on the ceiling three feet behind the fireplace.

The front and side flashing was functional. The problem was behind the chimney: no cricket had ever been installed. Water pooled against the rear masonry face, worked under deteriorated flashing, and entered the decking. The chimney cap had also rusted through on one side, allowing water into the flue — a secondary moisture source compounding the primary failure.

Built a properly framed cricket — plywood sheathing, ice-and-water shield, matched shingles. Replaced rear flashing with 15-inch sheet metal embedded in mortar reglets. New stainless steel cap with spark screen. Left the functional front and side flashing intact.

No recurrence through a full year. Total permanent fix cost less than the three failed caulk attempts combined.

Chimney leaks almost always involve flashing. Our free inspection identifies exactly what's failing.

Water near your fireplace? Call (678) 766-9646 — we'll trace the actual entry point.