Chimney Flashing Repair in San Marino: Written Report, Licensed Technicians

After a wildfire burns through nearby brush, chimney flashing takes damage that most homeowners never see from ground level. Radiant heat warps lead and aluminum step flashing, separates counter flashing from mortar joints, and melts the sealant that keeps water from running behind your roof deck. Along the Altadena hillside, where the 2023 brush fires pushed embers into residential neighborhoods, we've found flashing pulled away from masonry on homes that otherwise looked untouched. Sierra Madre foothills properties face the same exposure pattern. Embers land on roof valleys near the chimney cricket, burn through underlayment, and compromise the flashing seal beneath. Insurance adjusters reviewing wildfire-adjacent claims often miss flashing damage entirely because it hides under counter flashing or behind step flashing tabs.

The real risk shows up months later, during Pasadena's November-through-March rain season. Water enters through gaps that didn't exist before the fire, soaks into the chimney chase or attic framing, and produces mold or structural rot that costs five to ten times more than a flashing repair. In the Arcadia highlands, where many homes sit on sloped lots with steep roof pitches, compromised chimney crickets funnel rainwater directly against the masonry. A proper post-wildfire flashing inspection includes pulling back counter flashing to check the reglet, examining every step flashing tab for heat distortion, and photographing all findings for your insurance file. That documentation is what separates a denied claim from a covered repair. If your home is within a mile of recent fire activity, a visual check from the yard is not enough.

A technician follows NFPA 211 inspection levels, and that matters for post-wildfire flashing work. A Level 2 inspection, required whenever conditions of use change or after a nearby hazard event like a brush fire, includes a camera scan of the flue interior plus a full exterior assessment of flashing, crown, and masonry joints. This level of documentation gives your insurance company exactly what they need: dated photos of heat-warped step flashing, measurements of separated counter flashing, and a written report referencing the applicable code standard. Kindle Restoration Chimney Sweep performs every post-fire inspection to Level 2 specifications, whether the damage is on an Altadena hillside bungalow or a two-story colonial in the Sierra Madre foothills. We note whether the existing flashing is lead or aluminum, whether a cricket is present or missing, and whether the reglet cut needs resealing or full counter flashing replacement.

Material choice matters in a repair. Lead flashing conforms better to irregular masonry surfaces and lasts decades, but aluminum works well on straight runs and costs less. We recommend lead for step flashing against older brick chimneys common in Pasadena's pre-1950s housing stock, and aluminum counter flashing where the chimney meets a newer composition roof. Every repair includes proper overlap sequences, back-bedded sealant in reglet joints, and a cricket installation when the chimney width exceeds 30 inches on the uphill side. We photograph each stage of the repair for your records. That file has saved clients thousands in reimbursement when insurers initially pushed back on wildfire-related flashing claims. For current best practices on flashing materials and installation methods, the NRCA maintains detailed contractor guidance.