Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair in St. Louis, MO

Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair St. Louis

St. Louis sits where the Missouri River meets the Mississippi, and the weather that rolls across those bluffs and river bottoms punishes every roof penetration. Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair in St. Louis is the work we do most often on the brick homes of Lafayette Square, Soulard, and the Central West End, because flashing is the number one leak point on a St. Louis brick house. Ice storms, spring hail, and the freeze-thaw cycle work hardened mastic and old step flashing loose year after year. We bend our own flashing in-house so it fits your chimney, skylight, dormer, or party wall exactly, not close enough. If you are chasing a stain on the ceiling, start with our metal roof leak repair page and we will trace it to the penetration. We have been on St. Louis roofs since 2009 and we are a Metal Roofing Alliance member.

Why Flashing Fails First on St. Louis Brick Homes

The housing stock here tells the story. The 1860s to 1910s red-brick rowhouses with slate mansard roofs in Soulard and Lafayette Square have chimney and party-wall flashing that has been patched with tar for decades. The 1910s to 1930s brick bungalows and Tudors of South City, University City, and Webster Groves have low-slope porch roofs and dormers where water sits. Post-war brick ranches across North and South County, and the 1990s to 2020s two-story homes in Chesterfield and Wildwood, fail at skylights and furnace flues. The 2011 Good Friday tornado and the May 2025 north city tornado both opened up flashing seams that leaked for months afterward.

Ice dams form on north-facing slopes after a winter ice storm and push water under step flashing.
Spring hail dents and splits the soft lead and aluminum flashing around chimneys.
Summer heat bakes old sealant until it cracks and pulls away from the brick.
Freeze-thaw cycles open the mortar joint above the counter-flashing on older masonry.
Wind-driven rain from severe storms finds any gap at skylight curbs and dormer sidewalls.

Every one of those failures shows up first as a ceiling stain, not as a missing shingle or panel.

Key info: A homeowner in Kirkwood called us after two roofers replaced shingles over a leaking chimney. The real problem was rusted step flashing and a missing cricket. We rebuilt the flashing in one day and the leak stopped. The shingles had never been the issue.

St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis both require permits for structural roof work, and the rules vary by jurisdiction. Check with your local building department before any chimney rebuild or skylight replacement. You can start with the City of St. Louis Building Division for city permits.

How We Repair Flashing, Chimneys, and Skylights in St. Louis

We do not guess at a leak. We get on the roof, open the penetration, and find where the water is actually entering. On brick homes in the Central West End and Clayton, that often means cutting a reglet into the masonry and bending new counter-flashing to fit the joint. On metal roofs, we match the panel profile and use the right closure and butyl so the repair moves with the roof instead of fighting it. Our brake is on the truck, so we bend custom pieces on site rather than ordering a stock profile that almost fits.

We inspect the full penetration from the roof surface and from inside the attic where access allows.
We remove the failed flashing, sealant, and any rotten decking or sheathing underneath.
We measure and bend new flashing to the exact chimney, curb, or wall dimension on site.
We install step flashing, counter-flashing, crickets, and aprons in the correct sequence.
We seal with polyurethane or butyl, never with a cheap tar that fails by the next winter.
We water-test the repair before we leave and photograph the finished work for your records.

If the penetration sits on a standing seam roof, we use the manufacturer's curb and clamp system so we do not void the panel warranty. You can see how that work ties into our standing seam metal roofing service.

Key info: On a 1920s Tudor in Webster Groves, the skylight curb had been flashed with roof cement for 15 years. We pulled the skylight, rebuilt the curb with new lumber, bent a one-piece copper curb flashing, and reinstalled the unit. That repair will outlast the next two roof replacements.

Repair Approaches We Use on St. Louis Roofs

Not every flashing repair is the same. The right approach depends on the roof material, the age of the penetration, and how much masonry work is involved. Here is how we match the method to the job.

Approach	Description	Best for
Step and counter-flashing rebuild	New bent metal set into a reglet cut in the brick, with a cricket on the uphill side.	Brick chimneys on Soulard and Lafayette Square rowhouses.
Skylight curb replacement	Rebuild the curb framing, bend a one-piece flashing, and reset the skylight with new seals.	Leaking skylights on 1980s and 1990s Chesterfield and Wildwood homes.
Dormer and sidewall flashing	New step flashing woven into the roof and a bent cap that sheds water away from the wall.	Tudors and bungalows in Webster Groves, Kirkwood, and University City.
Parapet and party-wall repair	New coping and through-wall flashing with proper termination at the masonry.	Flat and low-slope roofs on city commercial buildings and rowhouses.
Metal roof penetration boot	EPDM or silicone boot matched to the pipe or flue, sealed to the panel profile.	Exposed-fastener and standing seam roofs with vent pipes and flues.

Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair Cost in St. Louis: What to Expect

Most single-penetration flashing repairs in St. Louis start around $600 and go up from there. A straightforward chimney flashing rebuild on a brick bungalow in South City is usually in that lower range. A skylight curb replacement, a parapet rebuild, or a job that requires cutting into masonry and rebuilding decking runs higher. Access matters too. A steep mansard roof in Soulard takes more setup than a low-slope ranch in Florissant. So does a chimney on a turret in the Central West End.

We always recommend getting two or three estimates on any flashing job. The scope can look identical on paper and be very different in the field. One contractor may quote a tar patch, another may quote a full flashing rebuild, and the price difference reflects that. Ask each one what they will remove, what they will bend new, and whether they will water-test the repair. Our full pricing overview lays out how we build an estimate.

Key info: A homeowner in Creve Coeur had three quotes for a leaking chimney. Two were under $500 and both proposed sealing the existing flashing. Ours was $1,150 because we cut a reglet and bent new copper. Eighteen months later, the two cheap repairs had failed and ours was still dry.

Finding a Metal Roofing Contractor Near Me for Flashing Work in St. Louis

Flashing is detail work, and not every roofer bends metal. When you search for a metal roofing contractor near me in St. Louis, look for someone who fabricates flashing rather than buying stock pieces and caulking the gaps. Ask whether they carry liability and workers compensation insurance and whether they can show you a certificate. Ask for two or three local references on jobs similar to yours, especially brick chimneys or skylights. Confirm who pulls the permit, because the City of St. Louis and each county handle roof permits differently. If your home is in a historic district or an HOA, check the design rules before anyone orders material. You can reach us through our contact page to set up an inspection.

Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair in St. Louis: Pricing Guide

Service	Price	Details
Chimney flashing rebuild	Starting at $600	Includes removal of old flashing, new step and counter-flashing, and a cricket where needed.
Skylight curb flashing	Starting at $850	Includes curb inspection, new bent flashing, and resealing the skylight to the curb.
Dormer or sidewall flashing	Starting at $700	Includes new step flashing woven into the roof and a bent wall cap.
Parapet or party-wall flashing	On estimate	Masonry work, roof access, and building height vary too much to quote blind.
Travel	Included	In St. Louis and surrounding areas, no separate call-out or mileage fee.
Estimate	Free	Response within 24h at (314) 689-1531, no obligation to book.

Indicative pricing, the exact cost depends on square footage, finish, and site access. Free personalized estimate within 24h at (314) 689-1531.

Frequently asked questions: Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair in St. Louis

How much does Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair cost in St. Louis?

Most single-penetration repairs start around $600. A chimney flashing rebuild on a brick bungalow in South City often lands near that figure. Skylight curb replacements and parapet work run higher because they involve more framing and masonry. We give you a written scope before any work starts so you know what is included.

Why does my chimney leak after heavy rain in St. Louis?

The most common cause on St. Louis brick homes is failed step flashing or a missing cricket on the uphill side of the chimney. Water runs down the brick, hits the roof, and finds the gap. Tar patches hide the problem for a season or two. A proper rebuild with new bent flashing and a reglet cut into the masonry is the fix that lasts.

Can you repair flashing on a metal roof without voiding the warranty?

Yes. On standing seam we use the panel manufacturer's curb and clamp system, and we match the closure and butyl to the profile. On exposed-fastener roofs we use boots and flashing sized to the panel. We document the repair with photos so you have a record for the warranty file.

How long does a flashing repair take?

A single chimney flashing rebuild is usually a one-day job. A skylight curb replacement can take a day to a day and a half if the curb framing needs work. Parapet and party-wall jobs on city rowhouses can run two to three days. We tell you the expected timeline before we start.

Do I need a permit for chimney or skylight flashing repair in St. Louis?

It depends on the scope. A flashing repair alone often does not require a permit, but a chimney rebuild, a skylight replacement, or any structural change usually does. The City of St. Louis and each county set their own thresholds. We check with the local building department before the job and tell you what applies.

What is the difference between flashing repair and roof leak repair?

Flashing repair targets the metal around a penetration, such as a chimney, skylight, dormer, or wall. Roof leak repair finds and fixes the source of water entry anywhere on the roof, which may or may not be flashing. In St. Louis, most leaks we trace on brick homes do turn out to be flashing, but we diagnose first before quoting either.

When is the best time of year for flashing repair in St. Louis?

Late spring through early fall is the easiest window because the sealants cure properly and we can water-test the repair. That said, the demand peaks after winter ice storms and spring hail, when freeze-thaw has opened seams and hail has split soft metal. Late summer and fall are good for catching problems before the first freeze. We work through the winter on urgent leaks when conditions allow.

Do you handle emergency flashing leaks in St. Louis?

Yes. If water is coming into the house, call (314) 689-1531 and we will get someone out as soon as possible, often the same day. We can do a temporary seal to stop the damage and schedule the permanent repair. Storm-driven leaks after hail or high wind are the most common emergency calls we get.

Is the estimate really free and no-obligation?

Yes. We come out, inspect the penetration, and give you a written scope and price. There is no charge for the visit and no pressure to book. If the repair is something you can handle yourself, we will tell you that too.

Are you licensed and insured for flashing work in St. Louis?

Yes. We carry liability and workers compensation insurance, and we can provide a certificate on request. We have been working on St. Louis roofs since 2009 and we are a Metal Roofing Alliance member. Ask for references on brick chimney and skylight jobs similar to yours.