Most roof leaks start at the chimney.
Where your chimney meets the roof is the hardest spot to keep watertight, and it's where most leaks begin. Buckshot repairs and replaces chimney flashing across Wisconsin and Iowa with real metal flashing, not another smear of caulk that fails by next spring.
Start with a free quote.
Tell us what you're after, a new skylight, a replacement, or a leak that needs fixing, and we'll send a project manager to assess it and give you a written quote. We respond within 2 hours.
Got it. We'll be in touch.
Thanks, there. We received your request and respond within 2 hours during business hours.
Signs your chimney is leaking.
Flashing leaks hide until they reach the ceiling. Catch any of these and a repair almost always beats a replacement.
Ceiling or wall discoloration around the chimney chase.
Rust streaks on the flashing or staining running down the brick.
A drip that returns each storm is a flashing problem, not a fluke.
Lifted, split, or tar-smeared flashing that's clearly been band-aided.
Deteriorating mortar joints or white efflorescence on the brick.
A damp, musty smell in the attic near the chimney often means hidden moisture.
A caulk patch isn't a repair.
The most common chimney "fix" is a bead of caulk over the gap. It buys a season, then the leak comes back, often worse. Here's the difference.
The quick patch (what fails)
- A bead of caulk or roofing tar smeared over the gap.
- Looks sealed for a season, then sun and freeze-thaw break it down.
- Traps water behind it, so the next leak is often worse.
- Skips the counter flashing entirely.
The real fix (what we do)
- New step, apron, and counter flashing in metal, not sealant.
- Counter flashing set into the mortar, not surface-caulked.
- The old patchwork removed, not covered over.
- Built to last the life of the roof, with a written warranty.
Repair, replace, or re-flash.
From a single failed section to a full re-flash with a new roof, we cover it, and tell you straight which one your chimney needs.
Flashing repair
When most of the flashing is sound, we reset the counter flashing, replace the failed section, and seal it correctly, no full tear-off needed.
Full flashing replacement
When it's a patchwork of tar and rust, we strip it all and install new step, apron, and counter flashing from scratch.
Re-flash with your roof
Replacing the roof? We install all-new chimney flashing at the same time, so you never reuse old flashing under a new roof.
Cricket / saddle
Water pooling behind a wide chimney? We add a cricket to divert it before it ever reaches the flashing.
From leak to dry, the right way.
One Buckshot project manager owns the job start to finish. No handoffs, no call center, no guesswork.
Free inspection
We find the actual source of the leak at the chimney, not just the stain showing up inside.
Written estimate
A clear scope: which flashing is failing and whether a cricket is needed, before you commit.
Remove the patchwork
We strip out the old caulk, tar, and failed flashing instead of covering over it.
Install proper flashing
New step, apron, and counter flashing, set into the masonry and sealed the right way.
Walkthrough & warranty
We confirm it's dry and hand over our workmanship warranty in writing.
What a small leak becomes.
A flashing leak doesn't stay small. Every storm it sits, the repair gets bigger and the bill gets larger.
Soaked decking
Water rots the wood deck under the shingles around the chimney, a simple flashing job turns into deck repair.
Mold & lost insulation
Damp insulation and framing grow mold and lose R-value, adding cleanup and energy costs.
Ceilings & structure
Stained drywall, damaged framing, and a repair that now costs far more than the flashing ever would have.
Roofers who flash it right the first time.
Chimney flashing is detail work, and the wrong fix just hides the leak. That's exactly the kind of careful, accountable work a family company built since 1979 is set up to do.
Rated 4.9 stars across 80 reviews.
A few words from Wisconsin homeowners. Read the rest on our reviews page.
"Roof done less than a day, great work."
"Very good workmanship in my opinion."
"I paid my deductible and Buckshot worked with the insurance."
Q.01Is my chimney really the source of the leak?+
Q.02Can't you just caulk it?+
Q.03What's the difference between step and counter flashing?+
Q.04Should I re-flash the chimney when I replace the roof?+
Q.05Do you do the masonry too, or just the flashing?+
Q.06My ceiling is stained near the chimney. What now?+
Explore residential roofing.
Stop the chimney leak for good.
Before the next rain finds its way in, get a free, no-pressure inspection and a written estimate from a family roofing crew that's been flashing chimneys since 1979. We respond within 2 hours.
Buckshot General Contracting, family-owned since 1979. Headquartered at 621 N Sherman Ave, Suite B5, Madison, WI 53704, with a field office in Centerville, IA. Licensed in 24 states. WI Lic. DC-080900045. GAF Master Elite and BBB A+ accredited. The flashing diagram is a simplified illustration. Buckshot handles roofing and flashing work; chimney masonry rebuilding, where required, may be coordinated separately. Repair versus replacement depends on on-site conditions. Credentials and licensing current as of publication.