If water is finding its way inside your home, the odds are good it is coming through a flashing, chimney or skylight detail, not the field of the roof. In Mobile, that means the galvanized or painted step flashing on a 1920s Craftsman bungalow in Midtown, the chimney chase on a Creole cottage in De Tonti Square, or the skylight curb on a 1990s brick home in Saraland. Our crew cuts and bends flashing in-house from 26-gauge galvanized steel and Kynar 500 painted coil so every piece fits the actual pitch and wall condition instead of a one-size-fits-all store-bought boot.
We handle Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair in Mobile as a stand-alone service on metal, shingle, and tile roofs. If the leak is already inside, start with our metal roof leak repair page for the diagnostic step, then we come back with the permanent flashing fix.
Why Flashing Leaks Dominate Mobile Roofs from Prichard to Fairhope
Mobile gets roughly 65 inches of rain a year, most of it in short, hard afternoon thunderstorms between June and September. That volume hits every penetration on the roof at once. Add the salt air off Mobile Bay, the live oak tannin that stains and traps moisture on north slopes, and the clay-heavy soil that shifts foundations slightly, and you get the failure pattern we see on nearly every inspection: fastener corrosion at the flashing lap, lifted counter-flashing, and cracked sealant at chimney crickets.
- Chimney flashing on older brick chases in Oakleigh Garden District and Church Street East opens up when the mortar joint above the counter-flashing cracks.
- Skylight curbs installed in the 1980s and 1990s across West Mobile and Hillcrest fail at the curb-to-deck seal long before the glass does.
- Step flashing along dormers and porch roofs on Victorian and Greek Revival homes pulls loose when the original nails back out of old sheathing.
- Valley flashing on low-pitch 1950s and 1960s ranches in Crichton and Toulminville rusts through because the original galvanized metal was never painted.
- Sidewall and headwall flashing on subdivision homes in Theodore and Tillmans Corner leaks where the builder-grade sealant has simply aged out.
In our experience, a leak that shows up as a ceiling stain in a Mobile home is a flashing problem about seven times out of ten, and a field-of-roof problem the rest of the time.
Key info: On a 2019 home in Spanish Fort, the homeowner had paid twice for shingle repairs before we found the actual source: the chimney cricket was built flat, so water pooled against the back of the chase and ran under the step flashing. We rebuilt the cricket with a proper slope and new soldered flashing. That is a flashing job, not a shingle job.
Local roofing permits and inspection requirements are set by the City of Mobile and Mobile County, and they change. Always confirm current rules with the City of Mobile before any structural flashing or chimney work begins.
How We Repair Flashing, Chimneys and Skylights on Mobile Roofs
We do not patch flashing with a tube of caulk and call it done. Every repair starts with a water test and a visual inspection of the penetration from the deck up, because the leak you see inside is rarely directly under the leak you have outside. On metal roofs, we remove the panel fasteners around the penetration, lift the panel just enough to access the substrate, and rebuild the detail with new metal, new butyl tape, and proper lap sequencing.
- We inspect the attic side first to trace the water path and confirm the entry point.
- We remove the old flashing, sealant, and any rotten decking or fascia around the penetration.
- We cut and bend new flashing on site to match the actual pitch, wall, and curb dimensions.
- We install new step, counter, apron, and cricket flashing with correct laps and mechanical fastening.
- We seal with high-grade polyurethane or butyl, never silicone on metal, and re-fasten the panels.
- We water-test the repair before we leave and photograph it for your records.
That sequence is the same whether we are on a standing seam roof in Spring Hill or a 5V-crimp panel on a bayou-side camp in Bayou La Batre.
Key info: A homeowner in Daphne had a skylight that dripped only during hard east winds. The curb flashing was fine on three sides. The wind-driven rain was entering at the upslope head flashing where the original installer had used a single bead of caulk instead of a proper reglet. We cut a reglet into the masonry, installed new head flashing, and the leak stopped. If you are in that area, see our Mobile 36606 flashing service page for the same process.
Flashing Repair Approaches We Use on Mobile Roofs
Not every flashing problem needs the same fix. We match the approach to the roof material, the age of the detail, and how much of the original metal is still sound. Here are the four methods we use most on Gulf Coast homes.
| Approach | Description | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Full flashing replacement | Remove old step, counter, and apron flashing. Bend and install new metal with correct laps and fasteners. | Chimneys and skylights where the original metal is rusted through or the sealant has failed repeatedly. |
| Cricket and diverter rebuild | Build a new sloped cricket behind a chimney or wide penetration to move water around it. | Wide chimneys on low-pitch roofs where water pools against the back of the chase. |
| Reglet and counter-flashing reset | Cut a reglet into masonry or siding and reset the counter-flashing into it with proper sealant. | Brick chimneys and sidewalls where the old counter-flashing was surface-mounted and caulked. |
| Skylight curb rebuild | Rebuild the curb to correct height and slope, then install new flashing and a new seal kit. | Older skylights that leak at the curb even after the glass and seal have been replaced. |
| Panel-lift and re-seal on metal roofs | Lift the metal panel at the penetration, replace the underlayment and butyl tape, and re-fasten. | Standing seam and exposed-fastener metal roofs where the leak is under the panel, not at the surface. |
We choose the least invasive method that will actually stop the water, and we tell you up front if a full replacement of the detail is the only honest fix.
Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair Cost in Mobile: What to Expect
Most chimney, skylight, and valley flashing repairs in Mobile start around $600 for a single penetration with accessible decking and sound surrounding metal. A chimney re-flash with a new cricket, a skylight curb rebuild, or a multi-penetration job on a steep Victorian roof in Oakleigh will run higher because of labor, custom bending, and the amount of decking we have to replace. We give a written scope and a firm number before we start, and we do not add line items afterward without your approval.
Three things move the price most: access (a two-story gable in Spring Hill costs more than a single-story ranch in Semmes), the condition of the decking and sheathing under the flashing, and whether the penetration is on a metal roof where panels have to be lifted. Getting two or three written estimates is smart, and it is the fastest way to spot a contractor who is guessing. Our full metal roofing pricing overview shows how flashing work fits into repair and replacement budgets.
Key info: A homeowner in Saraland was quoted $2,400 to replace an entire roof section when the actual problem was a $650 chimney counter-flashing repair. The chimney had been re-mortared a few years earlier and the counter-flashing was never reset. A second opinion saved the roof and the money.
What to Look for When Hiring a Metal Roofing Contractor Near Mobile
Flashing work is detail work, and the wrong contractor will caulk over a problem and disappear. Ask for proof of Alabama licensing and general liability and workers compensation insurance before anyone gets on your roof. Get at least two written estimates with a clear scope, and ask each contractor to explain how they will handle the flashing at the specific penetration, not just the roof in general.
Check references from jobs in your part of Mobile, and ask whether the contractor pulled the permit if one is required. On homes in historic districts like De Tonti Square or Old Dauphin Way, exterior work may need design review approval, and an HOA in a Daphne or Fairhope subdivision may restrict visible metal finishes. A contractor who knows the local rules will tell you that before you sign. You can reach us through our contact and free estimate page to schedule an inspection.
Finally, ask who does the bending. A contractor who orders pre-formed flashing from a catalog is guessing at your roof's dimensions. We bend ours on site, which is why the fit is tight and the repair lasts.
Flashing, Chimney & Skylight Repair in Mobile: Pricing Guide
| Service | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Single penetration flashing repair | Starting at $600 | Covers one chimney, skylight, or valley detail with accessible decking and sound surrounding metal. |
| Chimney re-flash with new cricket | Starting at $1,100 | Includes removing old flashing, building a sloped cricket, and installing new step and counter-flashing. |
| Skylight curb rebuild | Starting at $950 | Rebuilds the curb to correct height, installs new flashing, and re-seals the skylight frame. |
| Multi-penetration or steep-roof job | On estimate | Priced after an on-site look at access, decking condition, and how many panels must be lifted. |
| Travel | Included | In Mobile and surrounding areas, no separate call-out or mileage fee. |
| Estimate | Free | Response within 24h at (251) 319-2788, no obligation to book. |
Indicative pricing, the exact cost depends on square footage, finish, and site access. Free personalized estimate within 24h at (251) 319-2788.
