Can anyone tell me how to remove step flashing with damaging the brick underneath it? I have attached a picture for reference. I want to put in new flashing and get rid of the old school step flashing that’s there now but I don’t to damage the brick. Any help would be appreciated.
Old school step flashing is the preferred method as opposed to a continuous type flashing, but done correctly both will work fine.
You should be able to remove the counter flashing then have free access to the existing base flashing.
Usually the counter flashing is secured with lead wedges the sealed with mortar or high quality caulking.
Remove the sealant then locate the wedges and pull them out, the counter flashing should come out with careful finagling.
The counter flashing may be secured by a spring loaded type back bend also in which case careful finagling should free it.
Is the flashing in the picture a one piece flashing, the one you want to remove?
Yes it’s one piece and it is the one in the picture.
The step flashing has a high quality silicone applied to it that runs into mortar joints of the brick. Is there a good way to remove it so I don’t damage the mortar/brick?
Are you in southern Ontario? Looks like it’s done like a lot of flashing here, if so I would bank on it not being cut into the mortar at all, and just looks like it is.
Yes, I’m in Mount Hope. The flashing has been cut to follow in between the bricks and it’s secured with a high quality silicone. Any suggestions on how remove the silicone most effectively?
Pry the flashing off from the bottom, cut the caulk/metal joint with a knife as you go. Should go pretty easy.
Don’t be gentle, are you replacing the roof as well or just the counter flashing?
Looks like some genius nailed it down through the roof, real common here and real stupid. You’ll want to patch that as well.
The roof is new so I’ll just have to fill in the holes. We just want to replace the counter flashing with brown and have it be a straight piece of flashing. Thanks for you advice!
The solution s to properly flash walls and chimneys using Vertical Blocking/Backing Lumber and Through the Wall (Z Purlins) Flashing. This solution keeps the exterior wall covering, no matter what it is made of, and the roof covering material separated. The goal here is to move the Roof Flashing out to the same plane as the Exterior Wall Covering to better drain water off the roof and into the gutters without having to use large Kickouts at the Eave to Gutter to Rake Wall Intersections. The roofing material can be changed or replaced in the future and the roof flashing can be easily replaced or adjusted to fit the roofing material or repaired without touching the exterior wall covering and vice versa.