What is a termination bar, and why does my chimney need one?

At this Chicago home, the chimney was missing an important roofing component called a termination bar. It may sound like a place where roofers order drinks, but it’s actually a metal strip used to secure roofing membrane or flashing tightly against the chimney.

Without it, rain can sneak behind the flashing like it pays rent there. Water only needs one small opening to cause trouble, and it is famously terrible at respecting personal boundaries.
Anchor Point Team installed new counterflashing/termination bar where it was missing. In plain English: we added the metal edge needed to keep the roofing material secured against the chimney. No cape required—just the right materials and a crew that knows where leaks like to hide.

Next, the crew applied commercial-grade sealant along the top edge. This creates a sealed transition that helps stop water from working its way behind the flashing. Think of it as a raincoat for the chimney’s roof connection—less fashionable, far more useful.

If you see cracked sealant, loose flashing, or a gap where your roof meets a chimney, do not wait for your ceiling to start its own indoor water feature. Anchor Point Roofing can inspect chimney flashing and termination bars before a small opening turns into a very expensive comedy show.

Location: Chicago, IL