Disolving/softening flashing cement

Kinda OT for a ww'g group, I know, but you folks are SO resourceful, I thought I'd ask anyway.

Gotta get the crap they use to seal the flashing around a chimney out since I'm gonna be replacing the flashing with new. Short of intense manual labor perhaps with a decrepit chisel, what could I use to, at least, soften the stuff. It could be that butyl stuff, or something else.

Thanx Renata

Renata spake:>Kinda OT for a ww'g group, I know, but you folks are SO resourceful, I

In my experience roofing for 20+ years, it was easier to remove the crap when it was hard. You may damage shingles in the process, but they're cheap. A flat bar, sharpened a bit, and my roofing hatchet would knock it off of brick fairly well. It was still hell, though. You probably have a flat roof, if that much goop was needed to seal a flashing. A decently pitched, well designed shingle roof needs only a dab of sealant in the corners, and a line around the top of the counterflashing, to do a good job. Tom Someday, it'll all be over....

If it's asphalt based, a heat gun will warm it and soften it.

Art

Actually, it's note exactly on the roof - it's on the brick chimney. It's securing the counterflashing (to the chimney), which I want to replace (the flashing not the chimney :).

Whatever I used to do a patch job a few years ago, did indeed come off with a whack o' the hammer. That is, the stuff on the flashing itself. THe stuff in the mortar joints looks daunting and has been there a long time.

I'll try to flat bar. Thanx.

The advantage of hiring roofers - they finish in 2 days and don't have to worry about working between monsoons (ok, I exaggerate a bit) that go on for days at a time. Getting dang tired of tarping.

Your decent pitch is my sliding board. Not a bad pitch actually, but I'm starting to walk with a lean when on level ground any more. Between my fear of heights (whcih I'm dealing with), the ^@$# rain, and the fact that NOTHING wants to stay put on the roof, I'm getting mighty tired of this job. First and last time I do a whole roof.

Renata