Cricket installation
Water and debris are steered around the chimney which stops one of the most common chimney leaks.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Flanders, NJ
A roofer in Flanders can stop most chimney leaks by replacing the flashing where the chimney meets the roof: step flashing along the sides, counter flashing cut into the mortar, an apron at the front and a back pan or cricket behind, so the leak does not come back next season. Dial (862) 453-8002 to talk with a local roofer about the chimney leak.
Few places on a roof leak as often as the gap around a chimney. The brick and the roof framing move independently as the house settles and seasons change, so the seal between them has to allow for movement. Tar and caulk alone cannot handle that movement for long.
A correctly flashed chimney uses a system, not a single piece. An apron covers the downhill face, step flashing pieces weave in with the shingles along both sides, a back pan or cricket handles the uphill side, and counter flashing set into the mortar joints laps down over everything. Counter flashing that is only caulked onto the brick face is one of the most common causes of chimney leaks.
Not every leak around a chimney is a flashing leak. Leaks that continue after new flashing often trace back to the crown, the cap or the brick itself. A roofer checks the flashing and can point out masonry problems that need a mason.
Many chimney flashing repair calls in Flanders also turn up a need for flashing repair or roof leak repair.
Looking for Flanders chimney flashing repair? Call (862) 453-8002 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
Chimney flashing is rebuilt from the bottom up, like the rest of a roof.
Find the source
The roofer looks at the flashing on all four sides, the mortar joints, the crown and cap and the attic framing around the chimney. A hose test on one side at a time can confirm the source.
Strip the old flashing
Shingles around the chimney are removed along with the old flashing, tar and caulk. Rotted sheathing next to the chimney is cut out and renewed.
Set the apron
A membrane underlayment goes around the chimney, then the front apron and the side step flashing are installed with the shingles. The step flashing is nailed to the roof deck only, never to the brick.
Handle the back side
The upslope side gets a saddle or, for wide chimneys, a small peaked cricket that sheds water to both sides. Without one, a wide chimney acts like a dam.
Seal the top edge
Counter flashing is let into a ground-out mortar joint and sealed, overlapping the base flashing below. The overlap allows movement while keeping water out.
What is included
What chimney flashing repair covers
Front flashing
The front of the chimney gets a new apron lapped over the shingles below.
Counter flashing
Cap flashing is cut into the masonry so it overlaps the step flashing.
Rot repair
Water-damaged wood at the chimney is cut out before the new flashing goes in.
Side flashing
Each side gets new step flashing one piece per course.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Flanders, NJ
Chimney flashing replacement makes sense when the metal is rusted, the counter flashing is only glued to the brick or the joint has been tarred over several times. If the original flashing was installed incorrectly, more sealant cannot correct the lapping. Adding a cricket during replacement solves the uphill pooling at the same time.
The metal choice matters around masonry. Copper and lead-coated copper last a very long time and form neatly to brick, galvanized steel is durable when painted, and aluminum should be coated or kept out of direct contact with mortar, which can corrode it. The roofer can explain the options that suit your chimney.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Flanders, NJ
Chimney leak repair starts by finding out whether water comes through the flashing or through the chimney itself. A leak that keeps going after the rain ends often means water stored in the masonry is draining out. A careful water test, one side at a time, can tell the two apart.
If the masonry is the source, the fix may involve the crown, the cap or the brick. Typical fixes are crown repair, a new cap and repointing of open mortar joints, sometimes followed by a vapor-permeable masonry water repellent. Those repairs are often done alongside new flashing so the whole leak is solved.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Chimney flashing calls in Flanders come mostly from older brick chimneys that have been reflashed with tar more than once. Homes in Flanders and nearby towns like Budd Lake, Succasunna, Ledgewood and Chester range from older houses with full masonry chimneys to newer ones with framed chases wrapped in siding, which are flashed more like a sidewall, which is why the roofer starts by looking at how the chimney is built.
For chimney flashing repair in Flanders, NJ or nearby towns like Budd Lake, Succasunna, Ledgewood and Chester, call (862) 453-8002 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
Roofs in this climate
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. That is why roof repair in Flanders is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Flanders
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Flanders and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQ
Should a roofer or a mason repair my chimney flashing?
The flashing belongs to the roof, so a roofer is the right call for it. Setting the counter flashing into the brick is routine for roofers who do this work. Damage to the crown, brick or mortar beyond that is masonry work.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
Look for damp spots near the chimney after rain, both in the house and in the attic. From the attic, stained rafters and decking around the brick confirm water is getting in. On the roof, rusted metal, loose counter flashing and heavy tar are warning signs. Call (862) 453-8002 to have a roofer check it.
Can chimney flashing be repaired without replacing it?
Minor problems such as a loose counter flashing piece can be refastened into the mortar. Flashing that was installed wrong or has rusted through needs to be replaced, not resealed. More sealant over a failing system buys a little time at best.
Why does my chimney need a cricket?
A cricket, also called a saddle, is a small peaked structure built behind a chimney on the uphill side. It splits the water and debris coming down the roof and sends them around the chimney instead of letting them pile up against the brick. Wide chimneys need one under most building codes.
Why is my chimney still leaking after new flashing?
When new flashing does not stop the leak, the masonry is the usual suspect. A cracked crown, a missing cap, open mortar joints or porous brick can let water travel down inside the masonry to the roof line. In some cases, condensation inside the flue is the cause. Call (862) 453-8002 to have the source traced.
More questions? Call (862) 453-8002
Often needed together
Flashing Repair
Repairing step, counter, kickout, valley and drip edge flashing where roofs meet walls and edges, before hidden rot spreads into walls and decking.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Finding where water gets through the roof and sealing it at the source, before wet decking and insulation turn into rot.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
Finding stubborn leaks that earlier patches missed, with a clear answer on roof leak versus condensation.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Replacing missing, creased or cracked shingles, resealing lifted tabs and fixing popped nails, before a small gap turns into a leak.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Flanders roofer about chimney flashing repair
Call (862) 453-8002 for a local roofer in Flanders and nearby towns.