Cricket installation
A cricket is framed behind wide chimneys and covered with metal or membrane and shingles.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Roselle, NJ
A roofer in Roselle 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. One call to (908) 620-5317 reaches a nearby roofer who handles chimney flashing.
The joint between a chimney and the roof is one of the most leak-prone spots on any house. Because the chimney and the roof are separate structures, the flashing has to bridge a joint that never stops moving. Tar and caulk alone cannot handle that movement for long.
Each side of a chimney gets its own kind of flashing. The front gets an apron, the sides get step flashing, the back gets a pan or cricket, and counter flashing tucked into the brick seals the top of it all. The counter flashing is where shortcuts usually show up: instead of being cut into the mortar, it is glued to the face of the brick.
Before replacing flashing, it helps to know whether the chimney above the roof is letting water in. Brick and mortar absorb rain, and a cracked crown or open joints can let water travel down through the masonry to the roof line. Sorting out which one is leaking avoids paying for the wrong repair.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Roselle roofer may also recommend flashing repair or roof leak repair.
Need chimney flashing repair in Roselle? Call (908) 620-5317 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
The chimney flashing process
The work follows the path water takes, front to back.
Inspect the chimney
Before anything comes off, the roofer checks the flashing, the brick, the crown and the wood around the chimney. If the masonry is clearly the source, the roofer will say so.
Clear the joint
The roofer removes the existing metal, layers of tar and the nearby shingles. Rotted sheathing next to the chimney is cut out and renewed.
Add step flashing
After a self-adhered membrane wraps the base of the chimney, the apron goes on the downhill face and step pieces are woven up both sides with new shingles. The step flashing is nailed to the roof deck only, never to the brick.
Install the back pan
On the uphill side, a back pan or saddle is fitted, and on wider chimneys a cricket is framed to split the water around it. Wide chimneys need a cricket under most residential codes.
Cut in the counter flashing
The roofer grinds a slot into a mortar joint, bends the counter flashing into it and seals it, so it laps down over the step flashing. That two-part design lets the chimney and roof move without tearing the seal.
What is included
Parts of a chimney flashing job
Rot repair
Water-damaged wood at the chimney is cut out so the shingles have solid nailing.
Step flashing
Side flashing is woven in with new shingles nailed to the deck, not the brick.
Counter flashing
New counter flashing is let into the brick so it overlaps the step flashing.
Front flashing
A one-piece apron is installed across the downhill face to shed water onto the roof.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Roselle, NJ
Replacing the flashing outright is the better choice when patches keep failing or the metal has corroded. When the basic design is wrong, repairs only delay the next leak. It is also the right moment to add a cricket or back pan.
Chimney flashing has to tolerate mortar and moisture for decades. Lime in mortar corrodes bare aluminum, so copper, coated steel or coated aluminum are common choices. Ask which metal the roofer plans to use and why.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Roselle, NJ
A chimney can leak at the roof line or from the top down, and the fix is different for each. Flashing leaks show up during rain at the roof line, often worse on the uphill side, while masonry leaks can appear on any side and may continue for a while after the rain stops as soaked brick drains. Testing the flashing and the masonry separately pins down the source.
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. A roofer can point out these problems while checking the flashing.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Chimney flashing calls in Roselle come mostly from older brick chimneys that have been reflashed with tar more than once. From Roselle out to neighboring towns such as Roselle Park, Linden, Kenilworth and Cranford, older brick chimneys tend to need counter flashing reset into worn mortar, while newer framed chases more often leak at the chase top or siding joint, so it helps to know which kind you have when you call.
For chimney flashing repair in Roselle, NJ or nearby towns like Roselle Park, Linden, Kenilworth and Cranford, call (908) 620-5317 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
Roofs in this climate
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. 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. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Roselle, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Roselle and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
Should a roofer or a mason repair my chimney flashing?
Chimney flashing is roofing work, since it ties into the shingles, underlayment and step flashing. Roofers routinely grind the mortar joint and set counter flashing. Damage to the crown, brick or mortar beyond that is masonry work.
Is it possible to just reseal chimney flashing?
A single loose section of counter flashing can be reset without replacing everything. If the flashing is corroded or relies on caulk instead of proper lapping, replacing it is the better repair. Another coat of tar is a short-term patch.
What are the signs of a chimney flashing leak?
Stains on the ceiling or wall next to the chimney after rain are the most common sign. Inside the attic, water trails on the brick or framing are another clue. Outside, look for loose or rusted flashing and old sealant patches. Call (908) 620-5317 to have a roofer check it.
What is a chimney cricket?
It is a little roof-like peak that sits behind the chimney. Water flowing down the slope hits the cricket and is steered around both sides. Wide chimneys need one under most building codes.
What causes a chimney leak if the flashing is new?
Water can still get in through the top or sides of the chimney. Open joints, spalling brick and a damaged crown all let water in above the flashing. In some cases, condensation inside the flue is the cause. Call (908) 620-5317 to have the source traced.
More questions? Call (908) 620-5317
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See all roofing servicesGet chimney flashing repair help in Roselle
Call (908) 620-5317 for a local roofer in Roselle and nearby towns.