Side flashing
Side flashing is woven in with new shingles lapped so water runs downhill.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Chester, NJ
A Chester roofer can rebuild the flashing around a leaking chimney so the joint between brick and shingles sheds water on its own, with a cricket behind wide chimneys to keep water from piling up. One call to (908) 955-2098 reaches a nearby roofer who handles chimney flashing.
A chimney is a large masonry box punched through the roof, and sealing around it takes several pieces of flashing working together. 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. Along the front sits a one-piece apron, step pieces run up each side with the shingles, a saddle or cricket diverts water behind, and counter flashing ground into the mortar covers the top edges. Counter flashing that is only caulked onto the brick face is one of the most common causes of chimney leaks.
Water near a chimney can also come through the chimney itself. Brick and mortar absorb rain, and a cracked crown or open joints can let water travel down through the masonry to the roof line. A roofer checks the flashing and can point out masonry problems that need a mason.
Chimney Flashing Repair is often paired with flashing repair and roof leak repair, depending on the cause.
Looking for Chester chimney flashing repair? Call (908) 955-2098 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
The chimney flashing process
Here is how a roofer typically handles chimney flashing.
Find the source
Every side of the chimney is checked, along with the masonry above the roof and the decking around the opening from the attic. That separates true flashing leaks from water coming through the chimney itself.
Strip the old flashing
Old flashing and sealant come off, and the shingles next to the brick are lifted or removed. Rotted sheathing next to the chimney is cut out and renewed.
Add step flashing
A membrane underlayment goes around the chimney, then the front apron and the side step flashing are installed with the shingles. Each step piece laps the one below it.
Build a cricket
The upslope side gets a saddle or, for wide chimneys, a small peaked cricket that sheds water to both sides. Building codes call for a cricket behind chimneys wider than about thirty inches across the slope.
Cut in the counter flashing
Counter flashing is let into a ground-out mortar joint and sealed, overlapping the base flashing below. That two-part design lets the chimney and roof move without tearing the seal.
What is included
What chimney flashing repair covers
Apron flashing
A one-piece apron is installed across the downhill face to shed water onto the roof.
Cap flashing
Cap flashing is cut into the masonry instead of caulked to the face.
Chimney saddle
A saddle diverts water around the uphill side so water cannot pond against the brick.
Decking repair
Water-damaged wood at the chimney is cut out before the new flashing goes in.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Chester, NJ
Replacing the flashing outright is the better choice when patches keep failing or the metal has corroded. If the original flashing was installed incorrectly, more sealant cannot correct the lapping. Replacement is also the natural time to add a cricket if the chimney lacks one.
The metal choice matters around masonry. Copper is a long-lasting choice for counter flashing, while aluminum needs protection from contact with lime in the mortar. Matching the metal to the masonry avoids early corrosion.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Chester, NJ
A chimney can leak at the roof line or from the top down, and the fix is different for each. A leak that keeps going after the rain ends often means water stored in the masonry is draining out. Hose testing each side and then the chimney top separately settles the question.
Leaks through the chimney body need masonry work rather than flashing. A cracked crown needs sealing or rebuilding, a missing cap lets rain straight down the flue, and porous brick can be treated with a breathable water repellent made for masonry. A roofer can point out these problems while checking the flashing.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
In Chester, many chimney flashing problems show up on homes with wide brick chimneys and no cricket behind them. Homes in Chester and nearby towns like Flanders, Succasunna, Mendham and Budd Lake range from older houses with full masonry chimneys to newer ones with framed chases wrapped in siding, which are flashed more like a sidewall, so it helps to know which kind you have when you call.
Searching for chimney flashing repair near me from Chester or Flanders, Succasunna, Mendham and Budd Lake? Call (908) 955-2098 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
What the local climate does to a roof
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder 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 Chester is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Chester
Roofers in Chester know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
Why is my chimney still leaking after new flashing?
When new flashing does not stop the leak, the masonry is the usual suspect. Rain soaks through porous brick or a cracked crown and runs down inside the chimney. Sometimes moisture inside the flue itself is to blame. Call (908) 955-2098 to have the source traced.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
Stains on the ceiling or wall next to the chimney after rain are the most common sign. 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. A roofer reached at (908) 955-2098 can find the source.
Is it possible to just reseal chimney flashing?
A single loose section of counter flashing can be reset without replacing everything. Flashing that was installed wrong or has rusted through needs to be replaced, not resealed. Another coat of tar is a short-term patch.
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.
Who fixes chimney flashing, a roofer or a mason?
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.
More questions? Call (908) 955-2098
Other services that may help
Flashing Repair
Repairing step, counter, kickout, valley and drip edge flashing where roofs meet walls and edges, with new metal instead of another layer of caulk.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Finding where water gets through the roof and sealing it at the source, so the stain on the ceiling stops growing.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
Tracing hidden roof leaks with attic checks, moisture meters, hose testing and infrared scans, so the repair goes in the right place the first time.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Shingle by shingle repairs that keep a sound roof in service, before a small gap turns into a leak.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed chimney flashing repair in Chester, NJ?
Call (908) 955-2098 to talk to a roofer serving Chester, NJ.