Step flashing
Each side gets new step flashing lapped so water runs downhill.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Kenilworth, NJ
A roofer in Kenilworth 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, and check whether the crown or brick is part of the problem. One call to (908) 613-5001 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. Masonry and wood framing expand, shrink and settle at different rates, which is why chimney flashing is built in two parts that can slide past each other. That is why a single strip of metal glued to the brick with sealant does not last.
Proper chimney flashing has four main parts. 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.
Before replacing flashing, it helps to know whether the chimney above the roof is letting water in. A cracked crown, a missing cap, porous brick or failed mortar joints can soak the masonry, and the water then runs down inside the chimney and shows up exactly where a flashing leak would. A roofer checks the flashing and can point out masonry problems that need a mason.
Many chimney flashing repair calls in Kenilworth also turn up a need for flashing repair or roof leak repair.
Need chimney flashing repair in Kenilworth? Call (908) 613-5001 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
Here is how a roofer typically handles chimney flashing.
Inspect the chimney
Before anything comes off, the roofer checks the flashing, the brick, the crown and the wood around the chimney. That separates true flashing leaks from water coming through the chimney itself.
Remove old metal
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.
Install the base flashing
Ice and water shield goes down first, then the apron across the front and step flashing up each side, one piece per shingle course. Each step piece laps the one below it.
Handle the back side
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
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
Cap flashing
Cap flashing is cut into the masonry so it overlaps the step flashing.
Cricket installation
A cricket is framed behind wide chimneys which stops one of the most common chimney leaks.
Apron flashing
A one-piece apron is installed across the downhill face to shed water onto the roof.
Rot repair
Water-damaged wood at the chimney is cut out while the area is open.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Kenilworth, NJ
Full replacement of chimney flashing is the answer when the existing pieces are rusted, missing or held on by caulk. Patching a system that was installed wrong rarely works, because the problem is in how the pieces overlap. Replacement is also the natural time to add a cricket if the chimney lacks one.
The metal choice matters around masonry. Lime in mortar corrodes bare aluminum, so copper, coated steel or coated aluminum are common choices. The roofer can explain the options that suit your chimney.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Kenilworth, NJ
Leaks around a chimney have two main sources: the flashing at the roof and the masonry above it. Water that appears only in hard rain at the base points to flashing, while a slow leak that lingers after rain hints at soaked brick or a cracked crown. Testing the flashing and the masonry separately pins down the source.
When water comes through the chimney, the repair moves up above the roof. Typical fixes are crown repair, a new cap and repointing of open mortar joints, sometimes followed by a vapor-permeable masonry water repellent. The roofer can spot many of these from the roof and tell you who should fix them.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
In Kenilworth, many chimney flashing problems show up on homes with wide brick chimneys and no cricket behind them. Across Kenilworth and nearby communities including Roselle Park, Union, Cranford and Roselle, the chimney type decides the fix: masonry needs counter flashing cut into the brick, and a framed chase needs step flashing behind the siding, which is why the roofer starts by looking at how the chimney is built.
Need chimney flashing repair around Kenilworth? Call (908) 613-5001 for a Kenilworth roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Kenilworth
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, which is how ice dams form and back 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 Kenilworth is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Kenilworth know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQ
Who fixes chimney flashing, a roofer or a mason?
A roofer handles the flashing, because it has to be woven into the roof. Cutting the counter flashing into the mortar joint is part of that job. If the crown, cap or brick is damaged, a mason handles that part.
What causes a chimney leak if the flashing is new?
Water can still get in through the top or sides of the chimney. A cracked crown, a missing cap, open mortar joints or porous brick can let water travel down inside the masonry to the roof line. Condensation in an unlined or oversized flue can also cause damp spots. Call (908) 613-5001 to have the source traced.
Is it possible to just reseal chimney flashing?
Small issues, like counter flashing that has pulled out of its mortar joint, can be reset and resealed. If the flashing is corroded or relies on caulk instead of proper lapping, replacing it is the better repair. Adding more tar on top only delays the next leak.
What are the signs of a chimney flashing leak?
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. Outside, look for loose or rusted flashing and old sealant patches. Call (908) 613-5001 to reach a local roofer.
What is a chimney cricket?
A cricket, also called a saddle, is a small peaked structure built behind a chimney on the uphill side. Water flowing down the slope hits the cricket and is steered around both sides. Wide chimneys need one under most building codes.
More questions? Call (908) 613-5001
Other services that may help
Flashing Repair
Fixing the metal flashing at walls, dormers, valleys and roof edges, before hidden rot spreads into walls and decking.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Leak repairs that fix the entry point, not just the ceiling stain, before wet decking and insulation turn into rot.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
Tracing hidden roof leaks with attic checks, moisture meters, hose testing and infrared scans, before anyone tears into the wrong part of the roof.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Replacing missing, creased or cracked shingles, resealing lifted tabs and fixing popped nails, without tearing off the whole roof.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Kenilworth roofer about chimney flashing repair
Call (908) 613-5001 to talk to a roofer serving Kenilworth, NJ.