Apron flashing
The front of the chimney gets a new apron to shed water onto the roof.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Cresskill, NJ
A roofer in Cresskill 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. Call (551) 395-0321 to reach a local roofer.
Few places on a roof leak as often as the gap around a chimney. 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.
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. Counter flashing is the piece that most often fails or is skipped, replaced by surface-mounted metal and a bead of caulk.
Not every leak around a chimney is a flashing leak. 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.
Depending on what the roofer finds, chimney flashing repair in Cresskill, NJ can go hand in hand with flashing repair and roof leak repair.
Looking for Cresskill chimney flashing repair? Call (551) 395-0321 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney flashing repair
Here is how a roofer typically handles chimney flashing.
Check the joint
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.
Remove old metal
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.
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.
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. Without one, a wide chimney acts like a dam.
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. Set into the brick, it lasts far longer than metal glued to the face.
What is included
Parts of a chimney flashing job
Step flashing
Each side gets new step flashing one piece per course.
Cap flashing
Cap flashing is cut into the masonry so it overlaps the step flashing.
Cricket installation
A cricket is framed behind wide chimneys and covered with metal or membrane and shingles.
Decking repair
Water-damaged wood at the chimney is cut out so the shingles have solid nailing.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Cresskill, NJ
Full replacement of chimney flashing is the answer when the existing pieces are rusted, missing or held on by caulk. If the original flashing was installed incorrectly, more sealant cannot correct the lapping. It is also the right moment to add a cricket or back pan.
Chimney flashing has to tolerate mortar and moisture for decades. 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. Ask which metal the roofer plans to use and why.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Cresskill, NJ
A chimney can leak at the roof line or from the top down, and the fix is different for each. 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. Hose testing each side and then the chimney top separately settles the question.
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. 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 Cresskill come mostly from older brick chimneys that have been reflashed with tar more than once. Homes in Cresskill and nearby towns like Demarest, Tenafly, Dumont and Closter 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.
For chimney flashing repair in Cresskill, NJ or nearby towns like Demarest, Tenafly, Dumont and Closter, call (551) 395-0321 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Cresskill
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. 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. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. That is why roof repair in Cresskill is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Cresskill 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 FAQ
Is it possible to just reseal chimney flashing?
A single loose section of counter flashing can be reset without replacing everything. When the metal is rusted, missing pieces or was never installed correctly, replacement is the lasting fix. Adding more tar on top only delays the next leak.
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. Condensation in an unlined or oversized flue can also cause damp spots. Call (551) 395-0321 to reach a roofer.
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. Problems with the chimney itself, like a cracked crown, call for a mason.
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. In the attic, wet or dark framing around the chimney opening points the same way. On the roof, rusted metal, loose counter flashing and heavy tar are warning signs. Call (551) 395-0321 to reach a local roofer.
What is a chimney cricket?
It is a little roof-like peak that sits behind the chimney. It diverts runoff, leaves and snow to each side so they do not collect behind the chimney. Wide chimneys need one under most building codes.
More questions? Call (551) 395-0321
Other services that may help
Flashing Repair
Flashing repairs at the joints where most roof leaks start, before hidden rot spreads into walls and decking.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Leak repairs that fix the entry point, not just the ceiling stain, so the stain on the ceiling stops growing.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
Pinpointing where water actually enters a roof, even when the stain is far away, so the repair goes in the right place the first time.
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 Cresskill roofer about chimney flashing repair
Call now for Cresskill chimney flashing repair and help in the towns around it.