Chimney saddle
A saddle diverts water around the uphill side which stops one of the most common chimney leaks.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Haledon, NJ
Most leaks around a chimney in Haledon come from the flashing, and a roofer can fix them with new step and counter flashing set into the brick instead of tar, so the leak does not come back next season. Call (862) 434-1263 to reach a local roofer.
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. 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. 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.
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.
Dealing with this in Haledon, NJ right now? Call (862) 434-1263 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Haledon.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
Here is how a roofer typically handles chimney flashing.
Check the joint
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.
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.
Set the apron
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.
Install the back pan
Behind the chimney, a metal back pan or a framed cricket keeps water and debris from piling up. Building codes call for a cricket behind chimneys wider than about thirty inches across the slope.
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
Counter flashing
New counter flashing is let into the brick and sealed at the joint.
Side flashing
Side flashing is woven in with new shingles nailed to the deck, not the brick.
Decking repair
Soft sheathing next to the chimney is renewed so the shingles have solid nailing.
Apron flashing
A one-piece apron is installed across the downhill face to shed water onto the roof.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Haledon, 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. It is also the right moment to add a cricket or back pan.
Chimney flashing has to tolerate mortar and moisture for decades. Copper is a long-lasting choice for counter flashing, while aluminum needs protection from contact with lime in the mortar. The roofer can explain the options that suit your chimney.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Haledon, NJ
Leaks around a chimney have two main sources: the flashing at the roof and the masonry above it. A leak that keeps going after the rain ends often means water stored in the masonry is draining out. 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. Crown cracks, open joints and missing caps are repaired by a mason, and a breathable sealer can cut down how much water the brick absorbs. 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 Haledon, many chimney flashing problems show up on homes with wide brick chimneys and no cricket behind them. Across Haledon and nearby communities including Paterson, Hawthorne, Totowa and Glen Rock, the chimney type decides the fix: masonry needs counter flashing cut into the brick, and a framed chase needs step flashing behind the siding, so it helps to know which kind you have when you call.
Searching for chimney flashing repair near me from Haledon or Paterson, Hawthorne, Totowa and Glen Rock? Call (862) 434-1263 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects roofs around Haledon
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. Most homeowners in Haledon, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Familiar with local homes
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Haledon and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
What are the signs of a chimney flashing leak?
Water marks beside the chimney inside the house are the usual first clue. From the attic, stained rafters and decking around the brick confirm water is getting in. From the yard, heavy tar around the base is a good hint that the flashing has been patched before. Call (862) 434-1263 to reach a local roofer.
Who fixes chimney flashing, a roofer or a mason?
A roofer handles the flashing, because it has to be woven into the roof. Roofers routinely grind the mortar joint and set counter flashing. Damage to the crown, brick or mortar beyond that is masonry work.
Why does my chimney need a 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.
Can chimney flashing be repaired without replacing it?
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. More sealant over a failing system buys a little time at best.
Why is my chimney still leaking after new flashing?
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. In some cases, condensation inside the flue is the cause. Call (862) 434-1263 to reach a roofer.
More questions? Call (862) 434-1263
Related services
Flashing Repair
Flashing repairs at the joints where most roof leaks start, so water runs onto the shingles instead of into the wall.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Leak repairs that fix the entry point, not just the ceiling stain, with the damage underneath checked too.
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 Haledon roofer about chimney flashing repair
Call (862) 434-1263 for a local roofer in Haledon and nearby towns.