Side flashing
Step pieces up both sides of the chimney are replaced lapped so water runs downhill.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Clark, NJ
Most leaks around a chimney in Clark come from the flashing, and a roofer can fix them with new step and counter flashing set into the brick instead of tar, with a cricket behind wide chimneys to keep water from piling up. One call to (908) 562-6899 reaches a nearby roofer who handles chimney flashing.
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. Any flashing that is rigidly glued to both the brick and the roof tends to crack loose within a few years.
A correctly flashed chimney uses a system, not a single piece. An apron covers the downhill face, step flashing pieces weave in with the shingles along both sides, a back pan or cricket handles the uphill side, and counter flashing set into the mortar joints laps down over everything. 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. 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 Clark also turn up a need for flashing repair or roof leak repair.
Need chimney flashing repair in Clark? Call (908) 562-6899 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
Here is how a roofer typically handles chimney flashing.
Find the source
The roofer looks at the flashing on all four sides, the mortar joints, the crown and cap and the attic framing around the chimney. That separates true flashing leaks from water coming through the chimney itself.
Clear the joint
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.
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. 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. Wide chimneys need a cricket under most residential codes.
Seal the top edge
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
Chimney flashing parts
Front flashing
The base flashing on the front is renewed lapped over the shingles below.
Chimney saddle
Water and debris are steered around the chimney and covered with metal or membrane and shingles.
Rot repair
Soft sheathing next to the chimney is renewed so the shingles have solid nailing.
Counter flashing
Cap flashing is cut into the masonry instead of caulked to the face.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Clark, 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.
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. The roofer can explain the options that suit your chimney.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Clark, 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. A careful water test, one side at a time, can tell the two apart.
Leaks through the chimney body need masonry work rather than flashing. 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
Around Clark, chimney leaks often date back to a reroof where the old chimney flashing was reused or covered in sealant. Homes in Clark and nearby towns like Rahway, Colonia, Garwood and Cranford range from older houses with full masonry chimneys to newer ones with framed chases wrapped in siding, which are flashed more like a sidewall, which is why the roofer starts by looking at how the chimney is built.
Need chimney flashing repair around Clark? Call (908) 562-6899 for a Clark roofer who serves the towns around it too.
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. 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. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Clark, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Clark and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
What is a chimney cricket?
A cricket, also called a saddle, is a small peaked structure built behind a chimney on the uphill side. It splits the water and debris coming down the roof and sends them around the chimney instead of letting them pile up against the brick. Most residential codes call for one behind chimneys wider than about thirty inches.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
Water marks beside the chimney inside the house are the usual first clue. 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 (908) 562-6899 to reach a local roofer.
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. Adding more tar on top only delays the next leak.
Who fixes chimney flashing, a roofer or a mason?
Chimney flashing is roofing work, since it ties into the shingles, underlayment and step flashing. Setting the counter flashing into the brick is routine for roofers who do this work. If the crown, cap or brick is damaged, a mason handles that part.
What causes a chimney leak if the flashing is new?
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. Condensation in an unlined or oversized flue can also cause damp spots. A call to (908) 562-6899 is a good next step.
More questions? Call (908) 562-6899
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.
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Finding where water gets through the roof and sealing it at the source, before wet decking and insulation turn into rot.
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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.
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Spot repairs for wind, hail and age damage on an asphalt shingle roof, without tearing off the whole roof.
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Looking for something else?
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Call (908) 562-6899 to talk to a roofer serving Clark, NJ.