Apron flashing
The lower apron is reset over the shingles with the counter flashing lapped over it.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Shrewsbury, NJ
A Shrewsbury chimney technician can reset loose flashing, replace rusted pieces and add a cricket where water piles up behind the chimney, before the leak rots the roof deck and framing. Call (732) 876-9672 to reach a local chimney sweep.
Chimney flashing is the metal that seals the gap between the chimney and the roof, and when it fails, water runs straight into the attic. Because masonry and roof framing expand, contract and settle at different rates, a rigid seal will crack, which is why flashing is built in overlapping layers. Over time, sealant dries out, nails back out, metal rusts and the counter flashing pulls out of the mortar joints.
Good flashing is a system, not a single strip of metal. Step flashing is a series of L-shaped pieces woven in with each course of shingles along the sides of the chimney, and counter flashing covers the top edge of the step flashing and is set into a groove cut in the mortar joints. On the uphill side, a cricket keeps water from pooling against the chimney, which matters most on wide chimneys.
Before the visit, a little information speeds things up. It helps to know the age of the roof, which side of the chimney the stain is on and whether it only leaks during heavy rain or snowmelt. Visible tar or silicone around the base of the chimney is a sign someone has patched it before, which is worth mentioning.
Chimney Flashing Repair is often paired with chimney leak repair and chimney waterproofing, depending on the cause.
Dealing with this in Shrewsbury, NJ right now? Call (732) 876-9672 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a flashing repair
Here is how a chimney technician typically handles a flashing repair.
Inspect the roof line
All four sides of the chimney are checked, because a leak on one side often starts somewhere else. The attic side of the roof deck is checked for rot as well.
Rule out the masonry
Before replacing flashing, the crown, cap and brick are checked, since they can send water down the same path. It makes sure the repair matches the actual source.
Clear the old work
Failed sealant and damaged flashing come off so the new work starts on a clean, sound surface. Damaged roof deck is fixed while it is exposed.
Install step flashing
New step flashing is installed piece by piece along the sides, interwoven with each course of shingles. A front apron and a waterproof underlayment complete the lower layers.
Set counter flashing
Counter flashing is let into a cut in the mortar joint and lapped over the step flashing so water cannot get behind it. The metal is chosen to last, with copper or coated steel used where the flashing meets mortar.
Add a cricket
On wide chimneys, a cricket is framed and flashed on the uphill side so water and snow are split around the chimney. That removes the spot where water sits and soaks into the flashing.
What is included
Flashing work a chimney sweep handles
Tar patch removal
Old sealant repairs are cleaned off so the repair does not depend on sealant.
Step flashing
Loose step flashing is reset or renewed with every piece lapped correctly.
Counter flashing
Loose counter flashing is replaced and set into the masonry so water cannot run behind the step flashing.
Crickets
Missing or failed crickets are built or rebuilt and flashed so debris and ice stop collecting there.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Shrewsbury, NJ
Full replacement is the better choice when flashing is corroded, loose along much of its length or buried under layers of failed tar. It is a full redo of the joint, from the underlayment up to the counter flashing in the mortar. Reusing worn flashing under new shingles is one of the most frequent causes of chimney leaks on newer roofs.
For Shrewsbury homeowners planning a new roof, it is worth asking that the chimney flashing be replaced at the same time. Coordinate the chimney sweep and the roofer so the step flashing goes in with the shingles and the counter flashing is set into the brick. While everything is exposed, a quick look at the crown, cap and upper mortar joints can save a second trip onto the roof.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
In Shrewsbury, flashing tends to fail first on older roofs and on chimneys that sit below a long run of roof. Across Shrewsbury and nearby places including Little Silver, Red Bank, Oceanport and Eatontown, the chimneys that leak most are the ones where water and snow collect on the uphill side, and fixing it before the decking rots keeps the repair small.
For chimney flashing repair in Shrewsbury, NJ or nearby towns like Little Silver, Red Bank, Oceanport and Eatontown, call (732) 876-9672 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Shrewsbury
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Shrewsbury, NJ schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in Shrewsbury know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
What are the signs of bad chimney flashing?
The most common sign is a water stain on the ceiling or wall right next to the chimney, or wet wood beside the chimney in the attic. A leak in the firebox is more likely the cap or crown, while a leak along the ceiling beside the chimney is more often the flashing. Testing with a hose confirms which part is leaking.
Can chimney flashing be repaired, or does it need replacing?
That comes down to the condition of the metal. When only the counter flashing has come loose, resetting it is often enough. If it is rusted through, badly bent or buried under old tar, replacement is the better value.
What is a chimney cricket?
Also known as a saddle, a cricket is a small roof section behind the chimney that diverts runoff to either side. Wide chimneys block a lot of runoff, and without a cricket that water sits against the flashing. Building codes generally require a cricket on chimneys more than about thirty inches wide that do not meet the ridge.
Should chimney flashing be replaced with a new roof?
The roof replacement is the best time to do it. Step flashing is woven in with the shingles, so the roof has to be open to replace it properly anyway. Reusing old flashing under new shingles is one of the most common causes of chimney leaks on newer roofs.
Why does my chimney flashing keep leaking after it was sealed?
Sealants dry out in the sun and split in the cold, so a leak patched with tar usually comes back. The real issue is usually the flashing layers underneath, not the bead on top. It is also possible the water is entering higher up, at the crown or through the brick, and only showing at the flashing.
More questions? Call (732) 876-9672
Related services
Chimney Leak Repair
Stopping chimney leaks at the source, whether the drip shows up in the attic, the ceiling or the firebox.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Treating chimney brick and mortar with a breathable water repellent, to slow freeze-thaw damage and spalling.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Repairing the concrete slab that caps the top of the chimney, before freeze-thaw damage spreads down the chimney.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Repairs for the masonry, crown, flashing and flue of a damaged chimney, so the chimney stays dry and safe to use.
Learn more
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