Cricket installation
Water and debris are steered around the chimney so water cannot pond against the brick.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Parsippany, NJ
Most leaks around a chimney in Parsippany 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. Call (862) 693-4349 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.
Proper chimney flashing has four main parts. 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.
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 careful look covers both the flashing and the visible masonry above it.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Parsippany roofer may also recommend flashing repair or roof leak repair.
Need chimney flashing repair in Parsippany? Call (862) 693-4349 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Parsippany.
Call nowThe process
The chimney flashing process
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. That separates true flashing leaks from water coming through the chimney itself.
Clear the joint
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.
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. The step flashing is nailed to the roof deck only, never to the brick.
Install the back pan
Behind the chimney, a metal back pan or a framed cricket keeps water and debris from piling up. Without one, a wide chimney acts like a dam.
Cut in the counter flashing
Counter flashing is let into a ground-out mortar joint and sealed, overlapping the base flashing below. Set into the brick, it lasts far longer than metal glued to the face.
What is included
What chimney flashing repair covers
Decking repair
Rotted decking around the chimney opening is replaced while the area is open.
Side flashing
Side flashing is woven in with new shingles nailed to the deck, not the brick.
Front flashing
The base flashing on the front is renewed with counter flashing over it.
Cap flashing
New counter flashing is let into the brick and sealed at the joint.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Parsippany, 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. Replacement is also the natural time to add a cricket if the chimney lacks one.
Not every flashing metal suits brick. 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 Parsippany, 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. Hose testing each side and then the chimney top separately settles the question.
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. The roofer can spot many of these from the roof and tell you who should fix them.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Around Parsippany, chimney leaks often date back to a reroof where the old chimney flashing was reused or covered in sealant. Across Parsippany and nearby communities including Lake Hiawatha, Mountain Lakes, Boonton and Whippany, 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 Parsippany? Call (862) 693-4349 for a Parsippany roofer who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a roof
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. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Parsippany, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Drier ceilings
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Parsippany and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
What are the signs of a chimney flashing leak?
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 (862) 693-4349 to reach a local roofer.
Why is my chimney still leaking after new flashing?
A leak that continues after new flashing usually comes from the chimney itself. Rain soaks through porous brick or a cracked crown and runs down inside the chimney. In some cases, condensation inside the flue is the cause. Call (862) 693-4349 to have the source traced.
Who fixes chimney flashing, a roofer or a mason?
The flashing belongs to the roof, so a roofer is the right call for it. 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.
Can chimney flashing be repaired without replacing it?
Minor problems such as a loose counter flashing piece can be refastened into the mortar. 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 does my chimney need a cricket?
A cricket is a small ridge framed on the upslope side of a chimney. Water flowing down the slope hits the cricket and is steered around both sides. Codes generally require one once a chimney is wider than about thirty inches across the slope.
More questions? Call (862) 693-4349
Other services that may help
Flashing Repair
Flashing repairs at the joints where most roof leaks start, with new metal instead of another layer of caulk.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Finding where water gets through the roof and sealing it at the source, 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, with a clear answer on roof leak versus condensation.
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?
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Call now for Parsippany chimney flashing repair and help in the towns around it.