Apron flashing
The base flashing on the front is renewed to shed water onto the roof.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Summit, NJ
Most leaks around a chimney in Summit 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 (908) 679-5768 to reach a local roofer.
The joint between a chimney and the roof is one of the most leak-prone spots on any house. 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. That is why a single strip of metal glued to the brick with sealant does not last.
Proper chimney flashing has four main parts. 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. 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. Brick and mortar absorb rain, and a cracked crown or open joints can let water travel down through the masonry to the roof line. Sorting out which one is leaking avoids paying for the wrong repair.
Depending on what the roofer finds, chimney flashing repair in Summit, NJ can go hand in hand with flashing repair and roof leak repair.
Need chimney flashing repair in Summit? Call (908) 679-5768 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
The chimney flashing process
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. If the masonry is clearly the source, the roofer will say so.
Strip the old flashing
Old flashing and sealant come off, and the shingles next to the brick are lifted or removed. Any decking that has gone soft from years of leaks is replaced.
Set the apron
A membrane underlayment goes around the chimney, then the front apron and the side step flashing are installed with the shingles. Nothing is fastened to the masonry at this stage, so the roof and chimney can move.
Handle the back side
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.
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
Chimney flashing parts
Cap flashing
New counter flashing is let into the brick instead of caulked to the face.
Chimney saddle
A saddle diverts water around the uphill side so water cannot pond against the brick.
Step flashing
Step pieces up both sides of the chimney are replaced lapped so water runs downhill.
Rot repair
Soft sheathing next to the chimney is renewed before the new flashing goes in.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Summit, 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.
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. Ask which metal the roofer plans to use and why.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Summit, NJ
Chimney leak repair starts by finding out whether water comes through the flashing or through the chimney itself. 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. A careful water test, one side at a time, can tell the two apart.
When water comes through the chimney, the repair moves up above the roof. 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
Around Summit, chimney leaks often date back to a reroof where the old chimney flashing was reused or covered in sealant. Homes in Summit and nearby towns like Chatham, Mountainside, New Providence and Short Hills 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 expect the roofer to ask which type is on your house.
Need chimney flashing repair around Summit? Call (908) 679-5768 for a Summit roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Summit
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 Summit, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Smaller repairs
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 Summit and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
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. Outside, look for loose or rusted flashing and old sealant patches. A roofer reached at (908) 679-5768 can find the source.
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. Another coat of tar is a short-term patch.
Who fixes chimney flashing, a roofer or a mason?
A roofer handles the flashing, because it has to be woven into the roof. 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.
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. Sometimes moisture inside the flue itself is to blame. Call (908) 679-5768 to have the source traced.
What is a chimney cricket?
It is a little roof-like peak that sits behind the chimney. 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. Codes generally require one once a chimney is wider than about thirty inches across the slope.
More questions? Call (908) 679-5768
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Looking for something else?
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Call (908) 679-5768 to talk to a roofer serving Summit, NJ.