Cap flashing
Cap flashing is cut into the masonry and sealed at the joint.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Ridgewood, NJ
A roofer in Ridgewood can stop most chimney leaks by replacing the flashing where the chimney meets the roof: step flashing along the sides, counter flashing cut into the mortar, an apron at the front and a back pan or cricket behind, so the leak does not come back next season. One call to (551) 370-0363 reaches a nearby roofer who handles chimney flashing.
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. Any flashing that is rigidly glued to both the brick and the roof tends to crack loose within a few years.
Proper chimney flashing has four main parts. The front gets an apron, the sides get step flashing, the back gets a pan or cricket, and counter flashing tucked into the brick seals the top of it all. Counter flashing is the piece that most often fails or is skipped, replaced by surface-mounted metal and a bead of caulk.
Water near a chimney can also come through the chimney itself. Leaks that continue after new flashing often trace back to the crown, the cap or the brick itself. A careful look covers both the flashing and the visible masonry above it.
Depending on what the roofer finds, chimney flashing repair in Ridgewood, NJ can go hand in hand with flashing repair and roof leak repair.
Need chimney flashing repair in Ridgewood? Call (551) 370-0363 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Ridgewood.
Call nowThe process
The chimney flashing process
Chimney flashing is rebuilt from the bottom up, like the rest of a roof.
Inspect the chimney
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.
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
A membrane underlayment goes around the chimney, then the front apron and the side step flashing are installed with the shingles. Each step piece laps the one below it.
Install the back pan
On the uphill side, a back pan or saddle is fitted, and on wider chimneys a cricket is framed to split the water around it. Without one, a wide chimney acts like a dam.
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
What chimney flashing repair covers
Step flashing
Side flashing is woven in with new shingles nailed to the deck, not the brick.
Cricket installation
A saddle diverts water around the uphill side so water cannot pond against the brick.
Decking repair
Water-damaged wood at the chimney is cut out while the area is open.
Front flashing
The front of the chimney gets a new apron with counter flashing over it.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Ridgewood, NJ
Chimney flashing replacement makes sense when the metal is rusted, the counter flashing is only glued to the brick or the joint has been tarred over several times. When the basic design is wrong, repairs only delay the next leak. It is also the right moment to add a cricket or back pan.
Not every flashing metal suits brick. Copper and lead-coated copper last a very long time and form neatly to brick, galvanized steel is durable when painted, and aluminum should be coated or kept out of direct contact with mortar, which can corrode it. The roofer can explain the options that suit your chimney.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Ridgewood, NJ
A chimney can leak at the roof line or from the top down, and the fix is different for each. 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. 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. A cracked crown needs sealing or rebuilding, a missing cap lets rain straight down the flue, and porous brick can be treated with a breathable water repellent made for masonry. 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 Ridgewood, many chimney flashing problems show up on homes with wide brick chimneys and no cricket behind them. Homes in Ridgewood and nearby towns like Glen Rock, Midland Park, Waldwick and Hawthorne 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.
Searching for chimney flashing repair near me from Ridgewood or Glen Rock, Midland Park, Waldwick and Hawthorne? Call (551) 370-0363 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
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. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. That is why roof repair in Ridgewood is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Ridgewood know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQ
Why does my chimney need a cricket?
It is a little roof-like peak that sits behind the chimney. Water flowing down the slope hits the cricket and is steered around both sides. Most residential codes call for one behind chimneys wider than about thirty inches.
Who fixes chimney flashing, a roofer or a mason?
The flashing belongs to the roof, so a roofer is the right call for it. 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?
Water can still get in through the top or sides of the chimney. 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 (551) 370-0363 to reach a roofer.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
Water marks beside the chimney inside the house are the usual first clue. Inside the attic, water trails on the brick or framing are another clue. Outside, look for loose or rusted flashing and old sealant patches. Call (551) 370-0363 to have a roofer check it.
Can chimney flashing be repaired without replacing it?
Minor problems such as a loose counter flashing piece can be refastened into the mortar. When the metal is rusted, missing pieces or was never installed correctly, replacement is the lasting fix. More sealant over a failing system buys a little time at best.
More questions? Call (551) 370-0363
Related services
Flashing Repair
Repairing step, counter, kickout, valley and drip edge flashing where roofs meet walls and edges, before hidden rot spreads into walls and decking.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Finding where water gets through the roof and sealing it at the source, so the stain on the ceiling stops growing.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
Finding stubborn leaks that earlier patches missed, so the repair goes in the right place the first time.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Shingle by shingle repairs that keep a sound roof in service, matched to the shingles already on the house.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet chimney flashing repair help in Ridgewood
Call now for Ridgewood chimney flashing repair and help in the towns around it.