Front flashing
The base flashing on the front is renewed with counter flashing over it.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Oradell, NJ
A Oradell roofer can rebuild the flashing around a leaking chimney so the joint between brick and shingles sheds water on its own, so the leak does not come back next season. Call (551) 383-2310 to reach a local roofer.
The joint between a chimney and the roof is one of the most leak-prone spots on any house. Because the chimney and the roof are separate structures, the flashing has to bridge a joint that never stops moving. Any flashing that is rigidly glued to both the brick and the roof tends to crack loose within a few years.
Each side of a chimney gets its own kind of flashing. 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 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 Oradell, NJ can go hand in hand with flashing repair and roof leak repair.
Looking for Oradell chimney flashing repair? Call (551) 383-2310 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney flashing repair
The work follows the path water takes, front to back.
Find the source
Every side of the chimney is checked, along with the masonry above the roof and the decking around the opening from the attic. If the masonry is clearly the source, the roofer will say so.
Strip the old flashing
The roofer removes the existing metal, layers of tar and the nearby shingles. Rotted sheathing next to the chimney is cut out and renewed.
Set the apron
Ice and water shield goes down first, then the apron across the front and step flashing up each side, one piece per shingle course. The step flashing is nailed to the roof deck only, never to the brick.
Build a cricket
Behind the chimney, a metal back pan or a framed cricket keeps water and debris from piling up. Wide chimneys need a cricket under most residential codes.
Set counter flashing
A groove is cut into the mortar, and the counter flashing is set into it, either in one piece or stepped to follow the slope. That two-part design lets the chimney and roof move without tearing the seal.
What is included
What chimney flashing repair covers
Cricket installation
Water and debris are steered around the chimney and covered with metal or membrane and shingles.
Decking repair
Rotted decking around the chimney opening is replaced before the new flashing goes in.
Side flashing
Side flashing is woven in with new shingles lapped so water runs downhill.
Cap flashing
Cap flashing is cut into the masonry instead of caulked to the face.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Oradell, 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. 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 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. Matching the metal to the masonry avoids early corrosion.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Oradell, NJ
A chimney can leak at the roof line or from the top down, and the fix is different for each. Flashing leaks show up during rain at the roof line, often worse on the uphill side, while masonry leaks can appear on any side and may continue for a while after the rain stops as soaked brick drains. 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. 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. Those repairs are often done alongside new flashing so the whole leak is solved.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Chimney flashing calls in Oradell come mostly from older brick chimneys that have been reflashed with tar more than once. Homes in Oradell and nearby towns like Emerson, New Milford, Haworth and Paramus 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 it helps to know which kind you have when you call.
Need chimney flashing repair around Oradell? Call (551) 383-2310 for an Oradell 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. 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. That is why roof repair in Oradell is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why not wait
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Oradell
Roofers in Oradell know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
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. From the attic, stained rafters and decking around the brick confirm water is getting in. Outside, look for loose or rusted flashing and old sealant patches. Call (551) 383-2310 to reach a local roofer.
Can chimney flashing be repaired without replacing it?
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.
Should a roofer or a mason repair my chimney flashing?
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. Damage to the crown, brick or mortar beyond that is masonry work.
Why does my chimney need a cricket?
A cricket is a small ridge framed on the upslope side of a 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.
What causes a chimney leak if the flashing is new?
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. Condensation in an unlined or oversized flue can also cause damp spots. A call to (551) 383-2310 is a good next step.
More questions? Call (551) 383-2310
Related services
Flashing Repair
Repairing step, counter, kickout, valley and drip edge flashing where roofs meet walls and edges, so water runs onto the shingles instead of into the wall.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Stopping water at the pipe boots, flashing, valleys and nail holes where roofs actually leak, before wet decking and insulation turn into rot.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
Pinpointing where water actually enters a roof, even when the stain is far away, before anyone tears into the wrong part of the roof.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Shingle by shingle repairs that keep a sound roof in service, without tearing off the whole roof.
Learn more
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Call (551) 383-2310 to talk to a roofer serving Oradell, NJ.