Counter flashing
Counter flashing is set into ground-out mortar joints instead of caulked to the face.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Bloomingdale, NJ
A Bloomingdale 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 (862) 356-0010 to reach a local roofer.
A chimney is a large masonry box punched through the roof, and sealing around it takes several pieces of flashing working together. 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. 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.
Water near a chimney can also come through the chimney itself. Brick and mortar absorb rain, and a cracked crown or open joints can let water travel down through the masonry to the roof line. A careful look covers both the flashing and the visible masonry above it.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Bloomingdale roofer may also recommend flashing repair or roof leak repair.
Need chimney flashing repair in Bloomingdale? Call (862) 356-0010 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney flashing repair
Here is how a roofer typically handles chimney flashing.
Inspect the chimney
Before anything comes off, the roofer checks the flashing, the brick, the crown and the wood 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. Soft or rotted decking around the chimney is replaced at this stage.
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. Each step piece laps the one below it.
Build a cricket
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.
Seal the top edge
Counter flashing is let into a ground-out mortar joint and sealed, overlapping the base flashing below. That two-part design lets the chimney and roof move without tearing the seal.
What is included
Chimney flashing parts
Chimney saddle
A cricket is framed behind wide chimneys so water cannot pond against the brick.
Step flashing
Step pieces up both sides of the chimney are replaced nailed to the deck, not the brick.
Front flashing
The front of the chimney gets a new apron to shed water onto the roof.
Decking repair
Soft sheathing next to the chimney is renewed so the shingles have solid nailing.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Bloomingdale, NJ
Replacing the flashing outright is the better choice when patches keep failing or the metal has corroded. 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.
Chimney flashing has to tolerate mortar and moisture for decades. 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 Bloomingdale, 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.
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 Bloomingdale, chimney leaks often date back to a reroof where the old chimney flashing was reused or covered in sealant. Homes in Bloomingdale and nearby towns like Wanaque, Butler, Riverdale and Pompton Lakes 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.
Searching for chimney flashing repair near me from Bloomingdale or Wanaque, Butler, Riverdale and Pompton Lakes? Call (862) 356-0010 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
How the weather here affects roofs around Bloomingdale
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. 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. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. That is why roof repair in Bloomingdale is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
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 Bloomingdale and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
Can chimney flashing be repaired without replacing it?
A single loose section of counter flashing can be reset without replacing everything. Flashing that was installed wrong or has rusted through needs to be replaced, not resealed. More sealant over a failing system buys a little time at best.
Should a roofer or a mason repair my chimney flashing?
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?
Water can still get in through the top or sides of the chimney. Open joints, spalling brick and a damaged crown all let water in above the flashing. Condensation in an unlined or oversized flue can also cause damp spots. Call (862) 356-0010 to reach a roofer.
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. From the yard, heavy tar around the base is a good hint that the flashing has been patched before. Call (862) 356-0010 to have a roofer check it.
What is a chimney cricket?
A cricket, also called a saddle, is a small peaked structure built behind a chimney on the uphill side. It diverts runoff, leaves and snow to each side so they do not collect behind the chimney. Codes generally require one once a chimney is wider than about thirty inches across the slope.
More questions? Call (862) 356-0010
Other services that may help
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Flashing repairs at the joints where most roof leaks start, so water runs onto the shingles instead of into the wall.
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Finding where water gets through the roof and sealing it at the source, with the damage underneath checked too.
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Tracing hidden roof leaks with attic checks, moisture meters, hose testing and infrared scans, so the repair goes in the right place the first time.
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Spot repairs for wind, hail and age damage on an asphalt shingle roof, without tearing off the whole roof.
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Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Bloomingdale roofer about chimney flashing repair
Call (862) 356-0010 to talk to a roofer serving Bloomingdale, NJ.