Counter flashing
The top layer of flashing is renewed and properly let into the mortar joints so water cannot run behind the step flashing.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Sparta, NJ
Leaks at the roof line in Sparta usually come from flashing that has pulled loose, rusted through or been patched with tar, so the joint sheds water the way it was designed to. Dial (973) 659-5762 to talk with a local chimney sweep about the flashing.
Flashing is the layered metal seal around the base of a chimney, and it is behind more chimney leaks than any other part. Because masonry and roof framing expand, contract and settle at different rates, a rigid seal will crack, which is why flashing is built in overlapping layers. Over time, sealant dries out, nails back out, metal rusts and the counter flashing pulls out of the mortar joints.
Good flashing is a system, not a single strip of metal. Along the sides, individual step flashing pieces are layered with the shingles, while counter flashing is let into the mortar joints and lapped over them. On the uphill side, a cricket keeps water from pooling against the chimney, which matters most on wide chimneys.
Before the visit, a little information speeds things up. Note whether the stain is on the uphill or downhill side of the chimney, whether it leaks in every rain or only in heavy storms, and when the roof was last replaced. If you can see black tar smeared around the chimney, say so, because that usually means earlier patches have already failed.
Many chimney flashing repair calls in Sparta also turn up a need for chimney leak repair or chimney waterproofing.
Dealing with this in Sparta, NJ right now? Call (973) 659-5762 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Sparta.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a flashing repair
Here is how a chimney technician typically handles a flashing repair.
Inspect the roof line
All four sides of the chimney are checked, because a leak on one side often starts somewhere else. The roof deck under the flashing is checked for soft spots.
Rule out the masonry
A water test may be used to confirm the flashing is really the problem. It makes sure the repair matches the actual source.
Clear the old work
Old tar, caulk and loose or rusted metal are removed, and the shingles around the chimney are lifted where needed. Damaged roof deck is fixed while it is exposed.
Install step flashing
Individual L-shaped step flashing pieces are layered with the shingles up each side of the chimney. The front apron and a self-adhering membrane around the chimney add a second line of defense.
Cut a reglet
A groove, called a reglet, is cut into the mortar joints, and counter flashing is set into it and folded down over the step flashing. Copper and coated steel are common choices, since bare aluminum can corrode where it meets mortar.
Add a cricket
Chimneys wider than about thirty inches usually call for a cricket on the high side under common building codes. That removes the spot where water sits and soaks into the flashing.
What is included
Flashing work a chimney sweep handles
Step flashing
Side flashing is rebuilt piece by piece with the shingles with every piece lapped correctly.
Crickets
A saddle is framed on the uphill side to end leaks on the high side.
Front flashing
The apron across the downhill face is replaced or resealed to keep the front edge watertight.
Tar patch removal
Failed tar patches are stripped and replaced with real flashing so the repair does not depend on sealant.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Sparta, NJ
Chimney flashing replacement makes sense when the metal is rusted through, the counter flashing has pulled out of the mortar or the flashing has been patched so many times that nothing sound is left. The old metal comes off completely, and new step flashing, counter flashing, apron and cricket are installed as a system. Many roofers reuse old chimney flashing when they replace shingles, which is a common reason new roofs leak at the chimney.
In Sparta, the easiest moment to replace chimney flashing is while the roof is already torn off. Coordinate the chimney sweep and the roofer so the step flashing goes in with the shingles and the counter flashing is set into the brick. It is also a good time to have the crown and mortar checked, since the roof around the chimney is already open.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Around Sparta, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. Across Sparta and nearby places including Lake Mohawk, Lake Hopatcong, Hopatcong and Andover, the chimneys that leak most are the ones where water and snow collect on the uphill side, so proper step and counter flashing, and a cricket where needed, is worth doing right once.
Need chimney flashing repair around Sparta? Call (973) 659-5762 for a Sparta chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. That is why chimney cleaning in Sparta is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Sparta and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQ
Why would my chimney need a cricket?
Also known as a saddle, a cricket is a small roof section behind the chimney that diverts runoff to either side. Wide chimneys block a lot of runoff, and without a cricket that water sits against the flashing. For wider chimneys that do not sit on the ridge, a cricket is usually required by code.
Why does my chimney flashing keep leaking after it was sealed?
Caulk and roofing tar only seal the surface, and they crack and pull loose as the chimney and roof expand and contract. If the step or counter flashing is missing, rusted or installed wrong, no amount of sealant will fix it. It is also possible the water is entering higher up, at the crown or through the brick, and only showing at the flashing.
Should chimney flashing be replaced with a new roof?
Doing it with the new roof is the smart move in most cases. Proper step flashing goes in with the shingles, so it is easiest when they are being replaced. Reusing old flashing under new shingles is one of the most common causes of chimney leaks on newer roofs.
Can chimney flashing be repaired, or does it need replacing?
What the metal looks like decides that. When only the counter flashing has come loose, resetting it is often enough. Once flashing has rust holes or years of patches, replacing it is more reliable than another repair.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
Look for stains near the chimney inside, damp or rotted framing in the attic and flashing that is lifted, rusted or covered in tar outside. A leak in the firebox is more likely the cap or crown, while a leak along the ceiling beside the chimney is more often the flashing. A controlled water test settles it.
More questions? Call (973) 659-5762
Related services
Chimney Leak Repair
Tracing chimney leaks to the real entry point and sealing it, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Protecting chimney masonry from rain with a penetrating repellent, as the last step in keeping a chimney dry.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Sealing cracked chimney crowns or rebuilding crumbling ones, with a proper overhang and drip edge.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Repairs for the masonry, crown, flashing and flue of a damaged chimney, so the chimney stays dry and safe to use.
Learn more
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