Decking repair
Soft sheathing next to the chimney is renewed so the shingles have solid nailing.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Newton, NJ
A Newton 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. Dial (973) 858-9950 to talk with a local roofer about the chimney leak.
Few places on a roof leak as often as the gap around a chimney. Because the chimney and the roof are separate structures, the flashing has to bridge a joint that never stops moving. That is why a single strip of metal glued to the brick with sealant does not last.
A correctly flashed chimney uses a system, not a single piece. 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 is the piece that most often fails or is skipped, replaced by surface-mounted metal and a bead of caulk.
Before replacing flashing, it helps to know whether the chimney above the roof is letting water in. A cracked crown, a missing cap, porous brick or failed mortar joints can soak the masonry, and the water then runs down inside the chimney and shows up exactly where a flashing leak would. A careful look covers both the flashing and the visible masonry above it.
Many chimney flashing repair calls in Newton also turn up a need for flashing repair or roof leak repair.
Dealing with this in Newton, NJ right now? Call (973) 858-9950 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Newton.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
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.
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.
Install the base 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. Nothing is fastened to the masonry at this stage, so the roof and chimney can move.
Handle the back side
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.
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. That two-part design lets the chimney and roof move without tearing the seal.
What is included
Parts of a chimney flashing job
Counter flashing
New counter flashing is let into the brick and sealed at the joint.
Step flashing
Step pieces up both sides of the chimney are replaced lapped so water runs downhill.
Cricket installation
A saddle diverts water around the uphill side and covered with metal or membrane and shingles.
Front flashing
The base flashing on the front is renewed lapped over the shingles below.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Newton, 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 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. Ask which metal the roofer plans to use and why.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Newton, NJ
Leaks around a chimney have two main sources: the flashing at the roof and the masonry above it. A leak that keeps going after the rain ends often means water stored in the masonry is draining out. 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. Typical fixes are crown repair, a new cap and repointing of open mortar joints, sometimes followed by a vapor-permeable masonry water repellent. The roofer can spot many of these from the roof and tell you who should fix them.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Chimney flashing calls in Newton come mostly from older brick chimneys that have been reflashed with tar more than once. Across Newton and nearby communities including Andover, Hopatcong, Allamuchy and Franklin, the chimney type decides the fix: masonry needs counter flashing cut into the brick, and a framed chase needs step flashing behind the siding, so expect the roofer to ask which type is on your house.
For chimney flashing repair in Newton, NJ or nearby towns like Andover, Hopatcong, Allamuchy and Franklin, call (973) 858-9950 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
Roofs in this climate
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. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Newton, 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.
Roofers who know Newton
Roofers in Newton 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
Why does my chimney need a cricket?
A cricket, also called a saddle, is a small peaked structure built behind a chimney on the uphill side. 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. Most residential codes call for one behind chimneys wider than about thirty inches.
What are the signs of a chimney flashing leak?
Stains on the ceiling or wall next to the chimney after rain are the most common sign. 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 (973) 858-9950 to have a roofer check it.
Who fixes chimney flashing, a roofer or a mason?
A roofer handles the flashing, because it has to be woven into the roof. Roofers routinely grind the mortar joint and set counter flashing. Damage to the crown, brick or mortar beyond that is masonry work.
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. Adding more tar on top only delays the next leak.
What causes a chimney leak if the flashing is new?
When new flashing does not stop the leak, the masonry is the usual suspect. Open joints, spalling brick and a damaged crown all let water in above the flashing. Sometimes moisture inside the flue itself is to blame. A call to (973) 858-9950 is a good next step.
More questions? Call (973) 858-9950
Other services that may help
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, before wet decking and insulation turn into rot.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
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.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Spot repairs for wind, hail and age damage on an asphalt shingle roof, without tearing off the whole roof.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet chimney flashing repair help in Newton
Call now for Newton chimney flashing repair and help in the towns around it.