Side flashing
Each side gets new step flashing one piece per course.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Lyndhurst, NJ
A roofer in Lyndhurst 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. Dial (551) 348-2859 to talk with a local roofer about the chimney leak.
A chimney is a large masonry box punched through the roof, and sealing around it takes several pieces of flashing working together. 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.
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 that is only caulked onto the brick face is one of the most common causes of chimney leaks.
Not every leak around a chimney is a flashing leak. 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 roofer checks the flashing and can point out masonry problems that need a mason.
Depending on what the roofer finds, chimney flashing repair in Lyndhurst, NJ can go hand in hand with flashing repair and roof leak repair.
Dealing with this in Lyndhurst, NJ right now? Call (551) 348-2859 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Lyndhurst.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
Here is how a roofer typically handles chimney flashing.
Check the joint
The roofer looks at the flashing on all four sides, the mortar joints, the crown and cap and the attic framing around the chimney. If the masonry is clearly the source, the roofer will say so.
Remove old metal
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.
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. Nothing is fastened to the masonry at this stage, so the roof and chimney can move.
Handle the back side
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. Building codes call for a cricket behind chimneys wider than about thirty inches across the slope.
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
Counter flashing
Cap flashing is cut into the masonry and sealed at the joint.
Front flashing
The front of the chimney gets a new apron to shed water onto the roof.
Decking repair
Rotted decking around the chimney opening is replaced before the new flashing goes in.
Cricket installation
Water and debris are steered around the chimney and covered with metal or membrane and shingles.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Lyndhurst, NJ
Full replacement of chimney flashing is the answer when the existing pieces are rusted, missing or held on by caulk. When the basic design is wrong, repairs only delay the next leak. Adding a cricket during replacement solves the uphill pooling at the same time.
Chimney flashing has to tolerate mortar and moisture for decades. Lime in mortar corrodes bare aluminum, so copper, coated steel or coated aluminum are common choices. The roofer can explain the options that suit your chimney.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Lyndhurst, NJ
A chimney can leak at the roof line or from the top down, and the fix is different for each. A leak that keeps going after the rain ends often means water stored in the masonry is draining out. Testing the flashing and the masonry separately pins down the source.
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. 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 Lyndhurst, chimney leaks often date back to a reroof where the old chimney flashing was reused or covered in sealant. Homes in Lyndhurst and nearby towns like Rutherford, North Arlington, East Rutherford and Wallington 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.
Need chimney flashing repair around Lyndhurst? Call (551) 348-2859 for a Lyndhurst 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, which is how ice dams form and back water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Lyndhurst, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Drier ceilings
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Lyndhurst 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 questions
Should a roofer or a mason repair my chimney flashing?
A roofer handles the flashing, because it has to be woven into the roof. Roofers routinely grind the mortar joint and set counter flashing. Problems with the chimney itself, like a cracked crown, call for a mason.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
Stains on the ceiling or wall next to the chimney after rain are the most common sign. Inside the attic, water trails on the brick or framing are another clue. On the roof, rusted metal, loose counter flashing and heavy tar are warning signs. Call (551) 348-2859 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. 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.
What causes a chimney leak if the flashing is new?
When new flashing does not stop the leak, the masonry is the usual suspect. A cracked crown, a missing cap, open mortar joints or porous brick can let water travel down inside the masonry to the roof line. Condensation in an unlined or oversized flue can also cause damp spots. Call (551) 348-2859 to reach a roofer.
What is a chimney cricket?
It is a little roof-like peak that sits behind the 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.
More questions? Call (551) 348-2859
Other services that may help
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
Tracing hidden roof leaks with attic checks, moisture meters, hose testing and infrared scans, with a clear answer on roof leak versus condensation.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Spot repairs for wind, hail and age damage on an asphalt shingle roof, before a small gap turns into a leak.
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Call (551) 348-2859 to talk to a roofer serving Lyndhurst, NJ.