Side flashing
Each side gets new step flashing nailed to the deck, not the brick.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Bergenfield, NJ
Most leaks around a chimney in Bergenfield come from the flashing, and a roofer can fix them with new step and counter flashing set into the brick instead of tar, and check whether the crown or brick is part of the problem. One call to (551) 374-2021 reaches a nearby roofer who handles chimney flashing.
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. That is why a single strip of metal glued to the brick with sealant does not last.
Proper chimney flashing has four main parts. Along the front sits a one-piece apron, step pieces run up each side with the shingles, a saddle or cricket diverts water behind, and counter flashing ground into the mortar covers the top edges. Counter flashing is the piece that most often fails or is skipped, replaced by surface-mounted metal and a bead of caulk.
Water near a chimney can also come through the chimney itself. Leaks that continue after new flashing often trace back to the crown, the cap or the brick itself. 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 Bergenfield, NJ can go hand in hand with flashing repair and roof leak repair.
Dealing with this in Bergenfield, NJ right now? Call (551) 374-2021 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney flashing repair
Here is how a roofer typically handles chimney flashing.
Check the joint
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.
Clear the joint
The roofer removes the existing metal, layers of tar and the nearby shingles. Any decking that has gone soft from years of leaks is replaced.
Install the base flashing
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.
Install the back pan
Behind the chimney, a metal back pan or a framed cricket keeps water and debris from piling up. Building codes call for a cricket behind chimneys wider than about thirty inches across the slope.
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
Rot repair
Water-damaged wood at the chimney is cut out while the area is open.
Cap flashing
Cap flashing is cut into the masonry instead of caulked to the face.
Front flashing
The base flashing on the front is renewed with counter flashing over it.
Cricket installation
A cricket is framed behind wide chimneys which stops one of the most common chimney leaks.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Bergenfield, 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. It is also the right moment to add a cricket or back pan.
Chimney flashing has to tolerate mortar and moisture for decades. Copper is a long-lasting choice for counter flashing, while aluminum needs protection from contact with lime in the mortar. Matching the metal to the masonry avoids early corrosion.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Bergenfield, 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. Hose testing each side and then the chimney top separately settles the question.
If the masonry is the source, the fix may involve the crown, the cap or the brick. A cracked crown needs sealing or rebuilding, a missing cap lets rain straight down the flue, and porous brick can be treated with a breathable water repellent made for masonry. 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 Bergenfield come mostly from older brick chimneys that have been reflashed with tar more than once. Homes in Bergenfield and nearby towns like New Milford, Dumont, River Edge and Cresskill range from older houses with full masonry chimneys to newer ones with framed chases wrapped in siding, which are flashed more like a sidewall, which is why the roofer starts by looking at how the chimney is built.
Need chimney flashing repair around Bergenfield? Call (551) 374-2021 for a Bergenfield roofer who serves the towns around it too.
Roofs in this climate
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. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Bergenfield, 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 Bergenfield
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Bergenfield and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQ
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.
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. Codes generally require one once a chimney is wider than about thirty inches across the slope.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
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 (551) 374-2021 to have a roofer check it.
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) 374-2021 to have the source traced.
Who fixes chimney flashing, a roofer or a mason?
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.
More questions? Call (551) 374-2021
Related services
Flashing Repair
Fixing the metal flashing at walls, dormers, valleys and roof edges, before hidden rot spreads into walls and decking.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Leak repairs that fix the entry point, not just the ceiling stain, so the stain on the ceiling stops growing.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
Pinpointing where water actually enters a roof, even when the stain is far away, with a clear answer on roof leak versus condensation.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Replacing missing, creased or cracked shingles, resealing lifted tabs and fixing popped nails, matched to the shingles already on the house.
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