Apron flashing
The base flashing on the front is renewed to shed water onto the roof.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Whippany, NJ
A roofer in Whippany 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, and check whether the crown or brick is part of the problem. One call to (862) 693-4362 reaches a nearby roofer who handles chimney flashing.
Few places on a roof leak as often as the gap around a chimney. 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.
Each side of a chimney gets its own kind of flashing. 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. Sorting out which one is leaking avoids paying for the wrong repair.
Depending on what the roofer finds, chimney flashing repair in Whippany, NJ can go hand in hand with flashing repair and roof leak repair.
Looking for Whippany chimney flashing repair? Call (862) 693-4362 to reach a nearby roofing contractor.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney flashing repair
Here is how a roofer typically handles chimney flashing.
Inspect the chimney
Every side of the chimney is checked, along with the masonry above the roof and the decking around the opening from the attic. 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. 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. The step flashing is nailed to the roof deck only, never to the brick.
Build a cricket
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. Wide chimneys need a cricket under most residential codes.
Seal the top edge
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. The overlap allows movement while keeping water out.
What is included
Parts of a chimney flashing job
Rot repair
Rotted decking around the chimney opening is replaced so the shingles have solid nailing.
Cricket installation
Water and debris are steered around the chimney so water cannot pond against the brick.
Step flashing
Each side gets new step flashing lapped so water runs downhill.
Cap flashing
Counter flashing is set into ground-out mortar joints so it overlaps the step flashing.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Whippany, 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. 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. Ask which metal the roofer plans to use and why.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Whippany, NJ
A chimney can leak at the roof line or from the top down, and the fix is different for each. 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. A careful water test, one side at a time, can tell the two apart.
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. A roofer can point out these problems while checking the flashing.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Chimney flashing calls in Whippany come mostly from older brick chimneys that have been reflashed with tar more than once. Across Whippany and nearby communities including Cedar Knolls, Parsippany, Morris Plains and Florham Park, the chimney type decides the fix: masonry needs counter flashing cut into the brick, and a framed chase needs step flashing behind the siding, which is why the roofer starts by looking at how the chimney is built.
Searching for chimney flashing repair near me from Whippany or Cedar Knolls, Parsippany, Morris Plains and Florham Park? Call (862) 693-4362 to talk to a roofer who works in your part of town.
Roofs in this climate
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. Most homeowners in Whippany, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Whippany know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQ
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. From the attic, stained rafters and decking around the brick confirm water is getting in. On the roof, rusted metal, loose counter flashing and heavy tar are warning signs. Call (862) 693-4362 to reach a local roofer.
What causes a chimney leak if the flashing is new?
A leak that continues after new flashing usually comes from the chimney itself. 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) 693-4362 to have the source traced.
Is it possible to just reseal chimney flashing?
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. Adding more tar on top only delays the next leak.
What is a chimney cricket?
A cricket is a small ridge framed on the upslope side of a chimney. It diverts runoff, leaves and snow to each side so they do not collect behind the chimney. Wide chimneys need one under most building codes.
Should a roofer or a mason repair my chimney flashing?
Chimney flashing is roofing work, since it ties into the shingles, underlayment and step flashing. Roofers routinely grind the mortar joint and set counter flashing. Problems with the chimney itself, like a cracked crown, call for a mason.
More questions? Call (862) 693-4362
Other services that may help
Flashing Repair
Flashing repairs at the joints where most roof leaks start, 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, with the damage underneath checked too.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
Finding stubborn leaks that earlier patches missed, with a clear answer on roof leak versus condensation.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Shingle by shingle repairs that keep a sound roof in service, before a small gap turns into a leak.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Whippany roofer about chimney flashing repair
Call (862) 693-4362 for a local roofer in Whippany and nearby towns.