Rot repair
Rotted decking around the chimney opening is replaced so the shingles have solid nailing.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Westfield, NJ
Most leaks around a chimney in Westfield come from the flashing, and a roofer can fix them with new step and counter flashing set into the brick instead of tar, with a cricket behind wide chimneys to keep water from piling up. Dial (908) 728-6005 to talk with a local roofer about the chimney leak.
Few places on a roof leak as often as the gap around a chimney. Masonry and wood framing expand, shrink and settle at different rates, which is why chimney flashing is built in two parts that can slide past each other. Any flashing that is rigidly glued to both the brick and the roof tends to crack loose within a few years.
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 that is only caulked onto the brick face is one of the most common causes of chimney leaks.
Water near a chimney can also come through the chimney itself. Brick and mortar absorb rain, and a cracked crown or open joints can let water travel down through the masonry to the roof line. Sorting out which one is leaking avoids paying for the wrong repair.
Many chimney flashing repair calls in Westfield also turn up a need for flashing repair or roof leak repair.
Looking for Westfield chimney flashing repair? Call (908) 728-6005 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Westfield.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
Here is how a roofer typically handles chimney flashing.
Inspect the chimney
The roofer looks at the flashing on all four sides, the mortar joints, the crown and cap and the attic framing around the chimney. That separates true flashing leaks from water coming through the chimney itself.
Remove old metal
Shingles around the chimney are removed along with the old flashing, tar and caulk. Any decking that has gone soft from years of leaks is replaced.
Set the apron
A membrane underlayment goes around the chimney, then the front apron and the side step flashing are installed with the shingles. Nothing is fastened to the masonry at this stage, so the roof and chimney can move.
Build a cricket
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.
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. The overlap allows movement while keeping water out.
What is included
What chimney flashing repair covers
Cricket installation
A cricket is framed behind wide chimneys and covered with metal or membrane and shingles.
Cap flashing
Counter flashing is set into ground-out mortar joints so it overlaps the step flashing.
Step flashing
Step pieces up both sides of the chimney are replaced lapped so water runs downhill.
Apron flashing
A one-piece apron is installed across the downhill face with counter flashing over it.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Westfield, 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. Patching a system that was installed wrong rarely works, because the problem is in how the pieces overlap. Replacement is also the natural time to add a cricket if the chimney lacks one.
The metal choice matters around masonry. Lime in mortar corrodes bare aluminum, so copper, coated steel or coated aluminum are common choices. Matching the metal to the masonry avoids early corrosion.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Westfield, 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. Testing the flashing and the masonry separately pins down the source.
Leaks through the chimney body need masonry work rather than flashing. 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. Those repairs are often done alongside new flashing so the whole leak is solved.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Around Westfield, chimney leaks often date back to a reroof where the old chimney flashing was reused or covered in sealant. Across Westfield and nearby communities including Garwood, Cranford, Mountainside and Fanwood, 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 it helps to know which kind you have when you call.
Need chimney flashing repair around Westfield? Call (908) 728-6005 for a Westfield 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 Westfield, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Roofers who know Westfield
Roofers in Westfield know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQ
Why does my chimney need a cricket?
It is a little roof-like peak that sits behind the chimney. Water flowing down the slope hits the cricket and is steered around both sides. Most residential codes call for one behind chimneys wider than about thirty inches.
Who fixes chimney flashing, a roofer or a mason?
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.
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. More sealant over a failing system buys a little time at best.
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. 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 (908) 728-6005 to reach a local roofer.
What causes a chimney leak if the flashing is new?
Water can still get in through the top or sides of the chimney. Open joints, spalling brick and a damaged crown all let water in above the flashing. In some cases, condensation inside the flue is the cause. Call (908) 728-6005 to reach a roofer.
More questions? Call (908) 728-6005
Other services that may help
Flashing Repair
Fixing the metal flashing at walls, dormers, valleys and roof edges, with new metal instead of another layer of caulk.
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
Tracing hidden roof leaks with attic checks, moisture meters, hose testing and infrared scans, before anyone tears into the wrong part of the roof.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Replacing missing, creased or cracked shingles, resealing lifted tabs and fixing popped nails, before a small gap turns into a leak.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesGet chimney flashing repair help in Westfield
Call (908) 728-6005 for a local roofer in Westfield and nearby towns.