Side flashing
Step pieces up both sides of the chimney are replaced nailed to the deck, not the brick.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Closter, NJ
Most leaks around a chimney in Closter 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 (551) 395-0646 to talk with a local roofer about the chimney leak.
The joint between a chimney and the roof is one of the most leak-prone spots on any house. 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. Tar and caulk alone cannot handle that movement for long.
A correctly flashed chimney uses a system, not a single piece. 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. The counter flashing is where shortcuts usually show up: instead of being cut into the mortar, it is glued to the face of the brick.
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.
Chimney Flashing Repair is often paired with flashing repair and roof leak repair, depending on the cause.
Dealing with this in Closter, NJ right now? Call (551) 395-0646 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Closter.
Call nowThe process
The chimney flashing process
Chimney flashing is rebuilt from the bottom up, like the rest of a roof.
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. 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. Rotted sheathing next to the chimney is cut out and renewed.
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. Each step piece laps the one below it.
Install the back pan
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. Without one, a wide chimney acts like a dam.
Cut in the 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
Parts of a chimney flashing job
Cap flashing
New counter flashing is let into the brick instead of caulked to the face.
Rot repair
Rotted decking around the chimney opening is replaced while the area is open.
Chimney saddle
A saddle diverts water around the uphill side so water cannot pond against the brick.
Front flashing
The base flashing on the front is renewed lapped over the shingles below.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Closter, NJ
Replacing the flashing outright is the better choice when patches keep failing or the metal has corroded. 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.
The metal choice matters around masonry. 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 Closter, NJ
Chimney leak repair starts by finding out whether water comes through the flashing or through the chimney itself. 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. 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. 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. A roofer can point out these problems while checking the flashing.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
In Closter, many chimney flashing problems show up on homes with wide brick chimneys and no cricket behind them. Across Closter and nearby communities including Demarest, Norwood, Harrington Park and Haworth, 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.
Need chimney flashing repair around Closter? Call (551) 395-0646 for a Closter roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Closter
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 Closter, 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.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Closter 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.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
Can chimney flashing be repaired without replacing it?
A single loose section of counter flashing can be reset without replacing everything. When the metal is rusted, missing pieces or was never installed correctly, replacement is the lasting fix. Adding more tar on top only delays the next leak.
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. From the attic, stained rafters and decking around the brick confirm water is getting in. From the yard, heavy tar around the base is a good hint that the flashing has been patched before. Call (551) 395-0646 to reach a local roofer.
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. Condensation in an unlined or oversized flue can also cause damp spots. Call (551) 395-0646 to have the source traced.
Should a roofer or a mason repair my chimney flashing?
The flashing belongs to the roof, so a roofer is the right call for it. Cutting the counter flashing into the mortar joint is part of that job. Problems with the chimney itself, like a cracked crown, call for a mason.
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. Wide chimneys need one under most building codes.
More questions? Call (551) 395-0646
Related services
Flashing Repair
Flashing repairs at the joints where most roof leaks start, before hidden rot spreads into walls and decking.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Stopping water at the pipe boots, flashing, valleys and nail holes where roofs actually leak, 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, before anyone tears into the wrong part of the roof.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Shingle by shingle repairs that keep a sound roof in service, without tearing off the whole roof.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed chimney flashing repair in Closter, NJ?
Call (551) 395-0646 for a local roofer in Closter and nearby towns.