Cap flashing
Cap flashing is cut into the masonry and sealed at the joint.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Montvale, NJ
A roofer in Montvale 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. One call to (551) 390-0362 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. Tar and caulk alone cannot handle that movement for long.
Proper chimney flashing has four main parts. An apron covers the downhill face, step flashing pieces weave in with the shingles along both sides, a back pan or cricket handles the uphill side, and counter flashing set into the mortar joints laps down over everything. Counter flashing that is only caulked onto the brick face is one of the most common causes of chimney leaks.
Before replacing flashing, it helps to know whether the chimney above the roof is letting water in. Leaks that continue after new flashing often trace back to the crown, the cap or the brick itself. A careful look covers both the flashing and the visible masonry above it.
Depending on what the roofer finds, chimney flashing repair in Montvale, NJ can go hand in hand with flashing repair and roof leak repair.
Need chimney flashing repair in Montvale? Call (551) 390-0362 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney flashing repair
Chimney flashing is rebuilt from the bottom up, like the rest of a roof.
Check the joint
Before anything comes off, the roofer checks the flashing, the brick, the crown and the wood around the chimney. A hose test on one side at a time can confirm the source.
Clear the joint
Old flashing and sealant come off, and the shingles next to the brick are lifted or removed. Soft or rotted decking around the chimney is replaced at this stage.
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.
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. Wide chimneys need a cricket under most residential codes.
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. Set into the brick, it lasts far longer than metal glued to the face.
What is included
What chimney flashing repair covers
Apron flashing
The base flashing on the front is renewed to shed water onto the roof.
Cricket installation
A saddle diverts water around the uphill side and covered with metal or membrane and shingles.
Side flashing
Each side gets new step flashing one piece per course.
Decking repair
Soft sheathing next to the chimney is renewed so the shingles have solid nailing.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Montvale, 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. Replacement is also the natural time to add a cricket if the chimney lacks one.
Not every flashing metal suits brick. Copper and lead-coated copper last a very long time and form neatly to brick, galvanized steel is durable when painted, and aluminum should be coated or kept out of direct contact with mortar, which can corrode it. The roofer can explain the options that suit your chimney.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Montvale, 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.
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. A roofer can point out these problems while checking the flashing.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Chimney flashing calls in Montvale come mostly from older brick chimneys that have been reflashed with tar more than once. Across Montvale and nearby communities including Park Ridge, Woodcliff Lake, Saddle River and Hillsdale, 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.
For chimney flashing repair in Montvale, NJ or nearby towns like Park Ridge, Woodcliff Lake, Saddle River and Hillsdale, call (551) 390-0362 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
Roofs in this climate
Cold winters bring snow, ice and a long stretch of freezing nights. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the colder eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Coastal storms and heavy spring rain drive water sideways into flashing, valleys and old chimneys. Most homeowners in Montvale, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Roofers in Montvale know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
Can chimney flashing be repaired without replacing it?
Small issues, like counter flashing that has pulled out of its mortar joint, can be reset and resealed. If the flashing is corroded or relies on caulk instead of proper lapping, replacing it is the better repair. More sealant over a failing system buys a little time at best.
Who fixes chimney flashing, a roofer or a mason?
A roofer handles the flashing, because it has to be woven into the roof. 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.
What are the signs of a chimney flashing leak?
Water marks beside the chimney inside the house are the usual first clue. Inside the attic, water trails on the brick or framing are another clue. From the yard, heavy tar around the base is a good hint that the flashing has been patched before. Call (551) 390-0362 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) 390-0362 to have the source traced.
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. Wide chimneys need one under most building codes.
More questions? Call (551) 390-0362
Related services
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, so the stain on the ceiling stops growing.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
Finding stubborn leaks that earlier patches missed, so the repair goes in the right place the first time.
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 servicesGet chimney flashing repair help in Montvale
Call (551) 390-0362 for a local roofer in Montvale and nearby towns.