Rot repair
Rotted decking around the chimney opening is replaced while the area is open.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Randolph, NJ
A roofer in Randolph 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, with a cricket behind wide chimneys to keep water from piling up. Dial (973) 858-1826 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. Because the chimney and the roof are separate structures, the flashing has to bridge a joint that never stops moving. 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 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. 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.
Depending on what the roofer finds, chimney flashing repair in Randolph, NJ can go hand in hand with flashing repair and roof leak repair.
Need chimney flashing repair in Randolph? Call (973) 858-1826 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
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.
Strip the old flashing
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.
Add step 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. Each step piece laps the one below it.
Install the back pan
The upslope side gets a saddle or, for wide chimneys, a small peaked cricket that sheds water to both sides. Wide chimneys need a cricket under most residential codes.
Cut in the counter flashing
The roofer grinds a slot into a mortar joint, bends the counter flashing into it and seals it, so it laps down over the step flashing. The overlap allows movement while keeping water out.
What is included
Chimney flashing parts
Chimney saddle
Water and debris are steered around the chimney and covered with metal or membrane and shingles.
Side flashing
Step pieces up both sides of the chimney are replaced one piece per course.
Counter flashing
Cap flashing is cut into the masonry instead of caulked to the face.
Apron flashing
The base flashing on the front is renewed to shed water onto the roof.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Randolph, NJ
Full replacement of chimney flashing is the answer when the existing pieces are rusted, missing or held on by caulk. If the original flashing was installed incorrectly, more sealant cannot correct the lapping. Adding a cricket during replacement solves the uphill pooling at the same time.
Chimney flashing has to tolerate mortar and moisture for decades. 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 Randolph, NJ
A chimney can leak at the roof line or from the top down, and the fix is different for each. A leak that keeps going after the rain ends often means water stored in the masonry is draining out. Testing the flashing and the masonry separately pins down the source.
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. Those repairs are often done alongside new flashing so the whole leak is solved.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Chimney flashing calls in Randolph come mostly from older brick chimneys that have been reflashed with tar more than once. From Randolph out to neighboring towns such as Dover, Wharton, Succasunna and Rockaway, older brick chimneys tend to need counter flashing reset into worn mortar, while newer framed chases more often leak at the chase top or siding joint, which is why the roofer starts by looking at how the chimney is built.
Need chimney flashing repair around Randolph? Call (973) 858-1826 for a Randolph roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Randolph
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 Randolph, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Randolph know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
What are the signs of a chimney flashing leak?
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. On the roof, rusted metal, loose counter flashing and heavy tar are warning signs. A roofer reached at (973) 858-1826 can find the source.
What is a chimney cricket?
A cricket, also called a saddle, is a small peaked structure built behind a chimney on the uphill side. It diverts runoff, leaves and snow to each side so they do not collect behind the chimney. Codes generally require one once a chimney is wider than about thirty inches across the slope.
Who fixes chimney flashing, a roofer or a mason?
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. Damage to the crown, brick or mortar beyond that is masonry work.
Is it possible to just reseal chimney flashing?
Minor problems such as a loose counter flashing piece can be refastened into the mortar. When the metal is rusted, missing pieces or was never installed correctly, replacement is the lasting fix. More sealant over a failing system buys a little time at best.
What causes a chimney leak if the flashing is new?
Water can still get in through the top or sides of the chimney. Rain soaks through porous brick or a cracked crown and runs down inside the chimney. Sometimes moisture inside the flue itself is to blame. A call to (973) 858-1826 is a good next step.
More questions? Call (973) 858-1826
Other services that may help
Flashing Repair
Repairing step, counter, kickout, valley and drip edge flashing where roofs meet walls and edges, 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
Spot repairs for wind, hail and age damage on an asphalt shingle roof, matched to the shingles already on the house.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesNeed chimney flashing repair in Randolph, NJ?
Call (973) 858-1826 for a local roofer in Randolph and nearby towns.