Counter flashing
New counter flashing is let into the brick so it overlaps the step flashing.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Mahwah, NJ
A Mahwah roofer can rebuild the flashing around a leaking chimney so the joint between brick and shingles sheds water on its own, so the leak does not come back next season. One call to (551) 351-0251 reaches a nearby roofer who handles chimney flashing.
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. 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. Counter flashing is the piece that most often fails or is skipped, replaced by surface-mounted metal and a bead of caulk.
Not every leak around a chimney is a flashing leak. 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.
Chimney Flashing Repair is often paired with flashing repair and roof leak repair, depending on the cause.
Dealing with this in Mahwah, NJ right now? Call (551) 351-0251 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.
Find the source
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. Rotted sheathing next to the chimney is cut out and renewed.
Install the base flashing
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. Building codes call for a cricket behind chimneys wider than about thirty inches across the slope.
Set 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. That two-part design lets the chimney and roof move without tearing the seal.
What is included
Chimney flashing parts
Cricket installation
A saddle diverts water around the uphill side so water cannot pond against the brick.
Decking repair
Soft sheathing next to the chimney is renewed so the shingles have solid nailing.
Front flashing
The base flashing on the front is renewed with counter flashing over it.
Side flashing
Each side gets new step flashing nailed to the deck, not the brick.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Mahwah, 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. It is also the right moment to add a cricket or back pan.
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. Ask which metal the roofer plans to use and why.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Mahwah, NJ
Chimney leak repair starts by finding out whether water comes through the flashing or through the chimney itself. A leak that keeps going after the rain ends often means water stored in the masonry is draining out. Hose testing each side and then the chimney top separately settles the question.
When water comes through the chimney, the repair moves up above the roof. 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. The roofer can spot many of these from the roof and tell you who should fix them.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Chimney flashing calls in Mahwah come mostly from older brick chimneys that have been reflashed with tar more than once. From Mahwah out to neighboring towns such as Ramsey, Allendale, Ringwood and Oakland, 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, so it helps to know which kind you have when you call.
Need chimney flashing repair around Mahwah? Call (551) 351-0251 for a Mahwah roofer who serves the towns around it too.
How the weather here affects roofs around Mahwah
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 Mahwah, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why act early
Less damage
Small roof problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Roofers in Mahwah know the roof types and weather wear common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
What is a chimney cricket?
A cricket, also called a saddle, is a small peaked structure built behind a chimney on the uphill side. Water flowing down the slope hits the cricket and is steered around both sides. Wide chimneys need one under most building codes.
Why is my chimney still leaking after new flashing?
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. Sometimes moisture inside the flue itself is to blame. Call (551) 351-0251 to have the source traced.
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. A roofer reached at (551) 351-0251 can find the source.
Should a roofer or a mason repair my chimney flashing?
A roofer handles the flashing, because it has to be woven into the roof. Cutting the counter flashing into the mortar joint is part of that job. If the crown, cap or brick is damaged, a mason handles that part.
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. 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.
More questions? Call (551) 351-0251
Often needed together
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
Stopping water at the pipe boots, flashing, valleys and nail holes where roofs actually leak, before wet decking and insulation turn into rot.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
Pinpointing where water actually enters a roof, even when the stain is far away, 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, without tearing off the whole roof.
Learn more
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