Crickets
Missing or failed crickets are built or rebuilt and flashed to end leaks on the high side.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Hightstown, NJ
A Hightstown chimney technician can reset loose flashing, replace rusted pieces and add a cricket where water piles up behind the chimney, so the joint sheds water the way it was designed to. Call (609) 834-0024 to reach a local chimney sweep.
Flashing is the layered metal seal around the base of a chimney, and it is behind more chimney leaks than any other part. Because masonry and roof framing expand, contract and settle at different rates, a rigid seal will crack, which is why flashing is built in overlapping layers. Years of sun, freezing and thawing loosen the counter flashing, rust thin metal and dry out every bead of caulk.
A correctly flashed chimney uses several pieces that work together. Along the sides, individual step flashing pieces are layered with the shingles, while counter flashing is let into the mortar joints and lapped over them. The low side gets an apron, and the high side gets a back pan or, on wider chimneys, a cricket that splits the water around the chimney.
A Hightstown chimney sweep will want to know a few things about the leak. It helps to know the age of the roof, which side of the chimney the stain is on and whether it only leaks during heavy rain or snowmelt. Visible tar or silicone around the base of the chimney is a sign someone has patched it before, which is worth mentioning.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney flashing repair in Hightstown, NJ can go hand in hand with chimney leak repair and chimney waterproofing.
Dealing with this in Hightstown, NJ right now? Call (609) 834-0024 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a flashing repair
The goal is a joint that sheds water without relying on sealant.
Check the flashing
The technician checks the apron, step flashing, counter flashing and back pan or cricket, plus the shingles around the chimney. The attic side of the roof deck is checked for rot as well.
Rule out the masonry
Flashing leaks can be confused with crown, cap or brick leaks, so other sources are ruled out. It makes sure the repair matches the actual source.
Remove old patches
Old tar, caulk and loose or rusted metal are removed, and the shingles around the chimney are lifted where needed. Soft or rotted sheathing under the old flashing is repaired first.
Install step flashing
Step flashing goes in one piece per shingle course, so every piece overlaps the one below. A front apron and a waterproof underlayment complete the lower layers.
Seal into the mortar
A groove, called a reglet, is cut into the mortar joints, and counter flashing is set into it and folded down over the step flashing. Copper and coated steel are common choices, since bare aluminum can corrode where it meets mortar.
Build a saddle
Where water pools behind the chimney, a cricket, also called a saddle, is built to shed it. That removes the spot where water sits and soaks into the flashing.
What is included
Types of flashing repair
Cap flashing
Counter flashing that has pulled out of the mortar is reset into a fresh reglet so water cannot run behind the step flashing.
Side flashing
Rusted or missing step flashing along the sides is replaced to stop leaks along the sides of the chimney.
Tar patch removal
Failed tar patches are stripped and replaced with real flashing before new metal goes on.
Apron flashing
The lower apron is reset over the shingles with the counter flashing lapped over it.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Hightstown, NJ
Chimney flashing replacement makes sense when the metal is rusted through, the counter flashing has pulled out of the mortar or the flashing has been patched so many times that nothing sound is left. The old metal comes off completely, and new step flashing, counter flashing, apron and cricket are installed as a system. Many roofers reuse old chimney flashing when they replace shingles, which is a common reason new roofs leak at the chimney.
In Hightstown, the easiest moment to replace chimney flashing is while the roof is already torn off. Plan it so the masonry side of the job, cutting the reglet and setting counter flashing, happens while the shingles are going on. With the roof open, it makes sense to check the rest of the chimney top as well.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Around Hightstown, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. Homes in Hightstown and nearby towns like Twin Rivers, Cranbury, Princeton Meadows and Concordia see the same seasonal cycle of heat, cold, rain and snow that loosens counter flashing and dries out sealant, so proper step and counter flashing, and a cricket where needed, is worth doing right once.
Searching for chimney flashing repair near me from Hightstown or Twin Rivers, Cranbury, Princeton Meadows and Concordia? Call (609) 834-0024 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Hightstown, NJ schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why act early
Safer fires
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Familiar with local homes
Chimney sweeps in Hightstown know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Straight answers
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
Why does my chimney flashing keep leaking after it was sealed?
Surface sealant cannot keep up with the movement between masonry and roof framing, so it fails. The real issue is usually the flashing layers underneath, not the bead on top. The leak may also be coming from the crown, cap or brick, which no flashing repair will touch.
Should I repair or replace my chimney flashing?
That comes down to the condition of the metal. If the flashing is in good shape but the counter flashing has pulled out of the mortar, it can often be reset and resealed. Once flashing has rust holes or years of patches, replacing it is more reliable than another repair.
Should chimney flashing be replaced with a new roof?
Replacing it during a reroof is strongly recommended. Step flashing is woven in with the shingles, so the roof has to be open to replace it properly anyway. Many leaks on newer roofs come from reused chimney flashing.
What are the signs of bad chimney flashing?
Look for stains near the chimney inside, damp or rotted framing in the attic and flashing that is lifted, rusted or covered in tar outside. Water inside the fireplace points higher up, while water along the chimney chase or ceiling points to the roof joint. Testing with a hose confirms which part is leaking.
Why would my chimney need a cricket?
Also known as a saddle, a cricket is a small roof section behind the chimney that diverts runoff to either side. On a wide chimney, the back side becomes a dam where water and debris sit and eventually leak through. For wider chimneys that do not sit on the ridge, a cricket is usually required by code.
More questions? Call (609) 834-0024
Related services
Chimney Leak Repair
Tracing chimney leaks to the real entry point and sealing it, whether the drip shows up in the attic, the ceiling or the firebox.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Waterproofing masonry chimneys with vapor-permeable repellents, not paint, applied after repairs so the brick sheds water but can still dry out.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Fixing cracked, thin or crumbling chimney crowns, so water stops soaking into the masonry from the top.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Fixing cracked crowns, failing mortar, loose brick, leaky flashing and damaged flue tiles, matched to what an inspection actually finds.
Learn more
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Call (609) 834-0024 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Hightstown, NJ.
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