Side flashing
Step pieces up both sides of the chimney are replaced nailed to the deck, not the brick.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Morristown, NJ
A roofer in Morristown 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. Call (862) 363-5004 to reach a local roofer.
Few places on a roof leak as often as the gap around a chimney. 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. That is why a single strip of metal glued to the brick with sealant does not last.
Proper chimney flashing has four main parts. 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.
Not every leak around a chimney is a flashing leak. Brick and mortar absorb rain, and a cracked crown or open joints can let water travel down through the masonry to the roof line. Sorting out which one is leaking avoids paying for the wrong repair.
Chimney Flashing Repair is often paired with flashing repair and roof leak repair, depending on the cause.
Looking for Morristown chimney flashing repair? Call (862) 363-5004 to talk to a local roofer.
Call nowThe process
What happens during chimney flashing repair
The work follows the path water takes, front to back.
Check the joint
The roofer looks at the flashing on all four sides, the mortar joints, the crown and cap and the attic framing around the chimney. A hose test on one side at a time can confirm the source.
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.
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. Nothing is fastened to the masonry at this stage, so the roof and chimney can move.
Build a cricket
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.
Seal the top edge
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
Parts of a chimney flashing job
Rot repair
Soft sheathing next to the chimney is renewed before the new flashing goes in.
Chimney saddle
Water and debris are steered around the chimney which stops one of the most common chimney leaks.
Counter flashing
Counter flashing is set into ground-out mortar joints so it overlaps the step flashing.
Apron flashing
The front of the chimney gets a new apron with counter flashing over it.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Morristown, NJ
Replacing the flashing outright is the better choice when patches keep failing or the metal has corroded. 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.
The metal choice matters around masonry. 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. Matching the metal to the masonry avoids early corrosion.
Related service
Chimney Leak Repair Morristown, 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 Morristown come mostly from older brick chimneys that have been reflashed with tar more than once. Across Morristown and nearby communities including Cedar Knolls, Morris Plains, Whippany and Madison, 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 Morristown, NJ or nearby towns like Cedar Knolls, Morris Plains, Whippany and Madison, call (862) 363-5004 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Morristown
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. That is why roof repair in Morristown is busiest after a hard winter and before the next one.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Morristown
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Morristown and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
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. If the crown, cap or brick is damaged, a mason handles that part.
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 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.
What causes a chimney leak if the flashing is new?
When new flashing does not stop the leak, the masonry is the usual suspect. A cracked crown, a missing cap, open mortar joints or porous brick can let water travel down inside the masonry to the roof line. In some cases, condensation inside the flue is the cause. A call to (862) 363-5004 is a good next step.
What are the signs of a chimney flashing leak?
Stains on the ceiling or wall next to the chimney after rain are the most common sign. In the attic, wet or dark framing around the chimney opening points the same way. Outside, look for loose or rusted flashing and old sealant patches. Call (862) 363-5004 to have a roofer check it.
Is it possible to just reseal chimney flashing?
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. Another coat of tar is a short-term patch.
More questions? Call (862) 363-5004
Other services that may help
Flashing Repair
Flashing repairs at the joints where most roof leaks start, so water runs onto the shingles instead of into the wall.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Stopping water at the pipe boots, flashing, valleys and nail holes where roofs actually leak, with the damage underneath checked too.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
Tracing hidden roof leaks with attic checks, moisture meters, hose testing and infrared scans, so the repair goes in the right place the first time.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Replacing missing, creased or cracked shingles, resealing lifted tabs and fixing popped nails, matched to the shingles already on the house.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Morristown roofer about chimney flashing repair
Call (862) 363-5004 for a local roofer in Morristown and nearby towns.