Apron flashing
The lower apron is reset over the shingles where water from the chimney face drains off.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Stratford, NJ
A chimney sweep in Stratford can repair or replace the flashing where the chimney passes through the roof, the most common source of chimney leaks into attics and ceilings, with step and counter flashing instead of caulk. Call (856) 441-8084 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. The chimney and the roof move independently as the house settles and as temperatures swing, so the seal between them has to allow for movement. Years of sun, freezing and thawing loosen the counter flashing, rust thin metal and dry out every bead of caulk.
Proper flashing has a few distinct parts. Step flashing interlocks with the shingles on each side, and counter flashing is tucked into a cut in the mortar and folded down over it. On the uphill side, a cricket keeps water from pooling against the chimney, which matters most on wide chimneys.
When you call about a flashing leak in Stratford, a few details help. Mention where the water shows up, how often it leaks and how old the roof is. If you can see black tar smeared around the chimney, say so, because that usually means earlier patches have already failed.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Stratford chimney sweep may also recommend chimney leak repair or chimney waterproofing.
Need chimney flashing repair in Stratford? Call (856) 441-8084 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
Here is how a chimney technician typically handles a flashing repair.
Check the flashing
Each part of the flashing is inspected, along with the condition of the surrounding roofing. The roof deck under the flashing is checked for soft spots.
Test for leaks
Flashing leaks can be confused with crown, cap or brick leaks, so other sources are ruled out. That keeps you from paying for new flashing when the leak is somewhere else.
Clear the old work
The technician strips off old roofing cement and corroded pieces down to the roof deck. Any rotted decking found underneath is replaced before new flashing goes on.
Weave in new flashing
New step flashing is installed piece by piece along the sides, interwoven with each course of shingles. A front apron and a waterproof underlayment complete the lower layers.
Set counter flashing
The top layer is set into the masonry itself, overlapping the step flashing below. The metal is chosen to last, with copper or coated steel used where the flashing meets mortar.
Add a cricket
On wide chimneys, a cricket is framed and flashed on the uphill side so water and snow are split around the chimney. It keeps debris and ice from building up behind the chimney.
What is included
Flashing work a chimney sweep handles
Chimney saddles
Missing or failed crickets are built or rebuilt and flashed so debris and ice stop collecting there.
Tar patch removal
Layers of roofing cement and caulk from earlier patch jobs are removed before new metal goes on.
Counter flashing
The top layer of flashing is renewed and properly let into the mortar joints which closes the most common gap.
Step flashing
Rusted or missing step flashing along the sides is replaced to stop leaks along the sides of the chimney.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Stratford, NJ
Full replacement is the better choice when flashing is corroded, loose along much of its length or buried under layers of failed tar. Replacement means removing everything down to the roof deck and installing new step flashing, counter flashing, an apron and, where needed, a cricket. Reusing worn flashing under new shingles is one of the most frequent causes of chimney leaks on newer roofs.
If you are replacing the roof on a Stratford home, that is the ideal time to replace the chimney flashing too. The step flashing has to be woven in with the new shingles, so the timing between the roofer and the chimney work matters. While everything is exposed, a quick look at the crown, cap and upper mortar joints can save a second trip onto the roof.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Around Stratford, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. Homes in Stratford and nearby towns like Somerdale, Lindenwold, Echelon and Magnolia see the same seasonal cycle of heat, cold, rain and snow that loosens counter flashing and dries out sealant, which is why a real flashing repair outlasts another round of tar.
For chimney flashing repair in Stratford, NJ or nearby towns like Somerdale, Lindenwold, Echelon and Magnolia, call (856) 441-8084 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Stratford
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. That is why chimney cleaning in Stratford is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Stratford
Chimney sweeps in Stratford know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQ
Why does my chimney flashing keep leaking after it was sealed?
Caulk and roofing tar only seal the surface, and they crack and pull loose as the chimney and roof expand and contract. The real issue is usually the flashing layers underneath, not the bead on top. It is also possible the water is entering higher up, at the crown or through the brick, and only showing at the flashing.
Should I repair or replace my chimney flashing?
That comes down to the condition of the metal. When only the counter flashing has come loose, resetting it is often enough. If it is rusted through, badly bent or buried under old tar, replacement is the better value.
Do I need new chimney flashing when I replace my roof?
The roof replacement is the best time to do it. Since step flashing is layered with the shingles, replacing it later means disturbing the new roof. Old flashing reused under a new roof often leaks within a few years.
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. Wide chimneys block a lot of runoff, and without a cricket that water sits against the flashing. Common building codes call for a cricket on chimneys wider than about thirty inches, unless the chimney sits at the ridge.
What are the signs of bad chimney flashing?
Stains beside the chimney, dark wood in the attic and loose or corroded metal at the roof line are the usual giveaways. A leak in the firebox is more likely the cap or crown, while a leak along the ceiling beside the chimney is more often the flashing. Testing with a hose confirms which part is leaking.
More questions? Call (856) 441-8084
Other services that may help
Chimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Waterproofing masonry chimneys with vapor-permeable repellents, not paint, to slow freeze-thaw damage and spalling.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Fixing cracked, thin or crumbling chimney crowns, with a proper overhang and drip edge.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Repairs for the masonry, crown, flashing and flue of a damaged chimney, matched to what an inspection actually finds.
Learn more
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Call (856) 441-8084 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Stratford, NJ.
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