Side flashing
Loose step flashing is reset or renewed with every piece lapped correctly.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Farmingdale, NJ
Leaks at the roof line in Farmingdale usually come from flashing that has pulled loose, rusted through or been patched with tar, with step and counter flashing instead of caulk. One call to (732) 835-0018 reaches a nearby chimney flashing pro.
The joint where a chimney passes through the roof is one of the most leak-prone spots on any house, and flashing is what keeps it dry. 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 Farmingdale chimney sweep will want to know a few things about the leak. Note whether the stain is on the uphill or downhill side of the chimney, whether it leaks in every rain or only in heavy storms, and when the roof was last replaced. Also mention any tar or caulk patches you can see from the ground, since repeated patching usually means the flashing itself has failed.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney flashing repair in Farmingdale, NJ can go hand in hand with chimney leak repair and chimney waterproofing.
Dealing with this in Farmingdale, NJ right now? Call (732) 835-0018 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
The flashing repair process
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 roof deck under the flashing is checked for soft spots.
Test for leaks
A water test may be used to confirm the flashing is really the problem. It makes sure the repair matches the actual source.
Strip failed material
Failed sealant and damaged flashing come off so the new work starts on a clean, sound surface. Any rotted decking found underneath is replaced before new flashing goes on.
Side flashing
Individual L-shaped step flashing pieces are layered with the shingles up each side of the chimney. The front apron and a self-adhering membrane around the chimney add a second line of defense.
Seal into the mortar
Counter flashing is let into a cut in the mortar joint and lapped over the step flashing so water cannot get behind it. The metal is chosen to last, with copper or coated steel used where the flashing meets mortar.
Divert uphill water
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
Tar patch removal
Layers of roofing cement and caulk from earlier patch jobs are removed before new metal goes on.
Apron flashing
The lower apron is reset over the shingles to keep the front edge watertight.
Crickets
A saddle is framed on the uphill side to split water and snow around the chimney.
Cap flashing
The top layer of flashing is renewed and properly let into the mortar joints so water cannot run behind the step flashing.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Farmingdale, 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. Replacement means removing everything down to the roof deck and installing new step flashing, counter flashing, an apron and, where needed, a cricket. Many roofers reuse old chimney flashing when they replace shingles, which is a common reason new roofs leak at the chimney.
For Farmingdale homeowners planning a new roof, it is worth asking that the chimney flashing be replaced at the same time. Coordinate the chimney sweep and the roofer so the step flashing goes in with the shingles and the counter flashing is set into the brick. 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 Farmingdale, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. From Farmingdale out to neighboring communities such as Ramtown, Tinton Falls, Shark River Hills and East Freehold, freeze-thaw and summer heat both work on the joint between the chimney and the roof, and fixing it before the decking rots keeps the repair small.
Need chimney flashing repair around Farmingdale? Call (732) 835-0018 for a Farmingdale chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a chimney
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: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. That is why chimney cleaning in Farmingdale is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Chimney sweeps in Farmingdale 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.
Common questions about chimney flashing repair
Why did caulking my chimney flashing not stop the leak?
Sealants dry out in the sun and split in the cold, so a leak patched with tar usually comes back. If the step or counter flashing is missing, rusted or installed wrong, no amount of sealant will fix it. Sometimes the source is the masonry or crown above, not the flashing at all.
Do I need new chimney flashing when I replace my roof?
Replacing it during a reroof is strongly recommended. Proper step flashing goes in with the shingles, so it is easiest when they are being replaced. Old flashing reused under a new roof often leaks within a few years.
Can chimney flashing be repaired, or does it need replacing?
What the metal looks like decides that. Sound flashing with a loose top edge can usually be reset into a fresh cut in the mortar. Corroded, damaged or heavily patched flashing is usually replaced outright.
What is a chimney cricket?
Also known as a saddle, a cricket is a small roof section behind the chimney that diverts runoff to either side. Without one, water, leaves and ice collect behind a wide chimney and work their way under the flashing. Building codes generally require a cricket on chimneys more than about thirty inches wide that do not meet the ridge.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
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. 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. A controlled water test settles it.
More questions? Call (732) 835-0018
Often needed together
Chimney Leak Repair
Tracing chimney leaks to the real entry point and sealing it, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Treating chimney brick and mortar with a breathable water repellent, to slow freeze-thaw damage and spalling.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Sealing cracked chimney crowns or rebuilding crumbling ones, before freeze-thaw damage spreads down the chimney.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Chimney repairs from the cap and crown down to the firebox, matched to what an inspection actually finds.
Learn more
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(732) 835-0018
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