Step flashing
Each side gets new step flashing one piece per course.
Roof Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Short Hills, NJ
A roofer in Short Hills 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, so the leak does not come back next season. Call (862) 424-5211 to reach a local roofer.
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. Tar and caulk alone cannot handle that movement for long.
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. 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.
Water near a chimney can also come through the chimney itself. A cracked crown, a missing cap, porous brick or failed mortar joints can soak the masonry, and the water then runs down inside the chimney and shows up exactly where a flashing leak would. A roofer checks the flashing and can point out masonry problems that need a mason.
Depending on what the roofer finds, chimney flashing repair in Short Hills, NJ can go hand in hand with flashing repair and roof leak repair.
Need chimney flashing repair in Short Hills? Call (862) 424-5211 and describe the problem to a roofer who works in Short Hills.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
The work follows the path water takes, front to back.
Find the source
Every side of the chimney is checked, along with the masonry above the roof and the decking around the opening from the attic. That separates true flashing leaks from water coming through the chimney itself.
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. The step flashing is nailed to the roof deck only, never to the brick.
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. Without one, a wide chimney acts like a dam.
Cut in the 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
Counter flashing
Cap flashing is cut into the masonry so it overlaps the step flashing.
Decking repair
Soft sheathing next to the chimney is renewed before the new flashing goes in.
Front flashing
A one-piece apron is installed across the downhill face to shed water onto the roof.
Chimney saddle
A saddle diverts water around the uphill side which stops one of the most common chimney leaks.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Short Hills, NJ
Replacing the flashing outright is the better choice when patches keep failing or the metal has corroded. Patching a system that was installed wrong rarely works, because the problem is in how the pieces overlap. It is also the right moment to add a cricket or back pan.
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 Short Hills, NJ
Chimney leak repair starts by finding out whether water comes through the flashing or through the chimney itself. Flashing leaks show up during rain at the roof line, often worse on the uphill side, while masonry leaks can appear on any side and may continue for a while after the rain stops as soaked brick drains. Hose testing each side and then the chimney top separately settles the question.
Leaks through the chimney body need masonry work rather than flashing. 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. A roofer can point out these problems while checking the flashing.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Chimney flashing calls in Short Hills come mostly from older brick chimneys that have been reflashed with tar more than once. From Short Hills out to neighboring towns such as Springfield, Summit, Vauxhall and Chatham, 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.
For chimney flashing repair in Short Hills, NJ or nearby towns like Springfield, Summit, Vauxhall and Chatham, call (862) 424-5211 to reach a roofer who covers your street.
How the weather here affects roofs around Short Hills
Winters here are long and cold, with snow on the roof for weeks at a time and plenty of nights below freezing. When warm attic air melts the snow, the meltwater runs down and freezes again at the eaves, building ice dams that push water up under the shingles. Strong coastal storms push rain into every weak spot at the flashing and valleys. Most homeowners in Short Hills, NJ have the roof checked in the fall and again after the snow melts.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
A roof problem fixed early rarely spreads to the decking, the insulation or the ceilings.
Roofers who know Short Hills
Local roofers see the same roofs and storm damage across Short Hills and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the roofer about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQ
Is it possible to just reseal chimney flashing?
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.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
Water marks beside the chimney inside the house are the usual first clue. From the attic, stained rafters and decking around the brick confirm water is getting in. On the roof, rusted metal, loose counter flashing and heavy tar are warning signs. A roofer reached at (862) 424-5211 can find the source.
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 diverts runoff, leaves and snow to each side so they do not collect behind the chimney. Wide chimneys need one under most building codes.
Why is my chimney still leaking after new flashing?
When new flashing does not stop the leak, the masonry is the usual suspect. Rain soaks through porous brick or a cracked crown and runs down inside the chimney. Condensation in an unlined or oversized flue can also cause damp spots. Call (862) 424-5211 to have the source traced.
Should a roofer or a mason repair my chimney flashing?
A roofer handles the flashing, because it has to be woven into the roof. Setting the counter flashing into the brick is routine for roofers who do this work. Problems with the chimney itself, like a cracked crown, call for a mason.
More questions? Call (862) 424-5211
Often needed together
Flashing Repair
Flashing repairs at the joints where most roof leaks start, with new metal instead of another layer of caulk.
Learn moreRoof Leak Repair
Finding where water gets through the roof and sealing it at the source, so the stain on the ceiling stops growing.
Learn moreRoof Leak Detection
Pinpointing where water actually enters a roof, even when the stain is far away, so the repair goes in the right place the first time.
Learn moreShingle Roof Repair
Shingle by shingle repairs that keep a sound roof in service, before a small gap turns into a leak.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all roofing servicesTalk to a Short Hills roofer about chimney flashing repair
Call (862) 424-5211 to talk to a roofer serving Short Hills, NJ.