Apron flashing
Front flashing is renewed so runoff clears the chimney with the counter flashing lapped over it.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Manville, NJ
Leaks at the roof line in Manville usually come from flashing that has pulled loose, rusted through or been patched with tar, so the joint sheds water the way it was designed to. One call to (908) 569-8904 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. 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.
Good flashing is a system, not a single strip of metal. 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. On the uphill side, a cricket keeps water from pooling against the chimney, which matters most on wide chimneys.
Before the visit, a little information speeds things up. 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 Manville chimney sweep may also recommend chimney leak repair or chimney waterproofing.
Looking for Manville chimney flashing repair? Call (908) 569-8904 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Manville.
Call nowThe process
How chimney flashing repair works
Flashing repair is about rebuilding the layers so water always runs over a joint, never into it.
Look at every side
Each part of the flashing is inspected, along with the condition of the surrounding roofing. Where possible, the attic is checked for wet or damaged decking.
Confirm the source
A water test may be used to confirm the flashing is really the problem. That keeps you from paying for new flashing when the leak is somewhere else.
Strip failed material
Failed sealant and damaged flashing come off so the new work starts on a clean, sound surface. Soft or rotted sheathing under the old flashing is repaired first.
Weave in new 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.
Cut a reglet
The top layer is set into the masonry itself, overlapping the step flashing below. Surface-mounted flashing held on by caulk alone is avoided because it fails quickly.
Build a saddle
On wide chimneys, a cricket is framed and flashed on the uphill side so water and snow are split around the chimney. That removes the spot where water sits and soaks into the flashing.
What is included
What flashing repair covers
Counter flashing
Loose counter flashing is replaced and set into the masonry so water cannot run behind the step flashing.
Side flashing
Side flashing is rebuilt piece by piece with the shingles so water runs down the roof instead of under it.
Chimney saddles
A cricket is added behind a wide chimney or one where water pools to end leaks on the high side.
Fixing old patches
Old sealant repairs are cleaned off and the joint is flashed properly.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Manville, 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 Manville homeowners planning a new roof, it is worth asking that the chimney flashing be replaced at the same time. Plan it so the masonry side of the job, cutting the reglet and setting counter flashing, happens while the shingles are going on. It is also a good time to have the crown and mortar checked, since the roof around the chimney is already open.
Local help
Chimney Flashing Repair Near Me
Flashing leaks in Manville often show up after a big storm, heavy snow or a roof replacement that reused the old chimney flashing. From Manville out to neighboring communities such as Finderne, Somerville, Franklin Center and Millstone, 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 Manville? Call (908) 569-8904 for a Manville chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
Chimneys in this climate
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. That is why chimney cleaning in Manville is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Manville
Chimney sweeps in Manville 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
Can chimney flashing be repaired, or does it need replacing?
That comes down to the condition of the metal. 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.
Do I need new chimney flashing when I replace my roof?
The roof replacement is the best time to do it. 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.
What are the signs of bad chimney flashing?
The most common sign is a water stain on the ceiling or wall right next to the chimney, or wet wood beside the chimney in the attic. Water inside the fireplace points higher up, while water along the chimney chase or ceiling points to the roof joint. A controlled water test settles it.
Why did caulking my chimney flashing not stop the leak?
Caulk and roofing tar only seal the surface, and they crack and pull loose as the chimney and roof expand and contract. If the step or counter flashing is missing, rusted or installed wrong, no amount of sealant will fix it. The leak may also be coming from the crown, cap or brick, which no flashing repair will touch.
Why would my chimney need a cricket?
A cricket, also called a saddle, is a small peaked structure built on the uphill side of a chimney to split water and snow around it. 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 (908) 569-8904
Related services
Chimney Leak Repair
Stopping chimney leaks at the source, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Treating chimney brick and mortar with a breathable water repellent, as the last step in keeping a chimney dry.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Repairing the concrete slab that caps the top of the chimney, with a proper overhang and drip edge.
Learn moreChimney Repair
Repairs for the masonry, crown, flashing and flue of a damaged chimney, so the chimney stays dry and safe to use.
Learn more
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