Fixing old patches
Layers of roofing cement and caulk from earlier patch jobs are removed and the joint is flashed properly.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Beachwood, NJ
A chimney sweep in Beachwood can repair or replace the flashing where the chimney passes through the roof, the most common source of chimney leaks into attics and ceilings, so the joint sheds water the way it was designed to. Dial (732) 966-9204 to talk with a local chimney sweep about the flashing.
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. A chimney and a roof never move together perfectly, so the flashing is made of separate overlapping pieces rather than one solid seal. Eventually caulk cracks, fasteners loosen, steel rusts and the top edge of the flashing separates from the brick.
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.
A Beachwood chimney sweep will want to know a few things about the leak. It helps to know the age of the roof, which side of the chimney the stain is on and whether it only leaks during heavy rain or snowmelt. If you can see black tar smeared around the chimney, say so, because that usually means earlier patches have already failed.
Many chimney flashing repair calls in Beachwood also turn up a need for chimney leak repair or chimney waterproofing.
Looking for Beachwood chimney flashing repair? Call (732) 966-9204 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
Each part of the flashing is inspected, along with the condition of the surrounding roofing. The attic side of the roof deck is checked for rot as well.
Test for leaks
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
The technician strips off old roofing cement and corroded pieces down to the roof deck. Damaged roof deck is fixed while it is exposed.
Install step 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.
Seal into the mortar
The top layer is set into the masonry itself, overlapping the step flashing below. Copper and coated steel are common choices, since bare aluminum can corrode where it 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. That removes the spot where water sits and soaks into the flashing.
What is included
Types of flashing repair
Chimney saddles
A cricket is added behind a wide chimney or one where water pools to split water and snow around the chimney.
Apron flashing
The apron across the downhill face is replaced or resealed with the counter flashing lapped over it.
Step flashing
Side flashing is rebuilt piece by piece with the shingles with every piece lapped correctly.
Cap flashing
The top layer of flashing is renewed and properly let into the mortar joints which closes the most common gap.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Beachwood, NJ
When flashing is rusted, bent or covered in years of patches, replacing it outright is usually smarter than another repair. 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.
For Beachwood 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. 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
Around Beachwood, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. Homes in Beachwood and nearby towns like South Toms River, Holiday City South, Toms River and Pine Lake Park see the same seasonal cycle of heat, cold, rain and snow that loosens counter flashing and dries out sealant, and fixing it before the decking rots keeps the repair small.
Need chimney flashing repair around Beachwood? Call (732) 966-9204 for a Beachwood 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: rain and melting snow soak into the crown and joints, then freeze and push them apart, 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 Beachwood is usually booked in the fall, before the first cold night.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Beachwood and nearby towns.
Know what happens next
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Flashing Repair FAQ
What are the signs of bad chimney flashing?
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. Water inside the fireplace points higher up, while water along the chimney chase or ceiling points to the roof joint. Testing with a hose confirms which part is leaking.
What is a chimney 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.
Do I need new chimney flashing when I replace my roof?
Doing it with the new roof is the smart move in most cases. Step flashing is woven in with the shingles, so the roof has to be open to replace it properly anyway. Many leaks on newer roofs come from reused chimney flashing.
Why does my chimney flashing keep leaking after it was sealed?
Surface sealant cannot keep up with the movement between masonry and roof framing, so it fails. When the flashing itself is the problem, sealant just hides it for a season. The leak may also be coming from the crown, cap or brick, which no flashing repair will touch.
Should I repair or replace my chimney flashing?
The answer depends on how much of the flashing is still sound. 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.
More questions? Call (732) 966-9204
Often needed together
Chimney Leak Repair
Stopping chimney leaks at the source, whether the drip shows up in the attic, the ceiling or the firebox.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Treating chimney brick and mortar with a breathable water repellent, applied after repairs so the brick sheds water but can still dry out.
Learn moreChimney Crown Repair
Repairing the concrete slab that caps the top of the chimney, so water stops soaking into the masonry from the top.
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
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesNeed chimney flashing repair in Beachwood, NJ?
Call (732) 966-9204 for a local chimney sweep in Beachwood and nearby towns.
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