Cap flashing
Counter flashing that has pulled out of the mortar is reset into a fresh reglet so water cannot run behind the step flashing.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Flashing Repair Camden, NJ
Leaks at the roof line in Camden usually come from flashing that has pulled loose, rusted through or been patched with tar, with step and counter flashing instead of caulk. Call (856) 353-2481 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. Over time, sealant dries out, nails back out, metal rusts and the counter flashing pulls out of the mortar joints.
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. On the uphill side, a cricket keeps water from pooling against the chimney, which matters most on wide chimneys.
A Camden 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.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Camden chimney sweep may also recommend chimney leak repair or chimney waterproofing.
Looking for Camden chimney flashing repair? Call (856) 353-2481 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Camden.
Call nowThe process
The flashing repair process
Flashing repair is about rebuilding the layers so water always runs over a joint, never into it.
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. It makes sure the repair matches the actual source.
Strip failed material
The technician strips off old roofing cement and corroded pieces down to the roof deck. Soft or rotted sheathing under the old flashing is repaired first.
Install step flashing
New step flashing is installed piece by piece along the sides, interwoven with each course of shingles. The front apron and a self-adhering membrane around the chimney add a second line of defense.
Seal into the mortar
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.
Divert uphill water
Where water pools behind the chimney, a cricket, also called a saddle, is built to shed it. It solves the most common cause of leaks on the uphill face.
What is included
Flashing work a chimney sweep handles
Chimney saddles
A saddle is framed on the uphill side to split water and snow around the chimney.
Apron flashing
The apron across the downhill face is replaced or resealed to keep the front edge watertight.
Side flashing
Rusted or missing step flashing along the sides is replaced with every piece lapped correctly.
Fixing old patches
Failed tar patches are stripped and replaced with real flashing before new metal goes on.
Related service
Chimney Flashing Replacement Camden, 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. A common shortcut is to reuse the old flashing during a reroof, and that often leads to a leak within a few years.
In Camden, the easiest moment to replace chimney flashing is while the roof is already torn off. 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 Camden, many chimney leaks trace back to flashing that was patched with tar instead of replaced. Across Camden and nearby places including Woodlynne, Collingswood, Oaklyn and Merchantville, the chimneys that leak most are the ones where water and snow collect on the uphill side, and fixing it before the decking rots keeps the repair small.
For chimney flashing repair in Camden, NJ or nearby towns like Woodlynne, Collingswood, Oaklyn and Merchantville, call (856) 353-2481 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Camden
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, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in Camden, NJ schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why not wait
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Camden
Chimney sweeps in Camden know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Flashing Repair questions
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. Building codes generally require a cricket on chimneys more than about thirty inches wide that do not meet the ridge.
Do I need new chimney flashing when I replace my roof?
The roof replacement is the best time to do it. Step flashing is woven in with the shingles, so the roof has to be open to replace it properly anyway. Reusing old flashing under new shingles is one of the most common causes of chimney leaks on newer roofs.
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. It is also possible the water is entering higher up, at the crown or through the brick, and only showing at the flashing.
How do I know if my chimney flashing is leaking?
Stains beside the chimney, dark wood in the attic and loose or corroded metal at the roof line are the usual giveaways. 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.
Can chimney flashing be repaired, or does it need replacing?
That comes down to the condition of the metal. When only the counter flashing has come loose, resetting it is often enough. Corroded, damaged or heavily patched flashing is usually replaced outright.
More questions? Call (856) 353-2481
Often needed together
Chimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Waterproofing masonry chimneys with vapor-permeable repellents, not paint, 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, so the chimney stays dry and safe to use.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesGet chimney flashing repair help in Camden
Call (856) 353-2481 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Camden, NJ.
(856) 353-2481
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