Leaks at the joint between roof and chimney, wall or vent
Chimney Flashing Leaks in Clark, NJ
Is the stain right beside the chimney? Flashing leaks in Clark, NJ start where shingles meet brick, siding or a vent pipe, and the metal there is the usual suspect.
If it fits, call (732) 574-5073 and name the chimney face or wall the stain follows.
Trace the stain back to the metal
Measure from the stain to the nearest wall or chimney and write the distance down.
From the attic, look at the boards around the chimney for dark streaks.
From the ground, scan the chimney base with binoculars.
Hand the roofer the measurement, the photos and the date.
On a visit
Call (732) 574-5073, say which chimney face or wall the stain follows, and ask what the contractor's schedule looks like for a visit.
The metal at the chimney, walls and vent pipes, from the roof side.
The attic side of the same spots, for staining and damp insulation.
The shingles that tuck beneath or beside the flashing.
Whether the metal can be reset or needs replacing.
Repair options in plain words, and who handles any paperwork.
Leave the room first if
- Water is reaching a fixture or an outlet: step out and phone 911 from a dry room.
- A ceiling is bulging beside the chimney: clear the room below and dial 911.
- A wire down by the roof or chimney: keep 30 feet off. Dial 911 or reach PSE&G, 1-800-436-7734.
- Slippery or steep shingles are no place to inspect metal. Dial 911 if someone has fallen.
Short answers
- How loud is a flashing leak, 1 to 10?
- Loud, 8 to 10: a wet fixture or a bulging ceiling. Step out and phone 911. Middling, 4 to 7: the chimney stain keeps spreading after storms, so dial (732) 574-5073 this week. Quiet, 1 to 3: one old stain that has stayed dry through several rains. Photograph it and keep watching.
- Why is flashing the first suspect?
- The shingle makers' trade group names flashings among the roof's most vulnerable points, and advises looking carefully at the underside at every flashing point for water stains. FEMA's shingle fact sheet adds a call for close attention to roof-to-wall flashing.
- Can I see flashing from the ground?
- Often, with binoculars. Look for a gap between the metal and the brick, or for metal that is bent, rusted or lifted. Staying on the ground matters: New York State's health department advises skipping ladders in wet or icy weather.
- Does this cover Cranford and Linden too?
- Yes. Cranford roofing notes and Linden roofing notes each have a page. In the county's profile, 75.5 percent of Cranford's housing stock was built before 1960 (ACS 2013-2017 estimates).
If it is not the flashing
Shingle damage elsewhere is on the roof repair page. Ice near the chimney in winter fits ice dam leaks. Wind that bent the metal fits storm damage.
Signs to look for
- A ceiling or wall stain close to a chimney or an outside wall
- Dark streaks on the attic boards around the chimney
- A visible gap between metal and brick or siding
- Rust, bends or a lifted edge on the metal around a chimney or vent
- Damp insulation near the chimney chase in the attic
How a flashing repair unfolds
The measurement you took beside the chimney starts the call.
On the visit, the roofer looks at the metal from the roof side and the boards from below.
The repair is usually targeted: resetting a piece, replacing a strip, or redoing a joint where the metal meets masonry.
A follow-up photo after the next hard rain shows whether the stain stayed dry.
Where the metal meets the brick
A close view of step flashing: overlapping metal pieces stepping up along a brick chimney wall where it meets a shingle slope.
Each piece laps the next, so water runs down over metal instead of behind it. A gap or a lifted edge is where the stain begins.
Records for flashing work
The state's ordinary maintenance list covers repair of existing roof covering on freestanding one- and two-family homes. For metal work at a chimney, ask the town's building office; masonry on the chimney itself is a separate job. See the contractor checks page.
Ask about a visit
Keep the address, a rough roof age and a few ground-level photos nearby, then call (732) 574-5073. Tenants hand the owner a dated photo first. Towns: Clark, Cranford and Linden.
