A chimney cricket is a small, peaked structure built on the uphill side of a chimney to split water and debris, sending it around the stack instead of directly into it. Flashing is the layered metal and sealant system that ties your chimney to the roofing surface. Together, they form a water-management team: the cricket handles volume, the flashing handles the seal. Without both working in sync, roof leaks around the chimney become almost inevitable, especially in climates with heavy rain, snow load roof issues, or freeze-thaw roof damage.
On asphalt shingles, metal roofing, slate roofing, tile roofing, or cedar shake roofing, the principles are the same. Water must move downhill with minimal turbulence, and transitions must be sealed in a way that accommodates thermal expansion, wind uplift, and settling. If your home has a history of chimney leaks, ice dams along the back of the chimney, or repeated emergency roof repair calls after storms, a missing or undersized cricket and fatigued flashing are often the culprits.
Most homeowners first notice a ceiling stain or a musty smell in a closet near the chimney. In the attic, you might see darkened sheathing, rusty nail shanks, or damp insulation behind the stack. Outside, look for rust streaks on counterflashing, cracked mortar where step flashing tucks into the brick, or sealant slopped over the base of the chimney. Those band-aids hide, but do not fix, flashing damage.
During roof inspection services, I check for a few red flags that point to roof leaks tied to cricket or flashing problems. If the chimney width is 30 inches or more on the upslope side and there is no cricket, water volume is likely overwhelming the back pan. On steep-slope residential roofing with asphalt shingles, ice dams often start behind a chimney, then creep under loose step flashing. On metal roofing, thermal movement can break weak sealant joints around penetrations. Poor drainage shows up as granule loss, moss and algae growth on roofs, clogged gutters, or debris packed in the valley created by the chimney shoulder. Any of these accelerates roof aging.
Other telltales include curling or buckling shingles uphill of the chimney, punctures and penetrations from old satellite mounts in the same area, and wind damage to roof edges that lift flashing courses. If you see any of it, schedule roof repair soon rather than waiting for storm damage roof repair after a soaking rain.
Roof repair cost around a chimney is a story of labor, not just metal and shingles. Expect a small tune-up of step flashing and sealant to start in the low hundreds. A proper rebuild with a new chimney cricket, step and counterflashing, and shingle tie-in can range from roughly 800 to 2,500 dollars on typical asphalt shingles. Slate, tile roofing, or cedar shake roofing will run higher due to fragile materials and slower work, and metal roofing often requires custom-bent pans. Roofing labor cost varies by market, roof pitch, access, and how many layers of old material must be removed.
If the leak has been active for a while, budget for sheathing replacement or interior drywall repair. That can push the project into the 2,500 to 6,000 dollar range. When a roof is near the end of its service life, it is fair to compare repair vs roof replacement cost. If more than 25 percent of the slope needs replacement, or the shingles around the chimney are brittle throughout, a targeted new roof installation on that slope can be smarter. For bigger projects, some contractors offer roof financing options with fixed terms. The average roof cost per square foot for full replacement ranges widely, often 4 to 9 dollars for asphalt shingles and higher for premium systems, but a local bid tied to your roof’s pitch and details is what matters.
There are four parts to chimney flashing that must be installed in the right order. First, the base flashing at the bottom of the chimney catches and directs water into the field of shingles. Second, step flashing pieces interlace with each shingle course along the sides, each piece overlapping the one below to shed water. Third, the back pan stretches across the uphill side of the chimney, sometimes in a single bent piece on asphalt shingles, sometimes with saddle support. Fourth, counterflashing is embedded into mortar joints or reglets in the chimney, then hemmed over the step flashing to cover the vertical leg and create roofing contractor Chaska a lasting seal.
Now add the chimney cricket. For chimneys 30 inches or wider, most codes and manufacturer guidelines call for a cricket. The cricket’s ridge should be at least a few inches high, set to split water evenly. In snow country, sizing taller helps reduce ice dams. On flat roofing materials like TPO, EPDM, or PVC, the principle is the same but the detailing changes: welded membranes, crickets built with tapered insulation, and prefabricated corners replace shingle step flashing. In wildfire-prone areas, use non-combustible metals and consider wildfire-resistant roofing assemblies that limit ember intrusion at the flashing and cricket seams.
Handy homeowners can replace a piece or two of bent step flashing if shingles are still pliable and the pitch is manageable. The risks rise fast on steep slopes, brittle shingles, tall chimneys, and old mortar joints. You cannot simply smear sealant over failed counterflashing and expect it to last. Mortar must be cut cleanly, counterflashing set at the right depth, and joints sealed with the correct elastic sealant, not general-purpose caulk. Safety matters too, from roof jacks to fall protection. A bad DIY attempt often leads to emergency roof repair after the next storm.
For multi-family roofing or commercial roofing where penetrations multiply, the detailing and liability increase. Industrial roofing solutions on low-slope roofs rely on membrane-specific chemistries and heat-welded seams. If you are weighing the repair as part of a larger roof maintenance plan, fold it into a preventive roof maintenance plan that also covers roof cleaning, gutter service, and annual inspections.
Ask to see photos of the contractor’s chimney flashing and cricket work, not just shingle spreads. A good roofer will describe step flashing sequencing, counterflashing cuts, and how they handle snow country details and ice dams. Compare bids that clearly list line items: tear-off, step flashing count, counterflashing in mortar joints, cricket framing, underlayment upgrades, and disposal. If two quotes differ dramatically, the lower one may be skipping the cricket or planning surface-applied counterflashing, which rarely holds up. Warranties matter too: roof warranty coverage should specify workmanship on flashing and penetrations for at least a few years, with material warranties tied to the metal used.
If you want a starting point to vet companies, you can check a roofer’s BBB record or scan third-party listings like regional roofing guides. For area-specific service, click to learn more about roof inspection services in Minneapolis or see a contractor profile page with reviews and photos, such as this detailed company listing. These resources help you cross-check licenses, insurance, and real customer feedback.
Most chimney leaks build slowly. A small gap at a mortar joint widens, or wind-driven rain finds a tired shingle. A preventive roof maintenance plan tackles those weak spots each year. Start with roof inspection services every spring or fall, more often after hail damage or wind damage to roof events. A roofer should probe joints gently, lift a shingle course to confirm the presence of step flashing, and verify that the counterflashing is secured in a proper reglet, not surface-glued.
In cold regions, ice and water shield underlayment should extend at least 18 to 24 inches uphill of the chimney and wrap the cricket. Heat cables are a last resort for ice dams; insulation and ventilation improvements work better. Keep gutters clear to reduce backed-up water. Trim trees that shed debris onto the roof, since branches and seed pods can trap moisture behind a chimney shoulder. For eco-friendly roofing features like solar shingles or green roofs near a chimney, plan penetrations, curbs, and water paths carefully so added systems do not overload the cricket with runoff.
Asphalt shingles remain the most common, and they pair well with formed aluminum or steel flashing, though copper outlasts them all if budget allows. Metal roofing needs matching metals for flashing to avoid galvanic reactions and often benefits from taller crickets to handle fast runoff. Slate roofing and tile roofing, whether clay or concrete, demand patience and custom bending, with heavier-gauge metals and carefully fit pans. On cedar shake roofing, wider step flashing pieces and breathable underlayments reduce trapped moisture at the chimney walls.
If you are comparing asphalt shingles vs metal roofing and you have a large chimney on a steep slope, metal sheds water faster and concentrates flow at the cricket. That means the cricket geometry and the back pan must be dead on. For flat roofing materials, tapered insulation crickets eliminate ponding, which is critical to extending roof lifespan and preventing UV degradation of roofing materials around seams.
I have opened walls expecting a chimney problem only to find a skylight leak up slope or a tiny puncture from a nail pop. Water travels along rafters and shows up where you least expect it. Before committing to demolition around the chimney, a thorough water test helps. Start low and move uphill, isolating areas with plastic and a hose. Look for other failure points too: damaged valley metal, flashing damage at a sidewall, or tree damage to roof surfaces that sends water toward the chimney area. A good roofer will rule out those suspects first.
Use this quick list twice a year to catch issues early.
Homeowners ask versions of the same questions every week. Here are straight answers based on what actually holds up on real roofs.
Ask them to photograph each step: lifted shingles that show missing step flashing, the reglet cut for counterflashing, and the cricket framing before shingles go on. If their plan relies on surface-applied metal or lots of sealant, that is a shortcut. A solid scope lists base, step, counterflashing, and back pan with a cricket if the chimney is wide.
Small patches can buy weeks, not years. A proper repair around a chimney should last as long as the surrounding roofing, often 10 to 20 years on asphalt shingles, provided the roof is still in good condition and maintenance continues. Stop-gap sealant blobs dry out in a season or two.
Some bids include a true cricket and reglet-cut counterflashing, others only replace step flashing and smear sealant. Access, pitch, material type, and local roofing labor cost also change the number. Ask each roofer to itemize and specify metals, underlayment, and whether masonry work is included.
That often points to loose counterflashing, a missing end-dam at step flashing, or a too-short back pan. Wind pushes water uphill, so those tiny laps become entry points. Taller crickets and properly hemmed flashings reduce wind intrusion.
If the chimney is under about 30 inches wide on the upslope side, you might get by without one on moderate pitches. In snowy or rainy regions, even smaller stacks benefit from a low-profile cricket to split water and divert debris. Codes and manufacturer instructions often set the minimum, but local weather is the better guide.
Insurance usually covers sudden events like hail damage or a tree impact. Wear and tear, improper installation, or aging sealant are maintenance items. A careful inspection with date-stamped photos helps support a claim if storm damage roof repair is warranted.
Fixing a chimney leak is a chance to correct how your roof handles water at one of its most vulnerable spots. When you rebuild the cricket and flashing, you also address ventilation, underlayment, and drainage that affect the entire system, from residential roofing to larger commercial roofing projects. Get this detail wrong, and you are back to buckets in the living room after the next nor’easter or spring thaw. Get it right, and you extend roof lifespan, reduce emergency roof repair calls, and avoid interior damage that dwarfs the repair bill.
If you are ready to act, line up roof inspection services with a contractor who can show their detail work. Vet credentials, ask the right questions, and make sure your scope includes the full water-management package. That is how you stop chimney leaks for good and keep the rest of your roof doing what it should: quietly protecting your home.