Where roofs meet chimneys, walls, vents and skylights
Flashing and Chimney Leaks in Rahway, NJ
A stain beside the chimney, water along a sidewall or a loose strip of metal at a vent: flashing and chimney leaks in Rahway, NJ happen where the roof meets something else. Call (732) 487-3991 and a local roofer can plan a look at those joints.
Safety first, before the roof
- A line hangs low by the chimney or lies in the yard: keep everyone away and treat it as live. PSE&G handles reports at 1-800-436-7734, and 911 will also send help.
- Bricks have shifted or the chimney leans: keep everyone out of the yard beside it, and call 911 when a piece has already come down.
- A ceiling beside the chimney sags or runs with water: keep out of the room under it. Leave and call 911 when it starts to come down.
- The plan is to climb a ladder to caulk a joint: stay on the ground. The National Park Service says not to depend on caulk to do what metal flashing does better.
Leaks that start next to a joint
A stain with no joint nearby belongs to roof leak repair. Water at the roof edge in winter points to ice dam damage. A flat roof meeting a brick wall is part of flat roof repair.
Reseal a joint or rebuild the flashing
A short gap filled with old caulk may need nothing more than a metal patch.
Flashing nailed into mortar, rusted through or missing a kick-out piece usually needs rebuilding in metal. Ask whether the work is at the chimney alone or along the whole sidewall, and ask for photos of each joint.
Wind-driven rain and the March normal
Newark's March normal is 4.13 inches of rain, and spring storms often arrive with wind. The Building America guide says peeling paint or staining on wood siding shows water entry quickly, while vinyl, fiber cement and brick can mask it for years, so a look at the walls beside the roof is worth the time.
Questions people bring to this job
How urgent is a flashing leak on the ten-step scale?
Steps 8 to 10: a leaning chimney, a sagging ceiling or a wire down. Back away and phone 911 or PSE&G, then call (732) 487-3991 once everyone is safe. Steps 4 to 7: a chimney-side stain that grows after rain, so call this week. Steps 1 to 3: an old stain with a dry attic. Pencil its edge and watch it.
Why do joints leak before the open roof does?
ARMA's post-storm release names flashings as the most exposed points on a roof. Water has to be turned aside at any joint where roofing meets a chimney, wall or vent, and the Building America guide notes that flashing is required at all roof-wall intersections.
Does caulk hold up as a flashing repair?
The National Park Service's roofing page says not to depend on caulks, sealants or goop to do what metal flashing can do better. Its example is a groove cut into brick with flashing nailed into the mortar joints, a method that lasted only a few years. It advises a yearly look for gaps, cracks or missing flashing.
What is kick-out flashing?
Where a sloped roof ends against a sidewall, a kick-out piece turns the water into the gutter. The Building America guide calls it a critical part of step flashing and notes that siding like vinyl, fiber cement or brick veneer can hide the damage for years when it is missing.
Do older Rahway houses leak at the chimney more often?
No source counts chimney leaks by town. Census figures show 48 percent of Rahway's homes were built before 1960, and joints on an older roof have had more winters. A roofer can say what shape the flashing is in on your house.
Does a flashing call reach Linden, Roselle, Carteret and Iselin?
Yes. Flashing calls come from Linden roofing, Roselle roofing, Carteret roofing and Iselin roofing as well as Rahway. Call (732) 487-3991 with the address and which joint you think is leaking.
What changes a flashing quote
- The number of joints: chimney, sidewalls, vents, skylights, valleys.
- The chimney material and the state of its mortar.
- The flashing metal and how much of it has to come off.
- Whether the siding beside the roof has to be lifted.
- The roof height and pitch.
- Ask for a photo of each joint before and after the work.
Shortcuts that lead back to the same leak
- Smearing caulk over a gap.The National Park Service says metal does the job better, so ask for metal flashing.
- Ignoring the wall below the roof edge.Staining may show up there before it shows on the ceiling, so look for peeling paint.
- Skipping the yearly look.The NPS page advises checking every year for gaps, cracks and missing pieces, so put it on the calendar.
Clues on the roof and indoors
- A stain on the wall or ceiling next to the chimney
- Peeling paint or dark streaks on siding where a roof meets a wall
- Metal strips standing away from the chimney, or gaps filled with old caulk
- Cracked mortar or loose bricks at the base of the chimney
- A drip only during wind-driven rain, from one side of the house
Records for joint repairs
Keep the photos of each joint with the written contract. Contract basics and each town's building office are on the hiring checks page.
Ready when you are
Have the street address ready, along with what is visible from the ground and roughly how old the roof is. Renters: the landlord makes the roof decisions, so tell the landlord.