Tap Next on the drawing. It stays in view while you read.
Understand your roof
Chimney flashing
Ask your roofer
- Will the counter-flashing be stepped into the mortar joints, or one straight piece?
- My chimney is this wide: do I need a cricket behind it?
Ask them to put the answer in writing.
Why it matters
Tar or caulk around a chimney cracks after a few winters, and water runs down the brick into the attic.
How it should be built
Tap Next on the drawing to see it go together, layer by layer. Use the buttons above it to see the other options.
- Ice & water shield wraps the base.
- Step flashing is woven in with every row of shingles.
- Most roofers use one straight counter-flashing. A great roofer uses stepped counter-flashing, cut into the mortar joints course by course.
- Chimneys over 30″ wide get a cricket behind them to split the water. Switch the width on the drawing to see it.