CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM
At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.
Why Do You Need a Chimney Cricket?
The purpose of your roof is to get water off of it by allowing the water to flow down but when a chimney is present, there is a chance of the flow of water being restricted thus causing potential leaks. A chimney cricket allows such conditions to be avoided by allowing the water to flow around the chimney and off your roof instead of being trapped behind the chimney. This is why is important for a chimney to have a cricket.
There is roofing, then there is innovative roofing. It takes an intelligent roofer to determine every challenge a roof may face and install measures that will counter that challenge. An example of intelligent roofing is using a chimney cricket as a means of waterproofing the chimney. What is a chimney cricket and why is it important?
A chimney cricket or saddle is a triangular ridge similar to a toy roof that transitions horizontally between the peak of the top and the back sidewall of the chimney. The backside wall of the duct creates space for water, snow, and debris to gather, and the saddle solves these problems. The typical chimney flashing is not enough to avert water from leaking inside the inner roof. When water or snow pools on the higher backside of a chimney, they will misbehave and find a way to break the barriers in place. It is where the cricket or saddle in a chimney comes in.
What part of the roof is your chimney located? If installed on the roof slope, this is the kind of information you would want to know. You might be aware of the standard chimney flashing but not aware of what a chimney cricket is. Chimney flashing is critical to the safety and longevity of the roof, and as it is, a chimney cricket or saddle is a superior form of chimney flashing. A rule of thumb is that a chimney should always have a height of at least 3 feet from the base where it meets the roof. The diameter of the base thereby varies from house to house. If the bottom of your chimney is more than 30 cm, then you have a valid reason to worry when heavy rains pound on your roof.
Do you see that triangular-shaped miniature roof that transitions horizontally between the top ridge and the chimney wall? Well, that is a chimney cricket, also known as a chimney saddle. The peak of the cricket should be at par with the height of the roof. However, this is not always the case with some chimney crickets. A typical chimney cricket has a precise wooden frame whose measurements depend on the length of the chimney, the peak of the roof, and the inclination of the roof. So there is not a fit for all chimney crickets sizes. The shell of the wooden frame is then dressed up with a metal sheet (with a drip edge) of your choice which could be; galvanized steel, stainless steel, or aluminum.
It is important to note that the cricket type of flashing cannot work alone as it does not cover the complete length of the backside wall of the chimney. Another complementary type of roof flashing, e.g., step flashing or counter flashing, could be appropriate.
To Protect The Chimney
The walls of the chimney are made from bricks which are a result of baked clay. As rainwater and snow cascade down the roof, the backside wall of the duct is hit rapidly every other time it rains or snows, year in year out. Slowly by slowly, the fabric of the bricks is washed off as deterioration begins. Finally, water starts trickling down the chimney’s flue, forcing a homeowner to act swiftly. Minor chimney repairs are not exorbitantly expensive; any repairs that would have been alienated in the first palace are still inherently costly. A chimney cricket, on the other hand, solves this issue. Instead of water running into the chimney’s walls before diverting off, it now flows freely with no obstructions.
Is A Chimney Cricket Necessary?
Roof repairs and, subsequently, chimney repairs can be a pain and a drag to the progress of a homeowner. Who would not want their roofs and every roof feature to stay intact for as long as possible?
A chimney cricket could be the solution to a durable, long-lasting roof, but we all know the usual damages a roof can sustain because of water damage. The thing is that one should be able to tell apart roof leakage brought about for lack of cricket on the roof and leakage brought about by other factors such as;
As the bricks on the chimney walls are exposed to the elements, they will inevitably dry out and crack at some point. These cracks could serve as a point where water could penetrate through and leaks inside the chimney.
A chimney’s backside gutter and any other flashing in place aside from a chimney cricket are susceptible to damage or looseness. When they damage, water leakage will be unavoidable unless repairs or replacements are carried out.
Chimney crickets are very necessary for roof protection, but it all depends on the owner, the type of the roof, and the chimney’s location.
Roof And Chimney Maintenance
Many homeowners look away from regular roof maintenance when the roof has no apparent damage to warrant a leakage. But remember that any minor damage could potentially blow up so much that it will require a replacement. The clay bricks used to build a chimney are usually durable, but water is its number one enemy.
Even leaves and debris that collect on the duct wall should be cleared off as they may rot and start holding up the water, making the roof and the chimney damp even when there are no rains. As mentioned above, the structure of a chimney does not see eye to eye with water; it is, therefore, essential to always ensure that you apply a water sealant on the chimney walls to prevent water or moisture from sneaking its way into the fabric of the bricks.
Also, keep the walls and the crown of the chimney well cared for and if there are any cracks on any part, make sure they are repaired before they crack any further.
Final Words
The chimney cricket is an important feature to ensure water will properly flow around the chimney instead of being trapped behind it causing potential leaks. Having proper understanding of when a chimney cricket needs to be provided is of utmost importance to any code professional.
CALL OR EMAIL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE – 202-276-5004 FAMILY.ROOFING@YAHOO.COM
The purpose of your roof is to get water off of it by allowing the water to flow down but when a chimney is present, there is a chance of the flow of water being restricted thus causing potential leaks. A chimney cricket allows such conditions to be avoided by allowing the water to flow around the chimney and off your roof instead of being trapped behind the chimney. This is why is important for a chimney to have a cricket.
Roof repairs and, subsequently, chimney repairs can be a pain and a drag to the progress of a homeowner. Who would not want their roofs and every roof feature to stay intact for as long as possible?
Even leaves and debris that collect on the duct wall should be cleared off as they may rot and start holding up the water, making the roof and the chimney damp even when there are no rains. As mentioned above, the structure of a chimney does not see eye to eye with water; it is, therefore, essential to always ensure that you apply a water sealant on the chimney walls to prevent water or moisture from sneaking its way into the fabric of the bricks.