Leaks at a chimney, a wall joint or a vent
Chimney Flashing Repair in Wallington, NJ
Does the stain sit right beside the chimney, or along a wall where two roofs meet? Flashing is the metal that seals those joints, and chimney flashing repair in Wallington means checking it and the sealant around it.
Dial (973) 791-8220 and ask when a roofer could see the joint.
Signs you may have spotted
- A ceiling or wall stain that sits right beside the chimney
- Rust streaks, or a gap where metal meets brick
- Sealant that has cracked or pulled away from the masonry
- A stain along the wall where an upper roof meets a lower one
- Dampness around a plumbing vent pipe that comes through the roof
Jot these down first
Describing a chimney leak by phone
- Which side of the roof the chimney is on, and whether it is brick or another material.
- Where the stain shows inside, and how far it sits from the chimney.
- Whether it appears in every rain or only with wind.
- Any gaps, rust or cracked sealant you can see from the yard.
- Photos, with the date.
Walk away and get help if
- A wire is down by the chimney or roof edge. Keep your distance and let 911 know, then PSE&G: 1-800-436-7734.
- Plaster or drywall beside the chimney bulges or sags. Keep the area beneath it empty and dial 911.
- Water has reached a light fixture, switch or outlet near the chimney wall: leave the room and call 911.
- Chimneys and steep roofs belong to the pros. Keep your feet on the ground, and dial 911 if someone has taken a fall.
Four things people ask
What is counterflashing, in plain words?
IIBEC's article describes it as formed metal or sheeting secured on or into a wall, curb or pipe, lapping over the base flashing. On a brick chimney it is the layer that has to keep water from getting behind.
How common is a chimney flashing defect?
IIBEC calls surface-mounted counterflashing on a brick chimney the most common defect it sees. Water can migrate behind the metal and reach the deck, the framing and the rooms below.
Do ridge and hip shingles matter for leaks?
FEMA's high-wind fact sheet says to check that the tabs have sealed and to hand-seal at hips and ridges. A roofer can check whether those dabs held on your roof.
Is chimney work the same in Garfield, Passaic and Wood-Ridge?
Yes, with different houses. Local notes are at the Garfield page, the Passaic page and the Wood-Ridge page. Dial (973) 791-8220 and say which side of the roof the chimney is on.
What usually sets it off
- Counterflashing, formed metal fastened to or set into a chimney or wall, that was only surface-mounted
- Water that slips behind the metal and travels toward the deck and framing
- Sealant that dried out and split along the joint
- Step flashing at a wall that shifted or rusted
- Hip and ridge shingles whose sealing dabs never took
The one-to-ten gut check
A chimney leak out of ten
8–10
a wire is down, a ceiling beside the chimney sags or water reaches a fixture. Clear the area and phone 911 or PSE&G.
4–7
the stain by the chimney spreads a little more with each storm. Call (973) 791-8220 this week and say which slope the chimney rises from.
1–3
a hairline of old sealant and a dry ceiling. Binoculars and a photo tell the roofer more than a ladder would, and a call can wait until you are ready.
Around Wallington
The 2024 Census estimate counts 1,134 of Wallington's homes as built in 1939 or earlier, 501 in the 1940s and 794 in the 1950s: 2,429 of 4,988, nearly half, before 1960. Any of them with a masonry chimney is a candidate for the check above.
Wood-Ridge's median build year is 1962, give or take 6, and Garfield's is 1954, give or take 2. Where a house has a brick chimney, the metal at its base is the first joint to look at.
What the calendar does to it
Wind, rain and a chimney joint
A chimney joint sees wind-driven rain from one side and sun from the other. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for Teterboro Airport count 11.5 July days at 90 degrees or higher and 23.6 January days with a low at or below freezing, so the joint is stretched by heat and squeezed by cold in the same year.
The station is one airport, and your street may differ.
Where the rules live
Is flashing part of the roof covering?
Flashing sits where roof covering meets a chimney or wall, and the state's ordinary-maintenance alert does not mention it. Whether an office treats flashing as part of the covering is a question for the office. The four offices are on the town-by-town list.
Roof jobs sorted by sight
Jot these down first
Before you call (973) 791-8220, note the street address, where water showed up and the roof's age if known. If you rent, talk to the owner first. Towns: Wallington, Garfield, Passaic, Wood-Ridge.