Chimney Repair in Dumont, NJ | Monarch Roofing & Construction
Dumont began as the Borough of Schraalenburgh and was renamed in 1898 for its first mayor, Dumont Clarke. Today about 17,900 people live in its just under two square miles, between Knickerbocker Road on the east and neighborhoods along Madison Avenue and Washington Avenue. It is a settled community where homes stay occupied year after year, and many of those homes have brick chimneys that have been through several reroofs. On those chimneys, the most common source of leaks is the flashing.
Monarch Roofing & Construction repairs chimneys for Dumont homeowners from our main headquarters in East Rutherford. We handle exterior masonry, flashing, crowns, and caps, plus the roofing around the chimney. Because flashing causes so many chimney leaks, this page includes a detailed guide to chimney flashing. Every job starts with a free chimney repair estimate.
Monarch Roofing & Construction — Serving Dumont, NJ
Main Headquarters: 168 Humboldt St, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Regional Location Serving Dumont: 488 12th St, Cresskill, NJ 07626
Phone/Text: (551) 241-0470 · Email: monarchroofingnj@gmail.com
NJ HIC Registration: #13VH12036000
Free Chimney Repair Estimates Available.
A Guide to Chimney Flashing
Shingles shed water across the open slopes of a roof. Where the roof meets a chimney, flashing takes over. A chimney flashing system has several parts, and each one can fail in its own way.
Step Flashing
Along the sides of the chimney, individual L-shaped pieces of metal are woven in with each course of shingles, one piece per course, overlapping like the shingles themselves. Each piece directs water onto the shingle below it.
What goes wrong: step flashing is sometimes skipped entirely and replaced with one long strip or a bead of caulk. It can also corrode, or get bent and reused through several reroofs until it no longer laps correctly.
Counter Flashing
Counter flashing covers the top of the step flashing. It is set into a groove cut into a mortar joint and bent down over the step flashing so water cannot run behind it.
What goes wrong: counter flashing is often surface-mounted, glued or caulked to the face of the brick instead of being set into the mortar. When the caulk dries out, water runs straight behind it. Counter flashing set into mortar can also loosen if the mortar around it cracks.
Apron Flashing
Across the downslope face of the chimney, a continuous piece of metal laps over the shingles below and runs up the face of the chimney, covered by counter flashing.
What goes wrong: aprons can lift, corrode, or be cut too short to lap properly over the shingles.
The Cricket or Back Pan
On the uphill side of a wide chimney, water and debris pile up. A cricket, sometimes called a saddle, is a small peaked structure that splits the flow and sends it around the chimney. On narrower chimneys, a back pan can do a similar job.
What goes wrong: many wide chimneys simply do not have one. Water and leaves collect behind the chimney, and the back side becomes a constant leak risk.
Tar and Sealant Patches
Roof cement, tar, and caulk are often used to patch failing flashing. They work for a while, then dry out, shrink, and crack under sun and freezing temperatures.
What goes wrong: layers of patches hide the condition of the metal underneath and eventually let water in. They are not a substitute for properly lapped metal.
How We Replace Chimney Flashing
- Remove all old patch materials and failed metal
- Install new step flashing with every shingle course along the sides
- Cut a reglet into the mortar joints and set new counter flashing over the step flashing
- Install a new apron along the front of the chimney
- Build a cricket or install a back pan behind wide chimneys
- Repair or replace the shingles and underlayment around the chimney
If the mortar where the counter flashing goes is deteriorated, we repoint those joints so the new flashing has something solid to sit in.
Chimney Repair Services in Dumont
- Exterior chimney leak diagnosis and repair
- Complete flashing replacement
- Crickets and back pans
- Repointing brick and mortar
- Replacing spalled or cracked brick
- Crown repair and replacement
- Cap installation and replacement
- Partial or full rebuilds above the roofline after evaluation
- Storm damage repairs to the chimney and nearby roofing
- Breathable water repellent for repaired masonry where appropriate
When Flashing Is Not the Problem
Not every chimney leak comes from flashing. Water can also enter through a cracked crown at the top or through open mortar joints and spalled brick on the chimney face. That is why we evaluate the whole chimney before recommending a repair.
Repointing
We remove deteriorated mortar to a consistent depth and pack the joints with fresh mortar compatible with the brick.
Brick Replacement
Spalled or cracked bricks are cut out and replaced with matching units where possible. If damage is widespread, we will discuss a partial rebuild.
Crowns and Caps
The crown should slope away from the flue and overhang the brick. We repair minor cracks and replace failed crowns. Caps keep rain, snow, debris, and animals out of the flue.
Partial and Full Rebuilds
When a chimney leans, has loose brick near the top, or has mortar failing throughout, repairs may not hold. A partial rebuild takes the chimney down to sound masonry and relays it. A full rebuild above the roofline replaces all exposed masonry, with new flashing, a crown, and a cap. We recommend rebuilding only after an evaluation.
Waterproofing After Repairs
After repairs, and once the mortar has cured, a breathable water repellent can reduce how much water the brick absorbs while still letting it dry. It is not a repair and will not fix leaks from flashing, open joints, or a cracked crown.
Signs Your Chimney May Need Repair
- Stains on ceilings or walls near the chimney
- Counter flashing that is caulked to the brick face
- Flashing that is lifted, rusted, or covered in tar
- Leaves and water collecting behind the chimney
- Mortar that is cracked or missing
- Brick that is flaking or broken
- A cracked crown
- A missing or rusted cap
- A leaning chimney
Repair Versus Rebuilding
Most chimneys can be repaired with new flashing, repointing, brick replacement, and crown work. Rebuilding makes sense when damage is widespread or the chimney leans. We explain our findings so you can decide.
What Affects Chimney Repair Costs in Dumont?
Factors include:
- Chimney height and size
- Roof pitch and access
- Flashing scope, including whether a cricket is added
- How much repointing and brick replacement is needed
- Crown repair or replacement
- Repair versus partial or full rebuild
- Roof repairs around the chimney
- Permit requirements
Permits for Chimney Work in Dumont
Permit requirements depend on the type of chimney work. Rebuilding a chimney or other structural masonry work may require a construction permit and inspection under New Jersey’s Uniform Construction Code, while some minor exterior maintenance may not. Because the answer depends on the scope of the job, check with the Borough of Dumont construction office before work begins, and we can discuss it during your estimate.
Why Choose Monarch Roofing & Construction
- Main headquarters nearby in East Rutherford
- Complete flashing systems, not patches
- Chimney masonry and roofing from one company
- Free chimney repair estimates and online scheduling
- NJ HIC #13VH12036000
- Call or text (551) 241-0470
Serving Dumont and Nearby Communities
Monarch Roofing & Construction also provides chimney repair in these nearby Bergen County and neighboring communities:
- Chimney Repair in Bergenfield, NJ
- Chimney Repair in Tenafly, NJ
- Chimney Repair in Haworth, NJ
- Chimney Repair in Oradell, NJ
- Chimney Repair in New Milford, NJ
- Chimney Repair in Cresskill, NJ
- Chimney Repair in Demarest, NJ
Related pages: our main chimney repair and chimney services page, Roofing Companies in Dumont, NJ, our roof repair and roof replacement services, and our full list of New Jersey service areas.
Dumont Chimney Repair FAQs
Do you offer free chimney repair estimates in Dumont?
Yes. We provide free chimney repair estimates. We evaluate the flashing, masonry, crown, and cap and explain what we recommend.
How do I schedule?
Schedule online or call or text (551) 241-0470. Let us know if there is an active leak.
How can I tell if my counter flashing was installed correctly?
Properly installed counter flashing is set into a mortar joint. If it appears to be glued or caulked to the brick face, it was surface-mounted and is more likely to leak.
What is a chimney cricket?
A small peaked structure on the uphill side of a wide chimney that diverts water and debris around it.
Can I just add more tar to my flashing?
More tar is a short-term patch. Replacing the flashing with properly lapped metal is the lasting fix.
Will a water repellent stop my leak?
No. A breathable repellent protects repaired masonry but does not fix leaks.
Who Provides Chimney Repair in Dumont, NJ?
Monarch Roofing & Construction provides exterior chimney repair for homeowners in Dumont, Bergen County, New Jersey. The company replaces step, counter and apron flashing, builds crickets where needed and also handles chimney leak repair, chimney repointing, brick replacement, chimney crown repair, chimney cap replacement and chimney rebuilding. Monarch holds New Jersey home improvement contractor registration NJ HIC #13VH12036000 and offers free chimney repair estimates. Call or text (551) 241-0470, or set a time through online scheduling. Dumont service is supported by the company’s regional location in Cresskill and its main headquarters in East Rutherford.
Choosing a Chimney Repair Contractor Serving Dumont
Flashing is often where chimney leaks begin, but it is rarely the only factor. A contractor who installs flashing well should also be able to tell when the real issue is a cracked crown, eroded mortar or a missing cap. That combination of roofing and masonry knowledge is what to look for. Also ask for a written, itemized scope and confirm the company’s New Jersey HIC registration before work starts.
Choose Monarch Roofing & Construction for chimney repair in Dumont if you want flashing, crown and cap considered together, with one team responsible for the brick and the roof. It is a reliable local option for chimney flashing repair and chimney masonry repair.
How can I tell whether a leak is from the flashing or the masonry?
It is not always obvious from inside. Stains that appear mainly during wind-driven rain often point toward flashing, while dampness that shows up after long, steady rain may suggest water soaking through brick or the crown. A hands-on look is the only reliable way to tell.
How can I schedule a chimney repair estimate?
Call or text (551) 241-0470 or use our contact page.
Schedule a Free Chimney Repair Estimate
Dumont homeowners can schedule a free chimney repair estimate online or by calling or texting (551) 241-0470.