Chimney Repair in Bloomingdale, NJ | Monarch Roofing & Construction
Bloomingdale is a borough of about 7,800 residents covering more than nine square miles at the edge of the New Jersey Highlands, at an elevation of around 550 feet. Part of Norvin Green State Forest lies within its borders, and its four membership lake communities, Lake Iosco, Glen Wild Lake, Kampfe Lake, and Morse Lakes, are a big part of local life. At this elevation, winters tend to be colder and snowier, snow lingers on shaded roofs, and the spot right behind a brick chimney becomes one of the most leak-prone places on the house.
Monarch Roofing & Construction repairs chimneys for Bloomingdale homeowners. We handle exterior masonry, flashing, crowns, and caps, plus the roofing around the chimney. This page takes a close look at chimney crickets, a detail that matters a great deal in snowy country. Every job begins with a free chimney repair estimate.
Monarch Roofing & Construction — Serving Bloomingdale, NJ
Main Headquarters: 168 Humboldt St, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
Regional Location Serving Bloomingdale: 93 Broad St, Ramsey, NJ 07446
Phone/Text: (551) 241-0470 · Email: monarchroofingnj@gmail.com
NJ HIC Registration: #13VH12036000
Free Chimney Repair Estimates Available.
The Chimney Cricket Explained
The Problem Behind the Chimney
When a chimney passes through a sloped roof, its uphill side faces everything that flows down the roof: rain, snowmelt, leaves, and needles. On a narrow chimney, water simply flows around the sides. On a wider chimney, it hits a flat wall of brick and has nowhere to go. Water pools, debris piles up, and in winter, snow drifts and refreezes there. The back flashing has to hold back standing water, which flashing is not designed to do for long.
What a Cricket Does
A cricket, sometimes called a saddle, is a small peaked structure built on the uphill side of the chimney. Like a miniature roof, it splits the flow of water and debris and sends it around both sides of the chimney, where the step flashing carries it down the roof.
When a Cricket Is Needed
Wider chimneys benefit most from a cricket. Roof pitch, the amount of roof above the chimney, tree cover, and snowfall all affect how much water and debris reach the back of the chimney. In Bloomingdale’s snowy, wooded settings, a cricket is often worth considering even on chimneys that might get by without one in a milder location.
How a Cricket Is Built
A cricket is framed on the roof deck behind the chimney, sheathed, covered with leak barrier, and then roofed and flashed so it ties into both the chimney and the surrounding roof. Its flashing must be integrated with the counter flashing on the back of the chimney.
Back Pans for Narrower Chimneys
On narrower chimneys, a back pan, a formed piece of metal that sits behind the chimney and directs water to the sides, can do a similar job.
Other Higher-Elevation Concerns
Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Colder winters mean more freeze-thaw cycles working on mortar and crowns. A crown that slopes and overhangs the brick, and joints repointed with compatible mortar, keep water out of the masonry.
Wooded Lots
Leaves and needles collect behind chimneys, shade keeps masonry damp, and branches can fall under snow and ice.
Lake Communities
Homes around the lakes face extra humidity and, on the waterfront, more wind. Some lake homes began as smaller or seasonal houses and were expanded over time, creating joints near the chimney that can leak. If your lake community has rules about contractors or exterior materials, let us know when you call.
Chimney Repair Services in Bloomingdale
- Exterior chimney leak diagnosis and repair
- Cricket and back pan installation
- Step, counter, and apron flashing replacement with leak barrier
- Repointing brick and mortar
- Replacing spalled or cracked brick
- Crown repair and replacement
- Cap installation and replacement, including mesh caps
- 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
Flashing Replacement
- Remove old flashing, tar, and caulk
- Apply leak barrier around the chimney
- Install step flashing with each shingle course along the sides
- Cut a reglet into the mortar joints and set counter flashing over the step flashing
- Install apron flashing at the front of the chimney
- Build and flash a cricket, or install a back pan, on the uphill side
- Repair the shingles and underlayment around the base
Masonry 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 so water drips clear. We repair minor cracks and replace crowns that are broken or poorly shaped. Caps keep rain, snow, leaves, 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 a protective step for sound masonry, not a repair.
Signs Your Chimney May Need Repair
- Ice or snow building up behind the chimney
- Leaves and needles piling up on the uphill side
- Stains near the chimney during snowmelt
- Mortar that is cracked or missing
- Brick that is flaking or broken
- A cracked crown
- A missing or rusted cap
- Flashing patched with tar
- A leaning chimney
Repair Versus Rebuilding
Most chimneys can be repaired with new flashing, a cricket where needed, repointing, brick replacement, and crown work. Rebuilding makes sense when damage is widespread or the chimney leans. We explain what we find so you can decide.
What Affects Chimney Repair Costs in Bloomingdale?
Factors include:
- Chimney height and width
- Whether a cricket or back pan is added
- Roof pitch and access, including sloped lots
- How much repointing and brick replacement is needed
- Crown repair or replacement
- Flashing scope and leak barrier
- Repair versus partial or full rebuild
- Permit requirements
Permits for Chimney Work in Bloomingdale
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 Bloomingdale construction office before work begins, and we can discuss it during your estimate.
Why Choose Monarch Roofing & Construction
- Crickets and flashing built for snowy conditions
- Chimney masonry and roofing from one company
- Clear explanations and written estimates
- Free chimney repair estimates and online scheduling
- NJ HIC #13VH12036000
- Call or text (551) 241-0470
Serving Bloomingdale and Nearby Communities
Monarch Roofing & Construction also provides chimney repair in these nearby Passaic County and neighboring communities:
- Chimney Repair in Pompton Lakes, NJ
- Chimney Repair in Wanaque, NJ
- Chimney Repair in Ringwood, NJ
- Chimney Repair in West Milford, NJ
- Chimney Repair in Butler, NJ
- Chimney Repair in Riverdale, NJ
Related pages: our main chimney repair and chimney services page, Roofing Companies in Bloomingdale, NJ, our roof repair and roof replacement services, and our full list of New Jersey service areas.
Bloomingdale Chimney Repair FAQs
Do you offer free chimney repair estimates in Bloomingdale?
Yes. We provide free chimney repair estimates. We evaluate the chimney and the roof around it and explain our recommendations.
How do I schedule?
Schedule online or call or text (551) 241-0470. Let us know if there is an active leak.
Does my chimney need a cricket?
Wider chimneys, steeper or longer roofs above the chimney, and heavy snow or leaf fall all make a cricket more valuable. We assess it during the estimate.
Can a cricket be added to an existing roof?
Yes. It is built behind the chimney and tied into the existing roofing and flashing.
My lake community has rules for contractors. Is that a problem?
Not at all. Let us know the rules when you call so we can plan accordingly.
Will a water repellent stop my leak?
No. A breathable repellent protects repaired masonry but does not fix leaks.
Who Provides Chimney Repair in Bloomingdale, NJ?
Monarch Roofing & Construction provides exterior chimney repair for homeowners in Bloomingdale, Passaic County, New Jersey. Along with building crickets and back pans behind wide chimneys, the company offers chimney flashing replacement, chimney leak repair, chimney repointing, brick chimney repair, chimney crown repair, chimney cap replacement and chimney rebuilding. Monarch is a registered New Jersey home improvement contractor under NJ HIC #13VH12036000 and offers free chimney repair estimates. Call or text (551) 241-0470, or use online scheduling. Bloomingdale service is supported by the company’s regional location in Ramsey and its main headquarters in East Rutherford.
Choosing a Chimney Repair Contractor Serving Bloomingdale
Whether a chimney needs a cricket depends on its width, the roof slope and how much snow and debris collect behind it. A contractor who builds crickets should also be able to repair the masonry and replace the flashing that ties into them. That combination is the first thing to look for. After that:
- Ask for a written scope that explains each detail being added or replaced
- Confirm the company’s New Jersey HIC registration on your own
- Make sure flashing, crown and cap are reviewed together, not separately
Choose Monarch Roofing & Construction for chimney repair in Bloomingdale if you want roofing details and masonry handled by one company. It is a reliable local option for chimney flashing repair and chimney masonry repair at higher elevation.
Can freeze-thaw damage be repaired in stages?
Sometimes. If the crown and flashing are the main entry points, they may be addressed first, with repointing scheduled when the weather is better suited to masonry work. The estimate will explain which items are most pressing. Visit our Bloomingdale roofing page for roof services.
Schedule a Free Chimney Repair Estimate
Bloomingdale homeowners can schedule a free chimney repair estimate online or by calling or texting (551) 241-0470.