Chimney Cricket

A chimney cricket is one of the funnier-sounding parts of your chimney. As fun as this would be, it definitely does not have anything to do with a little chirping insect reminiscent of summer nights or a little cartoon character that might come to mind. So, what exactly is a chimney cricket?

A chimney cricket, also known as a chimney saddle, is a roofing component required by IRC code 903.2.2 for all chimneys over 30 inches (you can often estimate this to be anything over four bricks). This is essentially just an extension of your roof that runs perpendicular to your main roof between your chimney and the main roof. It covers the width of your chimney and usually follows the same pitch as the rest of your roof.

Ok, so now that we have a working definition of what exactly a cricket is, let’s explain the most important question: why you need one. As water flows down your roof, it essentially acts like a waterfall, and gravity gives it more and more speed as it goes down your roof. Often, the force of this water can overwhelm the normal flashing around your chimney and lead to leaks.

Further, wide chimneys can trap leaf matter and water behind the chimney and lead to rusting of the flashing. With a cricket installed, however, water flows down the roof, over the sides of the cricket, and off the roof around the chimney, preventing possible water intrusion behind the chimney. If your chimney is over 30 inches wide, we always recommend having a chimney cricket installed.

If a roofer or chimney professional mentions a chimney saddle, they mean the same thing as a chimney cricket. Both names describe the small, peaked roof section built on the uphill side of a chimney. “Saddle” comes from its shape: it sits across the back of the chimney the way a saddle sits across a horse, with a ridge in the middle and a slope down each side. “Cricket” is simply the older trade name. You will see both terms in building codes, roofing manuals, and repair estimates, so if one contractor quotes a saddle and another quotes a cricket, they are talking about the same job.

Whatever you call it, the purpose is the same: split the water and debris coming down the roof and send it around the chimney instead of letting it collect against the back wall of the chimney.

A chimney saddle is usually framed in wood right on top of the existing roof deck, behind the chimney. The ridge of the saddle lines up with the center of the chimney and slopes down to meet the main roof on each side. Once the framing is in place, it is sheathed, covered with underlayment, and finished to match the rest of the roof, often with the same shingles. On some roofs, especially low-slope or metal roofs, the saddle may be covered in sheet metal instead.

The most important part of the job is the chimney flashing. Where the saddle meets the back of the chimney, the step flashing and counter flashing have to be installed so that every layer overlaps in the direction water flows. A saddle with poor flashing can still leak, so the framing, roofing, and flashing all need to be done as one system.

• Your chimney is wider than about 30 inches and there is no cricket behind it
• Leaves, pine needles, or debris pile up on the roof behind the chimney
• Water stains on the ceiling or in the attic near the back of the chimney
• Rusted, lifted, or patched flashing on the uphill side of the chimney
• Ice or snow builds up behind the chimney in winter
• An existing cricket has soft spots, damaged shingles, or open seams

Leaks behind a chimney can have more than one cause, so it pays to look at the whole chimney. Our chimney waterproofing and leak repair service covers the cap, crown, masonry, and flashing along with the cricket.

Inspect. We look at the chimney, the roof behind it, the existing flashing, and, where we can, the attic below to see whether water is already getting in.

Recommend the right fix. If you already have a cricket, it may only need new flashing or roofing. If there is none and the chimney is wide enough to need one, we explain what building it involves.

Build or repair. We frame the saddle to fit the chimney and the pitch of your roof, cover it, and tie it into the roof and chimney with new flashing.

Review with you. We walk you through the finished work and what to watch for going forward.

A Step in Time Chimney Sweeps is a licensed and insured chimney company. If your chimney is also due for other repairs, such as a new crown or repointed mortar joints, it often makes sense to plan that work at the same time.