What is a Roof Cricket?
When you look at your home’s roof, you might notice a small, triangular structure affixed to the back of your chimney. This structure is called a roof cricket, also known as a roof saddle or a chimney cricket, and it is crucial to prevent water from pooling up around the chimney and leaking into your home, where it can cause standing water, mold, mildew, water damage and more. Summit Waterproofing Solutions can help, we offer roof cricket installation, replacement and repair in the Fairfax, Fredericksburg, Alexandria and Arlington areas.
Gutters, Downspouts and Roof Leaks
Gutters and downspouts are an incredibly crucial part of your home’s waterproofing. When rain falls on your home, it will slide down the roof into the gutters, where it is guided into the downspout and can drain out in your yard. If the gutters are clogged or if there is some other blockage that is preventing water from properly flowing into your gutters, the water will begin to gather and pool on your roof, which can damage the shingles and lead to water seeping into the home through the roof. If water is pooling at the base of your chimney, it can begin to erode the brick.
Purpose of Roof Crickets
Chimney crickets are a double triangular structure made out of plywood and reinforced with shingles and flashing that serve the purpose of facilitating easy water flow from the roof into the gutters, preventing any water from pooling at the base of your chimney. The angles of the roof cricket divert the rain water directly into the gutter, where it is supposed to go. This keeps the back of your chimney dry, and your roof safe from the potential of water leaks. Roof saddles can also be installed on other roof fixtures or penetrations like skylights.
Are Roof Crickets Necessary?
Roof crickets are actually required by building codes for chimneys over 30 inches wide. Even if it wasn’t required by building codes, chimney crickets are necessary to protect your chimney from erosion and your roof from water leaks. An eroded chimney or a water-permeable roof can lead to water leaking into the home, which can lead to mold, mildew, dry rot of your wood, standing water, and more.
Even worse, if your chimney and roof are weakened by water damage, it can let in destructive pests like termites (which love to feed on moist, rotting wood!) and wildlife like raccoons, squirrels, bats and skunks.
Roof saddles area a necessary aspect of roofing and should be carefully maintained and repaired when necessary, just the same as the rest of your roof.
How Much Does A Roof Cricket Cost?
The cost of a roof cricket installation or a roof cricket repair job depends on several factors, including the size of the chimney, what materials are necessary, and how damaged the current roof saddle is. Summit Waterproofing Solutions offers free inspections, so one of our expert technicians can come out and inspect your property, then determine the cost for chimney cricket replacement, repair or installation.
Who Installs Roof Crickets in Fredericksburg, Fairfax, Alexandria and Arlington?
If you need roof cricket installation, replacement or repair, your best bet is to contact the experts at Summit Waterproofing Solutions. Our team of experts is armed with years of experience and knowledge in the field of waterproofing, and we’ve seen it all. We can quickly and effectively install a roof cricket on the back of your chimney or any other roof penetration, ensuring your home is protected from roof leaks. Contact us today to get started at (703) 291-1516 or fill out a contact form!
