What You Should Know:
When homeowners think about a new roof, they usually focus on shingles, colors, warranties, and curb appeal. However, one of the most important details on many Northeastern Pennsylvania homes is something that often goes unnoticed: the chimney cricket. At 570 New Roof, we frequently find roofing problems that stem from missing, damaged, or improperly designed chimney crickets.
If your home has a wider chimney, a properly built chimney cricket can play a major role in protecting your roof from water damage and extending the life of your new roofing system.
What Is a Chimney Cricket?
A chimney cricket is a small peaked structure installed on the uphill side of a chimney. Its purpose is to divert water, snow, ice, and debris around the chimney instead of allowing them to collect behind it.
Without a cricket, water can become trapped against the chimney during heavy rainstorms. In Northeastern Pennsylvania, snow and ice accumulation can make the problem even worse during the winter months.
Over time, this trapped moisture can lead to:
- Roof leaks
- Flashing failures
- Rotting roof decking
- Mold growth
- Interior ceiling damage
- Premature roof deterioration
Why Crickets Matter During Roof Replacement
Many older homes throughout Wilkes-Barre, Scranton, Hazleton, Bloomsburg, and surrounding areas were built before modern roofing standards became common. As a result, we often discover chimneys that lack proper cricket systems altogether.
A roof replacement provides the ideal opportunity to evaluate the entire chimney area and determine whether a cricket should be installed or rebuilt.
Simply installing new shingles around an existing problem area may not solve recurring leaks. In many cases, correcting the water flow behind the chimney is the real solution.
Common Signs of Cricket-Related Problems
Homeowners may notice warning signs such as:
- Water stains near the chimney
- Leaks that appear during heavy rain
- Ice buildup behind the chimney in winter
- Deteriorated flashing
- Excessive granule loss near chimney areas
- Repeated repairs around the same section of roof
If any of these issues are present, a chimney cricket may be part of the solution.
The 570 New Roof Approach
At 570 New Roof, we believe roof replacement should focus on the entire roofing system—not just the shingles. Every component works together to protect your home.
When evaluating a roof replacement project, we inspect:
- Chimney flashing
- Roof decking condition
- Ventilation systems
- Roof-to-wall transitions
- Water drainage paths
- Chimney cricket design and construction
Our goal is to help homeowners make informed decisions about what their roof actually needs. Sometimes that includes rebuilding or adding a chimney cricket to improve long-term performance and reduce future maintenance costs.
Protecting Your Investment
A new roof is one of the most important investments you can make in your home. Small details such as chimney crickets often have a major impact on how well that investment performs over the next several decades.
If you’re considering a shingle roof replacement in Northeastern Pennsylvania, let the experts at 570 New Roof evaluate your roofing system and identify potential problem areas before they become costly repairs.
Call 570 New Roof today at (570) 332-1223 or email office@theroofrepairguys.com to schedule a consultation and learn more about your roofing options.