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Installing A Roof Cricket

October 30, 2009 Written by Robert Robillard 23 Comments

What’s a roof cricket?

Before installing a roof cricket you first should understand what it is and why it is important.

A roof cricket is a ridge structure designed to divert water on a roof. Generally found on the high side of a chimney or the transition from one roof area to another, the cricket is normally the same pitch as the rest of the roof, but not always. Crickets can be covered with metal flashing or with the same material as the rest of the roof.

Crickets are also often referred to as “saddles” in this context.

Installing A Roof Cricket

When the chimney is at the bottom of a roof slope or has roof sloping into it I always install a cricket. Below are some pictures of a cricket I recently installed.

Prevent Roof Leaks ~ How To Build A Roof Cricket

Chimneys are notorious for leaking, and the culprit is almost always the sheet metal flashing. It doesn’t take an expert to spot problems—simply look for water-stained ceilings or other telltale signs of leaking in the vicinity of your chimney.

Because chimneys are such a potential trouble spot, consider installing a roof cricket as well as  inspect them once every year or two for loose or missing flashing and cracks in the masonry. Small cracks can be sealed with caulk designed to repair masonry.

This chimney pictured below is on a Main Street Concord house. A leak caused rot roof sheathing rot, ant infestation and plaster damage in a bedroom below

We determined the cause of the leak to be several things; lack of an adequate waterproof under layment [rubber ice and water shield], fatiguing lead chimney flashing and the lack of a roof cricket.

Installing A Roof Cricket:

Proper flashing around a chimney includes three layers. The first is a rubberized membrane that runs on the roof and up the sidewall of the chimney.

The second is called step flashing: Sections of L-shaped sheet metal are woven into the shingle courses and lapped up the side of the chimney.

Third comes the counter flashing: A second layer of metal is embedded in the chimney mortar joints and folded down to cover the top of the step flashing.

On this roof a five foot section or roofing was stripped back, the rotted wood and wet insulation replaced and ice and water shield installed and wrapped up the chimney. New shingles and step flashing were installed. New lead chimney flashing will be installed next.

This cricket’s components are four pieces made from 2×4 and 3/4″ plywood.

The horizontal ridge board is installed level and matches the roof angle on one end and sits on a vertical support at the chimney. Both pieces are screwed tot he roof.

3/4″ plywood that extends to the edge of the chimney is installed secured to the horizontal 2×4 ridge and along the roofs edge with screws.

Cricket frame installed.

Side view showing how water used to run down this roof and hit the chimney, pooling, and eventually making its way into the house.

Ice and water shield, a Grace product, is installed over the cricket and up the chimney face.

Step flashing and roofing is applied next. When we come back we will grinding out the old lead counter “cap” flashing and install all new lead flashing.

~ concord carpenter


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Concord Carpenter

Who is Concord Carpenter?    ~ Robert Robillard is editor of A Concord Carpenter and principal of a carpentry and renovation business located in Concord, Massachusetts. Rob is a recognized leader in tool and how-to information for building professionals, he also hosts the Concord Carpenter Cable TV Show, offering the do-it-yourself audience in Boston's Meto West region expert advice on home repairs and maintenance. On his website, Rob covers all aspects of home improvement and remodeling, specializing in problem solving for home maintenance. Rob enjoys evaluating and reviewing tools and products and restoring vintage tools. The Concord Carpenter's motto: "Well done is better than well said!":

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Filed Under: roof cricket, Roof Issues

Comments

  1. A. Boone says:
    April 11, 2013 at 4:56 am

    when it rains hard water is stalled along chimney then it leaks I need a smal cricket build to make water flowing ,, how much it cost?

    Reply
  2. karl kissinger says:
    November 2, 2012 at 12:51 pm

    I have a stone chinmey that the person who put my roof on a year ago said would have to be taken down to guarantee that it wouldn’t leak. It is an old family home and my wife was dead set against it. I’t is indeed leaking. I’ve tarred and tarred and flashing doesn”t work. do you think the cricket installation as you described it will adhere to that stone chimney good enough to prevent further leaking. I’d greatly appreciate any insight.
    Karl

    Reply
  3. Topor says:
    September 21, 2012 at 12:37 pm

    It looks nice,

    Reply
  4. Homeowner who doesn't want to be had says:
    September 19, 2012 at 11:47 am

    Thank you for explaining the cricket. A roofer told me that to install a cricket to divert water from my chimney he would have to strip off and re-do the ENTIRE roof because the current roof has a layer of shakes and two layers of shingles. Do you think this is true? Is there a way to install a cricket by just stripping down the area near the chimney? He told me that the cricket would not really work unless the whole roof was re-done. Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

    Reply
  5. Grant says:
    August 1, 2012 at 2:17 pm

    Thanks for the info – exactly what we needed. No need to subscribe, but thanks!

    Reply
  6. Bill Battles says:
    July 4, 2012 at 10:15 am

    The Cricket Roof addition and flashing is exactly what I need on my roof. I built an Addition lower than the main house and sloping down to the base of the chimney and has resulted in leakage down the chimney to the hearth and discoloring the bLue Slate base!
    How do I get one or do I have to have it built on site which looks like the best way!
    What kind of cost am I looking at!
    Bill

    Reply
  7. Tom Mayer says:
    April 10, 2012 at 8:03 pm

    My home has a roof where three different roofs meet together. The plans called for a cricket to be put in the middle of them. The roofer changed the pitch in the roof to such a low point that shingles can no longer be used. Rolled roofing looks bad and the color is very different. I am not happy as the roof looks patched. Can you tell me how a cricket can be used so matching shingles can be used?
    Thank you.
    Tom Mayer

    Reply
  8. rick durst says:
    March 16, 2012 at 9:59 am

    thks for the tutorial it made this repair job easy, thkz

    Reply
  9. Gordon Axtman says:
    February 25, 2012 at 7:40 pm

    Is the Concord Carpenter for hire?? I need a roof cricket built on a flat rubber roof of the bedroom addition over the attached garage on my cape-style house in Arlington, Ma. Reason for wanting the cricket built is to eliminate water ponding and more importantly, snow build up in winter. Can no longer get up there to shovel the roof in winter. Am interested in having you look at the potential job or any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

    Reply
  10. HVAC Joey says:
    September 1, 2011 at 10:39 pm

    I absolutely love this tutorial.

    It shows how to build a roof cricket better than any site I’ve found on the web.

    Many thanks, and happy roofing!

    Reply

Trackbacks

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    March 1, 2012 at 5:22 pm

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