Without a Chimney Cricket
Has the term “chimney cricket” ever crossed your mind? It does not come as a surprise if you have not done so. It’s an archaic phrase for the little pitched roof that lies behind your chimney and gets its name from the word “behind.”
What Role Does a Chimney Cricket Play in the Ecosystem?
How can this little roof, which is situated on the reverse side of your chimney, protect your home from water damage? If there wasn’t a chimney cricket here, this area of the roof would just have a sloping surface that sloped downhill toward the chimney, creating a fissure that would be ideal for water to accumulate.
There is never a good time for standing water anywhere in your house, and there is a very good reason to stay away from it. When water pools and lingers behind your chimney for an extended period of time, it will eventually seep through the brick masonry and roofing system. If water gets into your chimney and the underlayment of your roof, you can be sure that it will wreak havoc and inflict a significant amount of damage over the course of time. You can picture what this will do.
Water will flow down the path that offers the least amount of resistance. When a chimney cricket is installed, the water is compelled to run down the slope of the roof and into the gutter system, where it can then be safely removed. There is no standing water, and as a result, no water damage has occurred.
Stainless steel, aluminum, or galvanized steel are some of the materials that are used to construct chimney crickets. Chimney crickets are virtually undetectable when they are covered in shingles that are identical to the rest of the roof. The vast majority of roofing contractors give additional shingles to the homes they work for anyhow; thus, if a chimney cricket has to be added or repaired, a contractor will utilize the same shingles.
Protection on both Fronts
The chimney cricket’s primary function is to efficiently direct water away from the roof and into the guttering system. This is its major purpose. Having a chimney cricket does, however, provide an additional benefit, and that is further protection. Skilled and experienced contractors will be sure to install an ice shield behind the cricket, knowing that even if water is forced to run off in normal conditions, in extremely cold temperatures the water could freeze before it is channeled away from the cricket. In other words, even if water is forced to run off in normal conditions, in extremely cold temperatures the water could freeze before it is channeled away. If you install an ice shield made of synthetic felt on your roof, it will provide an additional layer of protection against the formation of ice in this area, which is prone to becoming icy.
Additionally, experienced builders are aware that it is necessary to create a barrier to avoid leaks by the chimney cricket. Even though the pitched roof of the cricket will direct water away from the structure, it is still important to provide a barrier to avoid leaks. The ice shield is going to be installed by the contractor on top of the barrier that prevents leaks. You will have three layers of protection from water damage if you add shingles to the very top of the system.
If you have any concern or inquiries but is not sure you can call Local chimney Sweep Cleaning to help you. We also offer professional Chimney Cleaning Hercules and repairing.