Custom Homes- What’s A Roof Cricket? Hint, It’s Not A Bug That Makes Noise!
What’s a roof cricket and why is it important to have one on your roof if you have a fireplace? A fireplace roof cricket is sometimes called a saddle too, due to its shape. It’s a wedge shaped structure that in placed behind a fireplace chimney designed to keeps water from ponding on the high side of the roof. Without one, water can stand behind the chimney or be forced to run up its vertical surface, breach the flashing and create a water leak. It’s also important that the cricket be wide enough to match the width of the chimney. A saddle that’s too small won't do the job properly. The rain water will still be forced up the vertical surface of the chimney and breach the flashing. All chimneys wider than 30” require a saddle.
Of course, the saddle has to roofed and flashed properly as usual but the best roofing job won’t overcome the lack of a cricket or one that is improperly sized. Not installing a roof cricket is just one of the many things that can go wrong with a fireplace chimney but it is one of the more typical mistakes.
There are also other types of crickets that are placed where to roof lines come together, a valley situation is created and there isn’t adequate slope to drain water properly. These are called valley crickets. Anytime you have a roof plane that does not provide adequate slope there is going to be trouble. Proper slope or pitch allows water to shed quickly instead of ponding in an area that allows enough time for the water to find its way past the roofing membrane causing a leak.
Have an awesome day!
Mike
No comments:
Post a Comment