A large section of flashing covers that cricket, runs along the shingle run above it, and is mortared right into the chimney itself to create a water-tight barrier. (i.e., If the roof surface slope is 1/4″/ft., the Cricket Panel Slope should be 1/2″/ft. At the top, what’s known as a cricketor saddle roofis built to create a slope that keeps water from pooling up behind the chimney. How do you calculate roofing crickets?Ĭricket Angle The Industry rule of thumb is that the cricket panel slope should be twice that of the roof surface slope. A properly-constructed cricket keeps water away from the chimney by directing it down the sides of the roof. If your chimney is 30 inches or more wide, the NFPA 211 Standards and the International Residential Code state that a cricket must be constructed to certain specifications. It describes a wooden, framed-out, triangular structure that’s installed over top of the already existing flat or pitched roof. The term “ cricket ” originates from the construction industry. Understanding this construction feature can be key to regaining control of the structure. You should check for loose or missing flashing and look for cracks in the chimney.

A roof cricket is essentially a V- shaped peaked structure that is installed in the space on the high side of a chimney, or in the valley that occurs in certain roof transitions.

Roof cricket