A small but critical roof structure built behind a chimney to divert water around it — and a frequently missed item in Colorado storm damage claims that can cause significant water damage when it fails.
What a Cricket Is
A cricket — also called a saddle — is a peaked ridge structure built on the high side of a chimney where it meets the roof slope. Its purpose is simple but essential: to divert water and snow around the chimney rather than allowing it to pool behind it. Without a cricket, the space behind a wide chimney becomes a collection point for water, debris, and ice — creating one of the most reliable sources of roof leaks and interior water damage in Colorado homes.
Crickets are typically framed with wood and covered with the same roofing material as the surrounding roof. On a properly installed roof, a cricket is virtually invisible from the ground — which is part of why they are so frequently missed during insurance inspections.
Why Crickets Matter in Colorado
Colorado’s climate makes crickets more important than in many other regions. The combination of heavy snow accumulation, freeze-thaw cycles, and intense spring storms creates conditions where an unprotected chimney base is under constant stress:
- Snow accumulation — snow piles up behind chimneys without a cricket, adding weight and creating prolonged moisture exposure as it melts slowly
- Ice damming — the area behind a chimney is a prime location for ice dam formation, where melting snow refreezes and forces water under roofing materials
- Debris collection — leaves, pine needles, and other debris accumulate behind chimneys without a cricket, trapping moisture and accelerating deterioration of flashing and roofing materials
- Hail impact — the cricket surface and surrounding flashing are directly exposed to hail, making them a legitimate component of any storm damage claim
When a Cricket Is Required
Building codes specify when a cricket is required based on chimney width and roof slope. Under the International Residential Code (IRC) as adopted in Colorado:
- A cricket is required when a chimney is more than 30 inches wide as measured perpendicular to the roof slope
- The cricket must be covered with sheet metal or the same material used for the roof flashing
- Some local jurisdictions may have additional requirements — verify with your local building department
For homeowners with older homes in Colorado Springs or Pueblo, it is worth noting that code requirements have changed over time. A home built before current IRC adoption may have a chimney that would require a cricket under today’s standards but was built without one. If your roof is being replaced and your chimney meets the width threshold, your contractor is required to install a cricket as part of a code-compliant installation — and that cost may be covered under your policy’s ordinance and law provision.
Cricket Construction and Materials
A properly built cricket consists of several components that work together to divert water effectively:
Framing
The cricket is framed with wood — typically cut from dimensional lumber or plywood — to create the peaked saddle shape that sheds water to both sides of the chimney. The framing must be solid and properly integrated with the existing roof structure to prevent movement or settlement over time.
Sheathing
Plywood or OSB sheathing is applied over the framing to create a solid nailing surface for the roofing material. The sheathing must be properly secured and free of gaps that could allow moisture infiltration.
Underlayment and Ice and Water Shield
The cricket surface should be covered with ice and water shield — the self-adhering waterproof membrane used in vulnerable roof areas. Given the cricket’s exposure to water concentration, ice and water shield is essential rather than optional on a Colorado roof.
Flashing
Step flashing and counter flashing at the chimney-to-cricket intersection are critical. The cricket’s effectiveness depends entirely on the integrity of the flashing at every transition point — where the cricket meets the chimney, where it meets the main roof slope, and at the peak of the saddle. Flashing failure at a cricket is one of the most common sources of chimney-area leaks.
Surface Material
The cricket surface is typically covered with the same roofing material as the surrounding roof — asphalt shingles on a shingle roof, metal on a metal roof. Some crickets use sheet metal as the primary surface material, which provides excellent durability and is specifically referenced in the IRC for cricket construction.
Cricket Damage and Insurance Claims
Crickets are directly exposed to the same storm forces that damage the rest of your roof — and they are a legitimate component of any hail or wind damage claim. They are also among the most consistently overlooked items in insurance estimates.
Hail Damage to the Cricket Surface
The cricket surface takes direct hail impact. Granule loss on shingle-covered crickets and denting on metal crickets are both indicators of storm damage that should be included in your scope of loss. Because crickets are small and often require specific positioning to inspect properly, adjusters frequently miss or undervalue cricket damage.
Flashing Damage
The flashing at cricket-to-chimney and cricket-to-roof transitions is vulnerable to hail impact and wind uplift. Damaged or displaced flashing at a cricket is a functional damage item — it directly compromises waterproofing — and should be included in any storm damage estimate.
Storm-Related Cricket Failure
If a cricket fails — or if a required cricket is missing and the resulting water damage can be connected to storm activity — the repair or installation cost may be covered under your policy. Missing crickets discovered during a storm-related roof replacement may qualify as a code upgrade item under your ordinance and law provision.
Supplemental Claims
Cricket damage discovered during tear-off that was not included in the initial estimate is a legitimate supplemental claim item. Photograph the cricket and surrounding flashing before any repairs begin, and ensure your contractor documents the condition and scope of work required.
Common Cricket Questions
How do I know if my chimney has a cricket?
Look at the high side of your chimney — the side facing up the roof slope toward the ridge. A cricket will appear as a small peaked or wedge-shaped structure between the chimney and the roof surface. From the ground, it can be difficult to see depending on chimney size and roof pitch. A contractor or roof consultant can confirm during an inspection.
My chimney doesn’t have a cricket — is that a problem?
It depends on your chimney’s width. If your chimney is 30 inches or wider perpendicular to the slope, a cricket is code-required on any new installation or replacement. If it is narrower, a cricket is not required but may still be beneficial depending on your roof pitch and local conditions. If your roof is being replaced after storm damage and your chimney meets the threshold, your contractor must install a cricket — and that cost should be included in your insurance estimate under code upgrade coverage.
Can a damaged cricket cause interior water damage?
Yes — and it frequently does. A failed cricket or compromised cricket flashing allows water to pool and infiltrate behind the chimney, often running down the interior chimney wall or into the ceiling structure before it becomes visible inside the home. If you have water staining on a ceiling or wall near a chimney, a failed cricket or cricket flashing is one of the first things to check.
Will my insurance cover a new cricket if my roof didn’t have one before?
Potentially yes — under your policy’s ordinance and law or code upgrade coverage. If your chimney width meets the IRC threshold for a required cricket and your current roof was installed without one, replacing the roof to current code standards requires adding a cricket. The cost of that code-required addition is what ordinance and law coverage is designed to address. Confirm your policy includes this provision before assuming it is covered.
How Claim Advocacy Helps With Cricket Claims
Crickets are small, easy to overlook, and consistently underrepresented in insurance estimates. Getting them properly documented and included requires specific attention during the inspection process.
- Inspection coverage — specifically inspecting the cricket surface, framing, and all transition flashing during any storm damage assessment
- Damage documentation — photographing hail impact on the cricket surface and flashing displacement at chimney transitions
- Scope inclusion — ensuring cricket repair or replacement is included as a line item in the scope of loss rather than overlooked in the initial estimate
- Code upgrade identification — identifying missing crickets on chimneys that meet the width threshold and documenting the code upgrade requirement for inclusion in the insurance estimate
- Supplement support — if cricket damage is discovered during tear-off and was not in the initial estimate, properly documenting and submitting it as a supplemental claim
Related Glossary Terms
- Flashing
- Step Flashing
- Ice and Water Shield
- Code Upgrade Coverage
- Law and Ordinance Coverage
- Supplemental Claim
- Scope of Loss
- Collateral Damage
Chimney Area Concerns After a Storm?
Cricket damage and failed chimney flashing are among the most common sources of interior water damage after Colorado storms — and among the most consistently missed in insurance estimates. A free inspection covers every component of your roof system, including the areas adjusters overlook.
📞 Call to discuss your claim: (719) 210-8699
📧 Email: gerald@winik.io