A custom zinc or copper roof valley and chimney cricket should be priced as a specialty flashing and framing project, not as ordinary roof replacement. The quote should separately account for brake-bending labor, valley and step-flashing installation, cricket framing, counter-flashing at the chimney, solder joints, access, and any concealed damage. Copper is often more expensive than zinc, but the final total depends heavily on roof geometry, chimney size, existing materials, masonry condition, and the installer’s fabrication and soldering capabilities. Ask the local building department and the metal or roofing manufacturer about applicable installation requirements before approving the work.
What the installation cost includes
A custom valley and chimney cricket project usually combines several trades or skill sets. The roofer must remove enough existing roofing to expose sound substrate, prepare the drainage path, fabricate or shape the metal, integrate it with the roof covering, and seal the chimney transition. If the cricket is missing or damaged, the scope also includes carpentry and possibly roof-deck replacement.
The metal itself is only one part of the estimate. Labor may include field measuring, brake bending, cutting and folding, removal of old flashing, installation of underlayment, weaving step flashing, forming corners, fastening, soldering or seaming, masonry preparation, cleanup, and water testing or inspection. Difficult access, steep slopes, fragile slate or tile, multiple roof planes, and occupied buildings can increase labor even when the finished area is small.
There is no reliable universal price for this work. A small chimney with easy access may require a very different amount of labor than a large masonry chimney intersecting several roof planes. An estimate should describe the actual assembly being installed rather than use a generic “roof flashing” allowance.
Zinc versus copper material and fabrication
Copper and zinc are both used for durable architectural roofing and flashing, but they are not interchangeable in every detail. The selected metal must be compatible with the roof covering, fasteners, soldering materials, underlayment, sealants, and nearby metals. The installer should follow the product manufacturer’s requirements and account for how the metal will expand, contract, age, and drain water.
| Consideration | Zinc | Copper |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance over time | Develops a changing gray surface depending on exposure and product | May change from bright metal to brown and eventually a green or blue-green patina, depending on environment |
| Fabrication | Requires metal-specific bending, fastening, and soldering practices | Requires copper-compatible fabrication, fastening, and soldering practices |
| Quote sensitivity | Material availability and installer familiarity can affect the estimate | Material cost, thickness, finish, and fabrication labor can materially affect the estimate |
| Compatibility | Must be evaluated with adjacent metals, coatings, membranes, and sealants | Must be evaluated with adjacent metals, treated wood, fasteners, membranes, and runoff paths |
These are general project considerations, not universal code rules. The roofing-metal manufacturer may specify permissible solder, flux, fasteners, underlayment, separation layers, and joint treatments. A qualified roofer or architectural sheet-metal contractor should identify those products in the proposal.
If the project also includes new rainwater goods, do not assume that valley metal and gutters should be priced or fabricated the same way. Material selection and runoff compatibility should be reviewed across the entire roof edge and drainage system. For a separate material comparison, see copper gutters versus aluminum cost.
Brake bending and custom metal labor
A sheet-metal brake is used to make controlled bends in flat stock. For a valley or chimney transition, the fabricator may need to form center folds, water diverters, hems, end dams, back pans, side returns, and transitions around corners. The number of pieces and the precision of the bends can matter more than the visible square footage.
Ask the estimator how much fabrication will occur in a shop and how much will occur on the roof. Shop-fabricated pieces can improve repeatability, while field adjustments may be necessary where masonry is irregular or the roof framing is not square. Either approach can be appropriate when the installer has a documented plan for laps, movement, fastening, and water discharge.
The estimate should clarify whether the following are included:
- Field measurement and a drawn flashing layout
- Metal stock, protective film, and fabrication waste
- Brake-bending or forming labor
- Removal and disposal of existing flashing
- Underlayment or separation material beneath the metal
- Fasteners, clips, cleats, sealants, solder, and compatible flux
- Temporary protection if the roof cannot be completed in one visit
- Final cleanup and repair of disturbed roof covering
Do not accept a proposal that describes custom metal as “included” without identifying the metal, thickness or gauge, finish, joint method, and extent of replacement. Exact metal thickness and joint details can be product- and design-dependent, so they should be confirmed with the fabricator and manufacturer rather than guessed from a generic roofing allowance.
Valley and step-flashing integration
A valley must carry water from two roof planes without allowing runoff to enter the roof assembly. The installer may use an open metal valley, a concealed valley, or another system selected for the roof covering and design. The correct arrangement depends on the roofing material, roof pitch, underlayment, local practice, and manufacturer instructions.
Where a roof plane meets the chimney, step flashing is normally installed in a course-by-course pattern. Each piece must be integrated with the adjacent roofing course and with the valley or cricket metal. A “woven” installation generally means the flashing and roof-covering courses are interlaced so water is directed outward rather than behind a flashing piece. The exact sequence differs for shingles, slate, tile, metal roofing, and other coverings.
For slate or tile, removal and replacement can require additional care because brittle units may break during access. Existing fasteners, battens, underlayment, and concealed deck damage can also change the scope. If the roof is slate, a related slate tile repair and copper nail replacement estimate may help homeowners understand why small flashing work can still require specialized labor.
Good questions for the contractor include:
- Where does the valley metal terminate, and how is water discharged at the eave?
- How will the valley connect to the cricket saddle, sidewalls, and back wall of the chimney?
- How will step flashing be integrated with each roof-covering course?
- Which materials will be removed, and which will be salvaged?
- What happens if the roof deck, underlayment, or framing is damaged after removal?
Chimney cricket framing and roof-deck preparation
A chimney cricket, also called a saddle, is a raised, sloped structure on the upslope side of a chimney. Its purpose is to divide and redirect water around the chimney instead of allowing debris and water to collect against the masonry. Whether a cricket is required depends on the applicable code, chimney size and geometry, roof design, and local enforcement. The local authority having jurisdiction should confirm the requirement for the specific property.
Installing a cricket may require opening the roof, locating rafters or trusses, adding properly supported framing, and installing roof sheathing over the new shape. The framing must be designed to support the roof covering and flashing without creating a low spot. Any changes to structural members should be evaluated by an appropriately qualified professional, especially where rafters or trusses would be cut, notched, or altered.
Roof-deck condition is often unknown until the old flashing is removed. Soft plywood, delaminated panels, water-stained framing, mold-like growth, or corrosion around fasteners may require additional work. The contract should state the unit basis or change-order process for concealed deck repairs. For background on how deck replacement is commonly scoped, see roof-deck sheathing replacement costs.
The proposal should identify whether it includes:
- Removal of roof covering and existing flashing around the chimney
- Cricket framing and attachment to the existing roof structure
- New roof sheathing and edge support where needed
- Underlayment and membrane transitions
- Metal back pan, side flashing, valley transitions, and step flashing
- Replacement or resetting of disturbed roofing units
Counter-flashing and mortar-joint work
Counter-flashing covers the upper edge of base or step flashing at the chimney. On masonry, it may be inserted into mortar joints, installed over a surface detail, or formed as part of a different approved flashing arrangement. The selected method depends on the chimney construction, mortar condition, existing flashing, historic significance, and the applicable product and installation guidance.
When counter-flashing is cut into mortar joints, the installer must avoid creating a path for water behind the flashing or damaging sound masonry. The joint should be suitable for the work, and the repair material should be compatible with the existing mortar. Repointing with an overly hard mortar can damage older brick or stone, while an unsuitable soft repair can fail prematurely. A masonry professional may be needed when the joints are deteriorated, historic, or structurally questionable.
Ask whether the bid includes mortar-joint cutting, temporary dust control, repointing, removal of failed sealant, and repair of cracked masonry. Sealant alone is not a substitute for properly designed counter-flashing. Manufacturer instructions and local requirements may control the permitted joint treatment, so the contractor should document the proposed detail before work begins.
Solder joints and leak prevention
Soldered seams can create a continuous metal connection, but soldering is not automatically the correct treatment for every joint. Some assemblies rely on mechanical seams, clips, cleats, laps, or movement joints. The appropriate method depends on the metal, thickness, temperature movement, location, and manufacturer’s instructions.
Where solder is specified, the installer must use compatible solder and flux, clean the metal properly, control heat, and protect the roof and masonry from hot-work damage. Zinc and copper require metal-specific techniques. A poorly prepared or overheated joint can fail, discolor adjacent materials, or damage protective coatings and underlayment.
Have the contractor identify which seams will be soldered, which will be mechanically joined, and how movement will be accommodated. The bid should also address fire protection during hot work, ventilation, protection of attic and interior finishes, and cleanup of flux residue. These safety and installation details may be governed by local rules, site conditions, insurance procedures, or manufacturer instructions, so they should be verified rather than assumed.
How to compare specialty roofing bids
Obtain proposals from contractors who regularly install architectural sheet metal and the specific roof covering on the house. A general roofing contractor may be fully qualified, but the proposal should demonstrate who will fabricate and install the custom metal and how the work will be supervised.
- Provide the same site information. Give each bidder photographs, roof-covering details, chimney dimensions, access limitations, and any known leaks or prior repairs.
- Request a written flashing diagram. The drawing should show valley direction, cricket shape, step-flashing sequence, counter-flashing, seams, and discharge points.
- Separate known work from allowances. Identify fixed work and state how concealed deck, framing, or masonry damage will be priced if discovered.
- Verify material compatibility. Confirm the metal, thickness or gauge, fasteners, underlayment, sealants, solder or seam method, and adjacent-metal separation.
- Confirm access and protection. Ask about scaffolding, roof protection, interior protection, weather delays, hot work, and cleanup.
- Review warranty boundaries. Determine whether the roofing contractor, metal fabricator, masonry contractor, and product manufacturer each cover a different part of the assembly.
- Confirm permits and inspections. Contact the local building department to determine whether roofing, structural framing, masonry, or other permits and inspections apply.
Compare the scope first and the total second. A lower bid may omit deck replacement, mortar repair, proper counter-flashing, roof-covering replacement, or the labor needed to fabricate and solder difficult transitions.
Questions to ask before approving work
- Who will perform the brake bending and soldering?
- Has the installer worked with this roof covering and this metal combination?
- Will the chimney cricket be framed, or is the proposal only for surface flashing?
- How will hidden deck, rafter, truss, or masonry damage be handled?
- What is the planned water path at the upslope chimney corners and valley outlet?
- Which requirements come from code, which come from the manufacturer, and which are the contractor’s best-practice recommendations?
- Will the local building department or inspector need to review the cricket or structural work?
- How will soldering and other hot work be protected and documented?
Frequently asked questions
Is copper always more expensive than zinc for a chimney cricket?
Copper is often priced higher for material and fabrication, but the final difference depends on stock availability, thickness, finish, design, labor, and the installer’s familiarity with the material. Compare complete assemblies rather than material-only allowances.
Can a roofer install a cricket without reframing the roof?
Sometimes an existing cricket can be repaired or reflashed without rebuilding it. If no cricket exists, or if the existing structure has poor drainage or damage, new framing and roof-deck work may be necessary. The need for a cricket can also depend on locally adopted requirements and the chimney design.
Does every flashing seam need to be soldered?
No. Some seams are designed to be soldered, while others use mechanical locks, laps, cleats, clips, or movement provisions. The correct detail depends on the metal, location, geometry, and manufacturer instructions.
Should counter-flashing always be cut into the chimney mortar joints?
No. Mortar-joint insertion is one possible detail, but the appropriate method depends on masonry condition, existing construction, historic considerations, and the selected flashing system. The contractor should explain the proposed detail and how the masonry will be protected and repaired.
What should be included in a custom valley and cricket estimate?
The estimate should identify removal, access, roof-covering replacement, brake-bent metal, step flashing, cricket framing, roof-deck repairs, underlayment, counter-flashing, mortar work, soldered or mechanical joints, disposal, permits if applicable, and the process for concealed conditions.