Built for Arlington's hailstorms, wind-driven rain, and the wide masonry chimneys common across Interlochen, East Arlington, and South Arlington rooftops.
Arlington's mix of mid-century ranch homes, 1980s-2000s two-story suburbans, and newer builds around Viridian all share one vulnerable spot: the up-slope side of a wide chimney. Whether it's a masonry stack in East Arlington or a factory-built chimney box near Dalworthington Gardens, any chimney wider than about 30 inches without a cricket is quietly collecting rainwater, hail debris, and pine needles every time a storm rolls through town. That's a problem in a city that sees some of the worst hail in the country alongside high wind and heavy spring downpours.
A cricket — also called a saddle — is a small peaked structure built into the roof directly behind the chimney, on the up-slope side. Its job is simple: split rainwater and redirect it around the chimney instead of letting it pool against the back wall. Without one, wide chimneys create a flat dam where water, granules, leaves, and hail debris collect. Over time that standing moisture works its way under the flashing and into the roof deck and chimney chase.
Arlington's housing stock spans decades of construction, and that matters here. Many 1970s-1990s masonry chimneys in South Arlington and Interlochen were built with minimal or undersized crickets, if any were installed at all. Meanwhile, hail events common to this part of North Texas beat up shingles and flashing seams year after year, and the clay soil underneath Arlington homes shifts with wet-dry cycles, subtly moving foundations and chimney structures enough to open gaps at the cricket-to-flashing tie-in. Add in wind-driven spring storms and it's easy to see why so many service calls in Arlington trace back to a missing or failed cricket rather than the chimney itself.
A cricket is only as good as how it's sized and integrated. It needs to be pitched steep enough to actively shed water, not just sit flush, and it has to tie seamlessly into the step flashing and counter-flashing already on the roof. Get either wrong and you've just moved the leak a few inches instead of solving it. This is closely related to chimney flashing repair and often gets addressed at the same time as a chimney cap installation or a broader masonry chimney repair project.
Arlington's hail and storm cycles don't wait — get your cricket sized and installed right the first time.
(214) 225-8874Homeowners usually notice the downstream effects before they ever look behind the chimney itself. Common signs include ceiling stains near the chimney chase after a heavy rain, granule buildup or standing water visible from an upstairs window, and rusted or lifting flashing where the chimney meets the roofline. A chimney inspection can confirm whether a missing or undersized cricket is the actual source, rather than the chimney crown or cap. If water has already made it inside, you may also need chimney leak repair alongside the cricket work. For homeowners tracking storm damage patterns, our guide to spotting hail damage on your chimney and spring storm chimney checklist are worth a read before the next front rolls through.
Cricket installation pricing depends on several factors rather than a flat rate: the width of your chimney, the roof pitch and material it needs to tie into, whether existing flashing needs to be replaced or reworked, and the extent of any hidden water damage found once the old flashing is pulled back. Masonry chimneys and factory-built chase covers also call for slightly different cricket construction, which affects labor and materials. Services start at $99, and every Arlington estimate is quoted up front before any work begins — no surprise charges once the crew is on your roof. We're certified, insured, and serve Arlington and the surrounding DFW area seven days a week, including Sundays. Request a Free Online Quote or call (214) 225-8874 to get a straight answer on what your specific roofline needs.
"Very pleased with the professionalism and promptness of service. The chimney sweep was done quickly and efficiently at significantly less cost than the first quote I got from another company. Happy to recommend Lowes Chimney Sweep to anyone in Plano!"
"Outstanding chimney sweep service from start to finish. They were punctual, courteous, and left our chimney spotless with no mess in our home. I won't use anyone else for chimney services in Dallas TX!"
More reviews from homeowners across the metroplex are on our reviews section, or learn more about our team before you book.
As a general guideline, chimneys wider than about 30 inches measured parallel to the roof ridge need a cricket to properly divert water. Many masonry chimneys in older Arlington neighborhoods like Interlochen fall right at or above that width, especially on ranch-style homes with wide fireplace boxes. A quick roof inspection can confirm your exact measurement.
Yes. Arlington sees some of the roughest hail in the country, and repeated impacts can crack cricket flashing seams, dent metal caps, and loosen the tie-in points where the cricket meets the roof deck. Once that seal is compromised, water finds its way underneath even if the cricket itself still looks intact from the ground.
It depends on the cause. If the leak is coming from pooled water behind a wide chimney with no cricket, installing one should resolve it going forward, though any existing water damage to the roof deck or interior may need separate repair. We check for both during the visit.
Indirectly, yes. Clay soil common across Arlington expands and contracts with moisture swings, which can shift chimney structures slightly over time and open small gaps at the flashing tie-in point. A properly installed cricket with flexible, well-lapped flashing handles this movement better than a poorly tied-in one.
Most cricket installations on a typical Arlington home are completed in a single day, including tie-in with the surrounding flashing. Larger masonry chimneys or jobs that uncover storm-related deck damage may take a bit longer, which we'll walk you through before starting.
Straight answers from our DFW chimney pros before you book.
