Protecting Frisco's newer chase chimneys from spring hail and pooling roof water — one properly sized cricket at a time.
Frisco's building boom means most homes in neighborhoods like Newman Village, Starwood, Frisco Lakes, Phillips Creek Ranch, and Panther Creek were built after 1995 — which almost always means a factory-built fireplace with a metal chase chimney rather than an old masonry stack. These chase chimneys are often wider than the roof penetration truly needs, and wide chimneys create a flat, low-slope shelf on the up-slope side where water, granules, and leaf debris collect instead of shedding off. A cricket (also called a saddle) is the small peaked structure built into that up-slope junction specifically to split water flow around the chimney instead of letting it pond against it.
Roofing codes and manufacturer guidelines generally call for a cricket once a chimney or chase exceeds a certain width measured parallel to the ridge — and Frisco's larger great-room fireplaces often produce chases right at or beyond that threshold. Without a diverter, the up-slope side becomes a catch basin every time it rains, which is a real problem given Frisco's intense spring storms.
A cricket has to be sized to the actual width of the chimney and the roof pitch, then tied into the existing step and counter-flashing so water is directed cleanly into the field of the roof rather than redirected into a side valley or gutter that can't handle it. This is closely related to broader chimney flashing repair work, but a cricket installation is specifically about reshaping water flow at the source, not just patching a leak point. On many Frisco homes we also evaluate the chase cover at the same time, since a failing cover and a missing cricket often show up together.
Frisco's housing stock skews newer, which is generally good news for chimney health — but it also means most roofs are carrying factory-built chase chimneys that were framed to a standard spec, not custom-fitted for wind and hail exposure. Straight-line winds and spring hail hit these relatively exposed rooflines hard in subdivisions across Frisco, and shifting clay soil can gradually rack a chase out of square, opening gaps at the very flashing lines a cricket is supposed to protect. Homeowners in Starwood and Phillips Creek Ranch with larger, wider chimney chases are especially likely to need a properly built cricket rather than a quick caulk-and-patch fix.
Frisco's spring hail and wind don't wait — get your wide chimney evaluated now.
(214) 225-8874A cricket installation is a roof-water-diversion fix, distinct from chimney leak repair or chimney waterproofing, which address water once it's already penetrated masonry or metal. If your chimney keeps leaking in the same spot every spring despite sealant, the root cause is often geometry — a missing or undersized cricket — not a coating failure. Our guide to chimney leaks after hail walks through how to tell the difference before you spend on the wrong repair.
Pricing depends on the width of your chase, the roof pitch, the materials used for the cricket pan and flashing tie-in, and whether existing flashing or decking needs replacement due to prior water damage. Steeper Frisco roofs and wider chase chimneys in newer subdivisions typically require more custom metalwork than a narrow, low-pitch setup. Every job starts at $99 and we provide a written, up-front price after a hands-on inspection — no guessing over the phone. Request a Free Online Quote or call (214) 225-8874 and we'll get a technician out to look at your specific chase and roofline.
"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.
If your chase chimney is wider than roughly 30 inches measured parallel to the ridge, it likely needs one — and this is common in Frisco's newer subdivisions where great-room fireplaces sit on generously sized chases. Signs it's missing include water stains on the ceiling near the chimney or visible pooling residue on the chase cover after rain.
Yes. Frisco sees intense spring hail and straight-line wind on newer, relatively exposed rooflines, and a damaged or undersized cricket lets water pool and work into flashing seams during those storms. A properly built cricket sheds that water immediately instead of letting it sit against the chimney.
In most cases a cricket can be retrofitted onto an existing chase chimney without rebuilding the whole structure, as long as the flashing and decking underneath are sound. If clay-soil movement has racked the chase out of square, some framing adjustment may be needed first.
Not exactly — a cricket installation addresses the water-diversion problem at the roofline, while leak repair typically deals with water that has already gotten into the structure. Many Frisco homeowners need both if a missing cricket has allowed years of pooling.
Most installations on typical Frisco chase chimneys are completed in a single day, depending on chase width, pitch, and how much of the surrounding flashing needs to be integrated. We provide an up-front quote before any work begins so there are no surprises.
Straight answers from our DFW chimney pros before you book.
