From the mid-century rooflines of Dalworth to the wide new builds near Mira Lagos, we install crickets that keep Grand Prairie chimneys watertight through hail alley storms.
Grand Prairie's rooflines tell two different stories. In Dalworth and Westchester, decades-old masonry chimneys sit on roofs that have weathered years of mid-cities storms. In Mira Lagos, the Peninsula, and south Grand Prairie, wider prefab and masonry chimneys top newer master-planned homes with steeper, more complex roof pitches. Both types share one vulnerability: when a chimney is wider than about 30 inches, standing water and debris pool on the up-slope side of the roofline, and without a properly built cricket, that water works its way under shingles and flashing. We install and rebuild chimney crickets across Grand Prairie to solve exactly that problem.
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 to split rainwater and runoff around the chimney instead of letting it dam up against the back wall. Any chimney wider than roughly 24-30 inches measured across the roof slope is a candidate, and many Grand Prairie homes fall right into that range, especially the larger masonry chimneys common in older Dalworth construction.
Grand Prairie sits squarely in what's often called hail alley, and that matters for cricket work in two ways. First, hail impacts loosen and dent flashing, which is often the first material to fail once a cricket isn't diverting water properly. Second, the high straight-line winds that come through the mid-cities drive rain sideways into the up-slope side of a chimney, increasing the volume a cricket has to handle compared with calmer regions. On top of that, the area's clay soil expands and contracts with seasonal moisture swings, which shifts foundations and chimney stacks slightly over the years — enough to open small gaps at the roofline where a cricket-and-flashing system used to seal tight. We see this pattern often in the older masonry chimneys around Westchester and Dalworth, where original crickets were undersized or have shifted with the structure. Newer homes near the Peninsula and Mira Lagos aren't immune either; their wider architectural chimneys and steeper roof pitches concentrate even more runoff into one spot.
A cricket has to be sized to the exact width of the chimney and the pitch of the roof, then tied into new step and counter flashing so the whole assembly sheds water as one system rather than a patchwork of parts. We typically frame the saddle, sheath it, and finish it with metal flashing that matches the durability of the surrounding roof. This work often happens alongside flashing repair or a chase cover replacement, since all three components manage water at the same vulnerable point on the roof.
Serving Dalworth to Mira Lagos and everywhere between, seven days a week.
(214) 225-8874Homeowners usually call us after noticing a leak, but a cricket problem often shows up earlier if you know what to look for.
If any of this sounds familiar, it's worth pairing a cricket evaluation with a broader masonry chimney repair check, since the two issues often travel together on older Grand Prairie homes.
Every cricket job is priced around a handful of real factors rather than a flat rate: the width of your chimney, the roof's pitch and material, whether existing flashing can be reused or needs full replacement, and how much of the surrounding roof deck (if any) has water damage that needs repair first. A straightforward saddle on a moderate-pitch roof in south Grand Prairie will scope differently than a wide masonry chimney on a steep mid-century roof in Dalworth. Services start at $99, and we give you a firm, itemized number before any work begins — no guessing, no surprise add-ons. Request a Free Online Quote or call (214) 225-8874, and we'll walk your roof, measure the chimney, and explain exactly what your cricket installation involves.
"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 chimney is wider than about 30 inches on the up-slope side and you're seeing water stains, granule buildup, or repeated flashing failures, a cricket is likely missing or undersized. We see this often on older Dalworth and Westchester masonry chimneys where the original builder skipped it. A quick roof inspection tells us whether flashing alone will fix it or if a cricket needs to be added.
Yes, many newer homes in these areas have wide architectural chimneys on steep roof pitches, which actually concentrate more runoff than older, simpler rooflines. Even a newer chimney can lack an adequate cricket if it wasn't sized correctly during original construction. We measure the exact chimney width and roof slope before recommending anything.
Yes. Grand Prairie sits in hail alley, and hail impacts can dent or loosen the metal flashing tied into a cricket, creating gaps where water gets underneath. Even if the cricket structure itself is sound, damaged flashing around it needs repair to keep the system watertight. We check both together during an inspection.
It can. Seasonal clay soil movement shifts foundations and chimney stacks slightly over time, which can open small gaps between the chimney and an existing cricket or flashing system. This is more common in older sections of Dalworth and south Grand Prairie where homes have settled over decades. It's one more reason we check the full flashing tie-in, not just the cricket itself.
Most cricket installations are completed in a single visit, though timing depends on chimney width, roof pitch, and whether surrounding flashing or decking needs replacement. We'll give you a specific timeframe as part of your Free Online Quote after assessing your Grand Prairie home's roof. Larger masonry chimneys or storm-damaged roofs may take longer.
Straight answers from our DFW chimney pros before you book.
