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Roofingaka: saddleaka: chimney cricket

Cricket

In Plain English

A small peaked structure built behind a chimney or projection to deflect water and prevent it from pooling against the wall.

Definition

A raised, peaked structure built on a roof slope behind a wide chimney or other vertical projection to divert water around the obstruction and prevent ponding. Crickets are required by code when a chimney or projection exceeds 30 inches wide. They are typically framed with wood, sheathed, and covered with the same roofing material as the main roof surface.

Why It Matters in Bidding

Crickets are an easy line item to miss during roofing takeoff because they are small and only required behind wider projections, but omitting one leaves a gap between your bid and the actual scope. A missed cricket becomes a change order or a callback for leaks, eroding margin and the GC's confidence in your numbers.

Example

While taking off a re-roof, the estimator measures a 40-inch-wide chimney, flags the code-required cricket, and adds framing, sheathing, underlayment, and matching shingles plus flashing labor to the bid.

Related Terms

FlashingCounterflashingRidgeValley

Frequently Asked Questions

Most U.S. codes require a cricket or saddle behind any chimney or projection wider than 30 inches measured perpendicular to the slope. Always check the plans, the local amendments, and field-measure existing penetrations on re-roofs so the requirement is captured before you submit pricing.
Crickets are usually priced as a small assembly rather than by area: framing lumber, sheathing, underlayment, flashing, and matching roof covering, plus a labor allowance for the cut-up work. Because the labor-to-material ratio is high, many estimators carry it as a lump-sum line to avoid underpricing the detail.
The terms are often used interchangeably for the same water-diverting structure behind a chimney. Some specs reserve 'saddle' for larger, longer ridged versions spanning between two penetrations, while 'cricket' describes the smaller peaked unit behind a single projection. Confirm the spec's intent so your scope matches.

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