How much does it cost to install a chimney cricket on my Ottawa roof to divert water away from the chimney?

A chimney cricket installation in Ottawa typically costs $800 to $2,500, depending on the size of your chimney, roofing material, and complexity of the installation. Most Ottawa homeowners pay around $1,200 to $1,800 for a professionally installed cricket on a standard residential chimney.

Chimney crickets are particularly important in Ottawa's climate because they divert water and snow away from the uphill side of your chimney where it penetrates the roof. Without a cricket, water pools behind the chimney during Ottawa's frequent freeze-thaw cycles, creating ice dams and forcing water under shingles and flashing. This pooled water is the leading cause of chimney leaks in Ottawa homes, especially during spring melt when large volumes of water run off roofs rapidly. A properly installed cricket creates a peaked diversion that channels water around both sides of the chimney rather than allowing it to collect.

The cricket itself is typically constructed from the same material as your roof — asphalt shingles for most Ottawa homes, or metal for standing seam roofs. The frame underneath is built from treated lumber and plywood, then waterproofed with ice and water shield before the finish roofing material is applied. Proper flashing integration between the cricket and chimney is critical — this is where many DIY attempts fail and create worse leak problems than the original issue. The work requires removing shingles around the chimney, building the cricket frame, installing new flashing, and carefully integrating everything with your existing roof system.

Installation timing matters in Ottawa's short construction season. This work should be done during dry weather between May and October when temperatures consistently stay above 5 degrees Celsius — roofing adhesives and sealants don't cure properly in cold weather. Many Ottawa roofers get booked solid for cricket installations after homeowners discover leaks during spring melt, so scheduling the work in late summer or early fall avoids the rush. Never attempt this as a DIY project — working at height around a chimney requires proper safety equipment, and improper flashing installation will create expensive water damage inside your home.

When you're ready to address water diversion around your chimney, you can browse experienced roofing contractors who specialize in chimney flashing and cricket installation through the Ottawa Construction Network directory at justynrookcontracting.com/directory.