Today's Term: Cricket
Let’s talk about one of the roof’s unsung heroes.
🛠️ Cricket
No, not the chirping kind. A cricket is a small, peaked structure that shows up in the spots where water tends to loiter—like behind a chimney, or in that awkward spot where two roof lines meet. It doesn’t get much attention, but when it’s missing (or built wrong), you’ll know it—usually when the water starts working its way inside.
Cricket (Roofing):
A small, peaked structure or flashing feature installed on a roof to divert water away from an obstruction or change in slope. Crickets are commonly found behind chimneys, at roof-to-wall transitions, or where roof sections intersect and create water traps. They help prevent ponding, snow and ice buildup, and the ultimate leaks that result from these conditions, by directing water toward a clear drainage path that leads to the ground below.
Inspector Note:
A saddle is a special kind of cricket, usually built behind a wide chimney to keep runoff moving left and right instead of slamming into brick. Crickets also show up at roof transitions—like when a steep slope meets a low one—and those areas deserve a second look. If there’s no cricket where one should be, check for improper flashing, poor pitch, or early signs of water damage.
See also: Saddle, Flashing, Roof-to-Wall Intersection, Water Management
This is the first in a running series from the glossary I am building for home inspectors.
One term at a time, we’re sharpening the language that helps us describe what we see, explain what we know, and avoid getting tied up in vague or sloppy wording. More definitions are on the way—and if you've got one you think belongs here, send it my way.
Language evolves. So does good inspection work. If you’ve got a sharper way to put it, or a story that makes the word come alive, I’d be glad to hear from you.