Although the word “cricket” immediately conjures up visions of a large insect, on a house it refers to a peaked-shaped structure on the roof—a small, false roof behind a projection such as a chimney. The term probably originated with the games of cricket or croquet, which were first played back in the time of Henry VIII. A roof cricket is shaped like the arch—or peaked-shaped wicket—used in both of these games.
Also referred to as “saddles” in the roofing world, a cricket is designed to shed water away from the chimney and other roof projections; it’s usually capped with a large piece of sheet-metal flashing. In some cases, a large flashing that collects water where two roof slopes meet is also called a cricket.
Crickets are generally found on the high side of a chimney or the transition from one roof area to another, the cricket is normally the same pitch as the rest of the roof, but not always.