Is your roof leaking around the chimney?

This guest post comes to you from Mark Sherby, Director of Quality Control at The Durable Slate Company:

Chimney leaks are some of the most difficult leaks to diagnose. There are many reasons for chimney leaks, and it is not always possible to identify the specific reason for the leak. Even when an estimator sees an obvious reason for a leak, there can also be factors that contribute to the leak which are not obvious.

Therefore, it may take several different remedies to completely repair the leak. The following are the most common reasons for leaks around chimneys.

• Flaws in the roofing material above or adjacent to the chimney
  There may be a broken slate or tile nearby that is causing a leak. For tile roofs, the underlayment, which keeps water out, may be deteriorated.
  
  
• Flashing problems
  The metal flashings around chimneys deteriorate and cause leaks. The old metal must be removed and replaced with hand-soldered flashings.
  


• Poor joint between the masonry and counterflashing (the part of the flashing that is cut into the masonry joint)
  
  


• Condensation from a modern furnace
  Newer, energy-efficient furnaces may cause problems with the chimneys in old houses. The warm exhaust air cools quickly as it enters the wide chimney flue and some of it condenses into water and corrosive acid. Even though a chimney looks intact from the outside, it’s possible the water may cause leaks, and the acid will erode the mortar joints inside the chimney letting additional moisture in.
  
  
• Missing mortar
  Cracks in the crown, voids in the mortar joints and spalling (or crumbing) bricks can all contribute to a chimney leak. Masonry restoration with appropriate lime mortars will handle this problem.
  


• Faults in the crown of the chimney
  
  
• Gaps between the flue liner and the chimney
  
  
• Very porous bricks
  Chimneys in some newer homes are built with bricks which are so porous rainwater seeps through very quickly, causing leaks. Through-wall flashings should be installed to line the inside of the chimney and direct water out onto the roof.
  
  
• Problems with an adjacent gutter
  If a section of gutter near the chimney is not draining properly, the water may find its way inside and can appear to be a chimney leak. Unclogging the gutters and downspouts, relining box gutters or adjusting hanging gutters is required to fix this problem.
  


• Ice damming (click here to read our article about ice damming.)
  
  
• Capillary action (the tendency of a liquid to adhere to a solid surface)

It takes an experienced professional to correctly identify each faulty component that causes a chimney leak. Whether the problem is roof repair, flashing replacement or chimney repointing, The Durable Slate Company has you covered. That’s just one benefit of working with a contractor with such a diverse group of in-house tradesmen.

Another Opinion on 'This Old Wasteful House'

This op-ed piece in Monday’s New York Times has people all over the historic preservation community talking. So, I figured I’d chime in.

In said piece, Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, stresses the importance of energy efficiency to historic homeowners. While most were quick to agree with him (at least those I monitor), others had a different opinion.

Those over at Preservation in Mississippi voiced their disappointment with Moe’s slightly one-sided point-of-view pointing out what they considered an inappropriate use of the word ‘wasteful.’

“Twice with the word “wasteful”! Seriously, is this the best way for a preservationist to frame the issue of how preservation and environmentalism intersect? Why are we all buying into the notion that being an environmentalist or Green, whichever you prefer, pretty much exclusively means that your house is ‘energy efficient’?”

I have to agree with them on this point. It’s not all about energy efficiency. Getting an energy audit and insulating your house isn’t the ‘be all, end all’ to owning a green home. They then go on to talk about the importance of sustainable building products, which is where I get passionate about the subject. While I don’t think Moe was advocating the demolition of old buildings to replace with new, ‘energy efficient’ ones, I do think he missed an opportunity to point out that the materials these old houses were built with have a proven track record, unlike many of the newest energy efficient materials.

The fact is, historic buildings are sustainable buildings. It takes more energy to tear down an older building and erect a new one on top of it than it does to upgrade that existing building to today’s energy efficient standards.

On the flip side, the folks over at the Thin House blog agreed with Moe’s opinion about the importance of energy efficiency.

“We agree with the author, Richard Moe, when he points to what he thinks is the most important first step in greening an older home. It is not screwing in CFLs or putting a stake through the hearts of energy vampires, or tossing bricks in your toilet tanks or even wrapping your water heater. It is easier than any of those, and cheaper.

In fact it’s usually free. The answer is . . . (drum roll, please): Get a home energy audit from your local utility company. This is not a sexy, techy, go-out-and-buy-a-new-gadget solution, but it is a solid and necessary first step. A good audit will uncover issues you didn’t know you had, pinpoint effective solutions, and inform you about programs in your area that might help cut the cost of putting those solutions in place, from tax breaks on solar to incentives for energy-efficient appliances. It will put you in touch with people who are on your side, give you a sense of perspective about your projects, and will, we hope, inspire you.”

I must say I stand somewhere in the middle and identify with both opinions on the subject matter at hand. I say, let’s make the conversation a little more well-rounded and discuss the incredible sustainability of our historic buildings over time AND tell people how to make older homes more energy efficient while we’re at it.

I think this discussion should continue as everyone sees these issues in a different light. What do you think of Moe’s piece? What would you like to see added to the conversation?