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.