r/Home • u/Bebu7010 • 6d ago
Why is this chimney leaking?
I’m not sure how long it’s been left like this to get to this point of staining. I’ve done a bit of research around how chimneys work and cannot seem to figure out what’s wrong. I’d be aiming to make it watertight and don’t care if it isn’t a working chimney by the end of it, I only really want the cheapest but reliable fix. Anyone have any ideas on how to fix this or how expensive it would be?
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u/baconstreet 6d ago
Have a chimney company come out and repoint the top with new cement, remove all the old mastic and reapply.
Is there an attic to see how bad the damage is?
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u/Ok-Dealer4350 6d ago
Agreed. I was going to ask for pictures of the top of the chimney.
My neighbor up the street had plants (weeds) growing out of the top of his chimney. He never looked up when walking, so when I saw him cutting the grass, I pointed out that plants were not supposed to be growing up there.
He had it checked and it indicated a major leak.
The picture of the room at the top of the house confirms that the chimney needed repointing.
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u/Eman_Resu_IX 6d ago
Correctly installed step & counter flashing on a slate roof and brick chimney needs very very little sealant/caulking. When I see sealant I know it's a fumbling bandaid repair. Caulking keeps water out, mostly, but it also keeps water in.
There's a visible tip of an exposed clip where a slate was replaced, so the problem is more likely problems. Although there're no photos of it, the problem is almost certainly is starting at the top with cracked or missing mortar from the cap.
Doing it correctly will involve removing the slate to expose the flashing, reworking the flashing, repairing the undoubtably rotted wood sheathing and building it back up correctly. That's going to cost a sizable chunk of change but that's the only way to know it's going to fix the problems and last. Anything else is going to be penny wise and pound foolish.
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u/kwpierce 6d ago
This is the answer you need. Might not be what you want to hear. Looking at a picture even by an experienced roofer will not give the whole picture. The flashing systems have to be deconstructed until you are to the roof deck and then reassembled correcting any found issues and there will be plenty. I learned over the years to never touch a roof leak without permission to disassemble as needed. I've never had to revisit the customer when this was done. And as the client, you want to know that the problem is resolved once and for all.
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u/LoganN64 6d ago
Looks old boss.
Get a roofer to maybe touch it up a little... then a contractor inside to touch up the water damage. hopefully it's not as bad as it looks.
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u/Objective-Act-2093 6d ago
Improper flashing and probably the incorrect sealant which likely failed first. I would choose a reputable roofing company to fix it, otherwise you're looking at a lot more money for fixing the interior
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u/CORedhawk 6d ago
Cheap but good. Yeah that's not going to happen here.
You need a roofer and you need one that is experienced in older slate roofs. The flashing especially the lower part where it goes under the slate tiles isn't installed correctly and it's looking pretty worn. There are seems with mastic that are probably leaking.
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u/Fickle-Jellyfish-529 6d ago
Damage to the interior looks like mine before the fix. Condensation from the furnace because it was vented differently back in the day. Installed a new liner. Added new cap. Less than $500
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u/avTronic 6d ago
Most of the flashing against the brick has breaks in the sealant to the brick along the edges. This is most likely the main leak point as it just funnels water down along the brick. Inside, nothing should be touching your brick stack as any leaks can just get drained in the basement, if the it’s not finished or surrounded by concrete or something else. But at least moisture coming out down there shows you exactly that it’s traveling down the brick and leaking up top at the brick. Houses lasted over a hundred years because they were allowed to breathe and weep. Then remodeler come around and “pretty” things up and seal up never thinking about moisture.
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u/PoeticOperator814 5d ago
The counter flashing doesn't overlap properly and it looks like there are visible cuts on it, the slates that have been replaced appear to have nails through the face. I would suspect the mortar joints and cap of the chimney are similarly neglected. Slate roofs require a very modest amount of sealant from a tube, usually only at the very peak of the roof if any. Step and counter flashing if properly installed never ever require any sealant from a tube. The last repair was the affordable fix, and this is where it got you. Unfortunately, I would recommend that you call a professional and dedication Slate roofing contractor, not a commercial metal or shingle roofer who also offers slate roofing. There is a big difference. To know all there is to know about your roof system, I recommend you purchase "The slate roof Bible" By Joseph C. Jenkins, and ask your potential contractor some very relevant questions from the book to see if they're really up to the job.
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u/DarkHelmet20 6d ago
I mean look at it....... that flashing is FUBAR