Can you see something odd?Stranger than fiction or so it's said. As a home inspector in Connecticut, I happen upon the strange and unusual, and dare I say innovative, at least several times a month. The mind it is also said works in strange and unusual ways or am I mixing up my adages. No matter, the creativity of people will never cease to amaze me.

Take for example this nice little ranch house. You may be able to tell that this part is an addition. Nothing strange or unusual about that, right? But if you're sharp eyed you might be able to spot something that perhaps looks a tad odd. Or maybe not.

Duct tape on roof used to stop leaks.

Let me provide a better perspective.

This is a picture behind the chimney from the first photo. Yes that is duct tape. This is not the low quality cloth duct tape, no sir, not at all. This repair person is obviously someone who knows quality. This is the good metal stuff that the HVAC contractors use....

on duct work.

Looking at this section of roof, it's not surprising to me that that it leaks here. The chimney creates a dam for water, snow and ice. The roof should have been installed with a diverter above the chimney, a half cricket if you will.

A more tried and true method of "repairing" leaks.Looking in the attic I found the roof sheathing was well stained from years and years of leaking. I also found a more conventional, tried and true, leak repair...

Buckets.

There is something to be said for the old ways...they don't work either.

 

James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
Former SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC

ASHI Certified Inspector

To find out more about our other high tech services we offer in Connecticut click on the links below:

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30 Comments on Fact is...

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JUL
31
2 Featured Posts Outside Blog

I guess they need to revise the title of the book from 101 uses for duct tape to 102.  Maybe next time he could line the roof under the shingles with duct tape thereby stopping air from penetrating the attic and hiding the tell tale signs. (In accordance to a post I read earlier I will point out that I was being sarcastic, I don't want anyone to think I would use duct tape as a vapor barrier - it's too expensive:))
6:59am • #11
302,028 Points 11 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Looks fine I'll take it!
7:02am • #12
917,638 Points 179 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

That guy is into "percentages"  with the tape he only has to empty the buckets half as many times---kind of like 1/2 a cricket :)
7:39am • #13
300,008 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Hi James, you have to marvel at man's ingenuity. After all that effort in taping, you'd think that he would have tackled the real job instead.
7:54am • #14
316,108 Points 20 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Try try try to get away with whatever you can and just maybe no one will notice.....how stupid people can be when it comes to the place over their head through rain and snow and wind and etc.  A stitch in time.......
8:35am • #15
193,378 Points 1 Featured Post Attended Rain Camp

James, you can fix ANYTHING with duct tape and a hammer. Was it 200-mile/hour tape as in Nascar?  Thanks for posting along with the pics, I enjoyed it and had a good chuckle.
9:27am • #16
229,179 Points Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

James -- as previously noted, he did some very precise work with that duct tape.  However, when it does wear out, isn't it going to damage the shingles?  The fact that he still needed the buckets should have told him that his repair wasn't good enough and move to the next stage.
10:48am • #17
814,678 Points 164 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I want me some of that fancy duct tape, I have a million things I could use it for. I think it beats that stupid bucket any day. Buckets lead people to believe that there is a leak. Duct tape leads people to believe you are dumber than dirt.... too busy laughing to realize what is really going on.

Unless of course you are a cracker jack home inspector...
11:08am • #18
629,093 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog

James, pretty resourceful homeowner. I just replaced my flashing and rain barrier around my chimney. It's just a matter of time before these remedies give way. 
12:36pm • #19
1,242,529 Points 158 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Good evening, James. HA!!! Looks like one of my "impromptu" repair jobs that lasted for two years. The trick is to seal the edges with silicone sealant once the tape is down...
5:03pm • #20
1,126,396 Points 90 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Duct tape -- doesn't that fix everything?

:)

 

 
7:12pm • #21
408,943 Points 19 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

So are you trying to imply that you can't use duct tape for everything? I'm certain that can't be right. =)
8:24pm • #22
126,032 Points

Why use buckets when you could put a piece of gutter in and drain it out through a hole in the soffit.
9:02pm • #23
293,173 Points 66 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Jim,  Now why would give such a chap such a hard time? Darn creative he was. Only thing missing was drain out of the bucket to the gutter system and all would be complete ; )
11:11pm • #24
AUG
01
265,530 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Very funny. Sad, but still funny. And what do you mean, you can't use good quality duct tape to patch a roof?
12:46am • #25
227,118 Points 86 Featured Posts

Obviously they just need to re-apply the tape.  Easy fix.
3:09am • #26
423,521 Points 16 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

thanks for sharing this one with us James, I often wonder why people place chimneys half way down a roof, regardless of the diverter, they almost always leak eventually.
3:58am • #27
568,010 Points 140 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Mark, You have a good eye for professional work ;)

Jay, The ramp is a bonus for sure. I also think you might be half baked. 

Michael, Yes we are seeing the work of a true creative genius.

Anonymous, Well actually yes we are seeing another use for duct tape. 

Gary, Ain't that the truth. Pay now or pay more later.

Clint, Thanks. It was a big bucket! 

Kathy, Glad you liked it. It was too good not to share :)

Richie, I think every family has one of those relatives :)

Kathryn, I don't either, but they sure are fun to find :)
5:25am • #28
568,010 Points 140 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Paula, Is that low budget liposuction :)

Tamara, Good point, hide the tape.

David, Plenty of that tape at Home Depot.

Charlie, Actually I think the percentage may be lower, after all he used the good stuff :)

Sandy, You would think and apparently he was :)

Chris & Dick, Foolishly funny. 

Richard, Not sure if is 200 mph tape, but it has been there a while.

Steven, Actually not to worry, the roof is shot and needs to be replaced. 

Andrea, Home Depot has rolls and rolls of this fancy tape, just in case you're wondering ;)
5:34am • #29
568,010 Points 140 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Adrian, I don't think I have every found chimney flashing that hasn't leaked. 

Michael, Thanks for the tip.

Erica, Absolutely :)

Melissa, I know it's hard to believe, but no duct tape can't fix everything :)

Rob, You're scaring me. I hope you saw that on an inspection and it's not how you fixed your leaky chimney ;) 

Don, You my friend are a mad genius. A drain from the bucket, of course! 

Jon, Apparently you can ;)

Reuben, Yep. Then it will be all better :)

Bob, Yes they do. 
5:40am • #30

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