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Think they may have a problem, V.

The picture below is in the attic of a house where a rehaber was trying to get funds. One of the major problems stood out like a sore thumb. It was raining the day of the inspection so I had a great opportunity to see the real roof under adverse conditions.

roof result mar

Without the actual rain this might have been the only hint.

Mar 011 roof leak

This was taken about 2 hours after the rain started. The chimney is in the front of the center of the house as you can see by the rafters. Give me a best guess relating to the acutal cause. Hint: the chimney had been repointed within the last year.

Jack Gilleland

Home Inspection Services

Clayton Ohio

Posted by Jack Gilleland on 12/10/2008 10:49 PM

Comments (23)

Water Damage in the ActiveRain Channel

water intrusion, chimney, water damage

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23 Comments on Think they may have a problem, V.

DEC

Its obvious that you have a leak. We have seen similar problems where the water runs down the outside of the chimney. I know that you don't this that it could leak that much, but it's amazing how a small leak can cause so much damage over time. Good Luck with it.

Thanks Ella and thank heaven it is not my problem to fix, only to find.

Jack

This looks like an expensive roof repair if saw this on a house it would probably kill the deal for me unless I got the property real cheap.

DEC

Jack.. WOW, it doesn't take rocket science here to see that there is a problem with the roof. I hope they were able to get the funds to repair this.

valerie osterhoudt

Hmmm, flashing, tuckpointing issue? I know you said it was done in the last year, but was it done right? :)

Any outside pics?

Justin - unfortunately the roof was done when the firplace was repointed. The roofer did a fair job, but he had no concept what to do with a chimney.

Valerie - It really isn't as bad as it looks. Last I heard they got the funds. No idea what it covered.

Rick - Uhhh. The tuckpoint was done fairly well, yet they left out one little thing.

This is far too steep for me wet. I wont do them wet or snowy at any pitch and this had to be done this day.

Jack and Izzy - Possibly the chimney wasn't flashed correctly - to facilitate diverting water away. At first glance of your picture, and seeing that it was coming from the top of the roof, I suspected they may have needed to cap shingle along the ridge. Please excuse my terminology, I'm a gal, I'm blonde, and I'm not heavily into construction.

DEC

Mryl - As a realtor your pretty good. When they pointed the brick they took the original flashing off and never bothered to put a new brick flashing on. The one that is visible is not tucked.

DEC

I've seen leaks in the attic after stacked stone attached to chimney. The mason didn't seal the cinder blocks and they act like sponges! It seeped into the attic and dripped of any rough spots. Once the brick was sealed. Leak stopped. Unfortunately the stacked stone now has sealed morter between the stones.

DEC

Best guess - masonry weep holes?

Kidding...

It is hard to tell from the picture but the flashing may not be properly attached to the brick or improperly laid over the shingles... since the moisture is directly on the concrete block inside, I would go with the former.

DEC

Jay actually the flashing was layed against the chimney and over the shingles. The whole thing screamed of "shingle nailer" not "roofer". There are a lot of shingle nailers out there and very few real roofers.

So... it's not masonry weeps?

You are right about the shingle nailers. First clue - the end shingles are 1/2" wide on one end and nearly a full shingle on the other end! Did they tack that flash on with gum? Or wrap it all around and attach it to itself with a paper clip - a big one of course...

Jay - Guess it could be? Yep Shingle Nailers.

DEC

Jack - you'll love this. We had a screen in one bedroom window that banged badly every time the wind blew. I fixed it with chewing gum - years ago - and it still works fine... Does that make me a Screen Nailer?

Sometimes the inexpensive repair is the best Jay. I don't know how many times I've used petroleum jelly for grease on tools, because it is non destructive and lasts longer than the spray grease for door locks and hinges, etc.

DEC

Jay, sounds more like a Screen Gummer.

Flashing is so simple a lot of people overlook how important it is in keeping water out.

kentucky home inspector flashing missing on brick chimney

The water damage extended all the way thru the second story down to the first story at the floor.

No telling how much damage there was without taking off the plaster on both levels.

Erby - You can just bet that the plaster fell off or poured off.

DEC

We have some "South of the Border" and "seasonal" workers here who haven't a clue about what to do with the chimney and all those other little things that poke out above the roof.

Yep, but they aer good shingle nailers.

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