Roof leak near chimney

GlennAble

I am having a problem with a roof leak near the brick/masonry chimney in our 4 year old 2 story home in N. Texas. The ceiling in a second story bedroom had water spots near where the chimney extended through the room to the roof. We had a reputable roofing company perform a water test which showed water leaking along the rafters near the chimney and onto the attic floor. They made the following repairs:

Remove the flashing around the chimney and install a new top pan that is at least 8 inches and new step flashing. The also installed a surface mounted wall riglet on the top pan side of the roof where the saddle is and replaced the shingles where removed. The roof has a very steep pitch - 14/12.

We just had our first heavy rain since the repairs were done and the leaks in the 2nd floor bedroom ceiling appeared again with moisture also showing up along the corner of the wall that frames the chimney in the bedroom.

The roofing company thinks the problem may be with the chimney and not the roof. This seems strange since the problems I am experiencing are the same (or worse) than before they made the repairs. I am asking that they perform another water test - what should I be looking for and/or asking them to insure that they have done the repairs correctly? Thanks.

Slyfox

It's hard to say with out a photo.

A poorly wrapped corner with the metal, a fastener out of place in the shingles, not enough over lap.

If you can get a picture of the chimney from a couple ground views and a couple exterior photos of the leak in the attic.

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AaronB

Water test the roofing again, making sure they do not spray the chimney. This will tell you if it is the chimney.

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GlennAble

Thanks for the input. I have attached a picture of the exterior chimney at the roof where the leaks appear to be occurring - given the steep pitch of the roof it is hard to get many exterior pics. I've also attached an interior picture of the leaks that have occurred in the 2nd floor bedroom. The roofing company is sending me the pics from the attic that they took during the first water test they conducted - I'll post them as soon as I receive them.

Attached Thumbnails

     

Slyfox

I can't get a real good look at the workmanship of that flashing but from what I can see it looks ok to me. can not see the top "backside" at all in that photo tho and that is the most critical and hardest portion to properly install.

When a leak occurs in the chimney cap or through the bricks themselves the water ends up inside the chimney and shows up in multiple places such as in the fire place base and basement.
So my gut feeling and experience tells me it's a leak some where in the shingles, flashing or both at the point where the two connect.

I would water test the bottom only first, than the side only, than finally the top "back side".

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stuart45

Has the flashing been done properly. It looks a lot different to the ones I am used to. A 4 year old house shouldn't have this problem. These might help you see how the job can be done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkvwjEOl and type in Just Lead flashing a chimney. Also look at the one on Fitting a lead DPC tray.

gregzoll

That does not even appear close to a properly flashed chimney. To have it done properly, the flashing would have been put in place when the chimney was built, and Stepped. Get someone out there that can do it correctly, even if you have to take a bite in the wallet. Then bill the builder from your lawyer's desk to reimburse you for costs incurred from their stupidity for hiring low ball sub's.

Baron

That chimney is not flashed properly. Check out this correct way to do it.


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...C4vHlAeswYiSAw

stuart45

GlenAble,
Do thay use chimney trays in your area? http://justlead.co.uk/dpc-chimney-tray.html
These are fitted as standard in chimneys here, as without them there is usually a good chance of a leak.
BTW your Texan bricks look quite thin, only about 3 inches wide. Is that a standard size there?

Slyfox

Just because it's not stepped off doe's not mean it's not done properly.
I have been around long enough to have done it both ways, thus know how to and both ways are water tight if installed properly.

As far as the pan in the backside, I did not comment on that because I can not see the details of it from that picture.

The bottom "front piece" is installed first.
The side piece is installed second.
The top "backside piece" is installed last.

Most likely there's been a very simple mistake made in the overlap of one or more of the pieces during the install, or possibly poorly installed step flashing and maybe a combination of both.

Like I said there may/may not be a major issue with the pan on the top "backside" but I can not see the pan from that pic.

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stuart45

I can see how that flashing would work if it's cut into the brickwork properly. Probably doesn't look as good as a stepped flashing but does the job, depending on the soakers underneath.

stuart45

The flashing on my house is just sand/cement fillet, but doesn't leak yet.

Scuba_Dave

I'm wondering if the chimney is settling, causing the leaks
That's a pretty big crack in the corner wall
And the sheetrock almost looks like its being pushed down & bowing out on the wall by the window

But the caulking/roof tar should have enough flex in it....

Slyfox

I noticed the inside corner also, I just figured it was part of the leak and just was not showing up as badly on that side.

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Slyfox

Nice roof, I have never had the chance to install one "yet" maybe some day.

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