Flat Roof Leaking Around Chimney

Apply roof cement to any gaps or cracks.

Flat roof leaking around chimney.

Wrap the chimney with plastic and tape it securely. Sometimes a leak starts in a different place but finds its way to the chimney and then visibly enters the inside of a room at the point of the chimney. The flashing is a piece of sheet metal that covers the overlapping areas of the chimney and roof. The outer structure of your chimney often retains water which can make the roof leak in a hard rain.

Water test the roof at the area of the chimney using a garden hose. To do this ask an assistant to observe the area of the ceiling near the chimney and run water along the sealed gaps of the. The mortar grout is usually the first to go. It could be your chimney that s the issue.

If your roof still leaks it is not the chimney. All chimneys need maintenance over time. Chimney roof leaks are usually caused by gaps or cracks between the metal flashing used to join the chimney to the roof and the chimney. To repair chimney flashing leaks.

Mortar cracks chimney flashing and crown deterioration on a chimney will contribute to leaks on a flat roof. Re pointing a chimney is not a simple process and is often messed up by novice people that try to do it. Most of the time the metal flashing has to be inserted into a slot into the face of the brick. Or you may have a poorly designed valley at the bottom of the roof slope and directly above your chimney that catches debris snow and ice.

Sometimes a chimney may start to leak only after a very wet series of storms. Oh yeah don t use the fireplace with your chimney covered with plastic and this is not how to fix a leaking chimney. You must also make sure the shingles and flashing surrounding the chimney are in proper working order. Gas appliances output a lot of water vapor and if it s not venting properly it will condens.

Inspect the flashing for gaps or cracks. That part of the flashing is very vulnerable to leaks. The flashing on a chimney is one of the biggest reasons for roof leaks.