By Gordon Lee
The chimney is an important component of the topmost portion of a structure. The combustion of wood-burning stoves or fireplaces in the living area effectively eliminates noxious gasses. The chimney is often incorporated into many home designs. It is often built separately from the roof structure, with a different material. This can lead to design and functional problems.
Common Problems
A chimney can lead to the release of toxic gases and fumes. This is one of the greatest problems. This problem can be caused by many factors, including improperly or inadequately installed flashing. It is a metal piece that connects the roof and stack. Most cases of this problem are caused by improper flashing installation. This can cause water to leak through the crack.
Cracks in the roof can cause leakage. This allows water to seep through the brick. Concrete chimneys can have cracks that become filled with water and allow water to seep into the concrete.
Tips for preventing leaks
Here is a list of areas that can be checked for leaks, and how they can be controlled.
- Flashing– Flashing is the Achilles heel for the chimney
- Leakage is always possible. Flashing is required to seal the roof material. The primary material used is metal. Different life expectancies will vary depending on the type of metal used. It is important to inspect flashing regularly because strong winds can easily tear it off, creating a hole through which water can leak onto the inner structure. To ensure a watertight seal, it is important to inspect the flashing every year.
- Mortar – Any bricks or mortar surrounding a chimney are prone to cracking. These two items are durable but can crack under repeated heat and cold exposure. This can open up passageways for water to seep through. Regular inspections are the best way to fix this problem, unless your chimney is made from metal. You should inspect both the smokestack’s inner and outer portions. Cracks could originate from either side. To prevent water from leaking, seal cracks with a cement filler.
- Crown – The crown covers the chimney opening and prevents rain or snow from getting in the fireplace. It is vital that the crown does its job properly and is in good condition. If it becomes damaged or is missing, it could lead to major leaks. It protects against animals entering from outside, which is also very important to avoid.
To prevent any damage or entry to the roof’s interior components, it is essential that the chimney and roof work together. This article should have provided useful information about the issues that chimneys and roofs share and how they can be kept in harmony for the benefit and enjoyment of the home.
Do you need to make some repairs to your clearwater roofing? Old Time Roofing is known for its outstanding work and is available to assist with all your roofing needs.
This post was written by Ted Williams! Ted is the owner of A Old Time Roofing which offers roofing in St Petersburg FL. Ted is a Master Elite Weather Stopper GAF Roofing Contractor, a double award winner of Best Steep-Slope Contractor from GAF and achiever of Master Elite Consumer Protection Excellence from GAF. He has been serving the Pinellas County area since 1978. Old Time Roofing has a tradition of quality workmanship, servicing residential and commercial properties.
