Leaking chimney? Our local Gainesville pros find the source

Water can travel before a stain appears, so its visible location may not be the entry point. Our local, family-run pros begin with a free inspection and discuss what the accessible areas show. If more investigation is needed, you can review that proposed step before deciding on repairs.

• Investigation of possible water-entry paths
• Flashing resealed or rebuilt along the roofline
• Crowns and caps fixed when they let rain in
• Open mortar joints filled before water reaches the attic
• Repair scope and follow-up checks explained
• Chase covers replaced on factory-built chimneys

1. Slow it down tonight

   Set a bucket under the drip, move anything that could stain and leave the fireplace unlit. Stay off a wet roof.

   01

2. Investigate the likely entry

   Accessible components are examined, with further testing discussed if the source remains uncertain.

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3. Fix the spot it enters

   Flashing re-formed, joints repointed, a crown coated or recast, or a cap or chase cover replaced, whichever let the water in.

   03

4. Review the result and next steps

   The completed repair and any further monitoring or investigation are explained, including concerns about concealed damage.

   04

The spot where water gets in decides the repair. These are the entry points our pros turn up and the fix for each.

Counterflashing and sealant

Metal let into a mortar joint and lapped over the base flashing, finished with a primed, backed polysulfide, butyl or silicone sealant, as BIA Technical Note 19B describes.

Crown coating

A flexible coating over a sound crown, applied to the maker's data sheet on a clean, dry surface with no rain expected.

Breathable water repellent

A silane or siloxane penetrant that sheds rain yet lets brick dry, the kind BIA Technical Note 6A recommends over film-forming coatings.

Chase cover and storm collar

A sloped metal top for factory-built chimneys with the collar and storm collar the chimney maker's manual calls for.

1. 01

   How many entry points

   One failed flashing side is a smaller job than water coming in at the crown, the joints and the cap together.

2. 02

   Which repair closes it

   Resealing is quick work, while re-forming flashing or recasting a crown takes more material and more hours.

3. 03

   Damage behind the stain

   Soaked framing, attic sheathing or drywall adds work, and your quote names who repairs each piece.

4. 04

   Roof type and pitch

   Tile, metal and steep shingle roofs slow the work, since each needs its own footing and protection.

• Where the stain sits and when it shows up
• Base flashing and counterflashing on each side
• Crown cracks and the sealant joint at the flue
• Cap condition and how it's fastened
• Mortar joints and brick faces that take the weather
• Attic framing, sheathing and insulation near the chimney
• Chimney leak detection results with the repair price

• A stain that grows after every storm

  Repeated wetting needs investigation of possible entry points before a repair is chosen.

• Drips hitting the firebox floor

  Rain is entering at the top, through the open flue or a cracked crown. A cap or crown repair stops it there.

• Peeling paint on the chimney wall

  Moisture is moving through the masonry into the room. We find where it enters outside and close that path.

• A damp, musty smell by the hearth

  Wet deposits or soaked masonry are holding water. The leak gets fixed first, then the smell fades as things dry.

• Water only when wind drives the rain

  A leak associated with certain weather can need further investigation; its repair area is decided from the findings.

• Chimney Flashing Repair Metal at the roofline re-formed so rain runs past the chimney.
• Chimney Crown Repair Cracked concrete on the chimney top sealed, patched or poured again.
• Chimney Cap Installation and Replacement A cap measured to your flue to stop rain, animals and sparks.

• Chimney WaterproofingA breathable water repellent that keeps brick from soaking up rain.

• Why does a chimney leak? Use rain timing as a clue A drip during rain or a stain afterward can help describe a leak. Water may travel through several interfaces before it appears, so the timing alone cannot select the repair.

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