This Baltimore, Ohio homeowner noticed water leaking through his roof through his ceiling. Alarmed, he called Klaus Roofing of Ohio to schedule a free estimate. Certified Inspector Brian Thom diagnosed the issue - the chimney flashing was compromised and letting water through. Chimney flashing is found at the point where your roof meets your chimney. It’s supposed to maintain a waterproof seal that protects the roof and chimney from moisture penetration. It’s common to see chimney leaks when the brick and mortar joints become brittle, which can lead to a damaged roof and attic, or even heavy water damaged to your actual chimney.
Solution
Our team, led by Project Manager Mike McDonald, came out to fix the flashing. The homeowner opted for copper chimney flashings, which are maintenance free. The leak is fixed and the homeowner now has peace of mind that his roof is safe, and the copper looks beautiful and requires no maintenance!
The compromised chimney flashing, which led to water leaking through the roof to the home's ceiling. Damaged or improperly installed roof flashing, especially around the chimney, is one of the most common causes of roof leaks. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, improper roof flashing could lead to wood rot and even deck collapse.
Before new flashing was installed - you can see that the compromised chimney flashing caused the brick to deteriorate. This is one reason why chimney flashing is so important to maintain the integrity of the roof; If enough water gets into your chimney, the brick and mortar joints will become brittle, risking the chimney's entire structural integrity. It is best to catch these issues early on, so that the deterioration doesn't spread throughout the entire, requiring an entire roof repair or replacement .Repairing the chimney flashing is a much cheaper solution if you catch the leak early on!
The final result! Copper requires no maintenance, and looks beautiful. Most importantly, the leak is fixed, and the roof has long-term protection against leaking and water damage!
