OK I’ll start from the beginning. A good customer of mine called around last December with a leaking chimney in her upstairs apartment. The house is in Norton,MA on a lake and the roof has been done within the last few years. It appears the chimney flashing was not replaced. The chimney is cinder block. There is a cricket.
First visit we dried out the cinder block,which was wet, and waterproofed it with a masonry sealer. The flashing was intact, but appeared it was done wrong from the beginning. Customer requested we seal the chimney and tar any obvious leaks for now, before we reflah the whole thing.
Repair held for three months. In March we got some heavy rains and the chimney leaked again. Upon investigation the squirrels had chewed a hole in the corner of the flashing. I spoke with the tenant and the water was leaking right below where the flashing had been compromised. We peeled back the corner and added some extra lead behind the hole. The corner was put back together and we tarred the whole corner to deter the squirrels from chewing it. Few storms passed with no problem.
Got a call today. With all the heavy rain over the weekend and this week, chimney leaked again in the same corner. At this point I feel the only solution is to reflash the whole chimney. I told the women I would knock $500 of the cost due to the situation not being fixed in the first two visits.
Does anyone have a suggestions?
Also, is there something I can do to keep the squirrels from eating the f’n flashing!
Thank you in advance for any advice
Replies
Is this lead flashing?
Parolee # 53804
I'm thinking its got to be. How are squirrels eatin' through steel? Another week or so of that and all the squirrels will be dead, so , problem solved. If their lookin' at fixing the leak, then tear it apart, check the step flash, re-do the counter flash with steel, cut a reglet in the block, bend the counter into it, caulk and your done. Did I miss anything?
Yes, lead flashing. Sorry for the delay.
Customer is contacting the roofer, seeing the roof was done within the last two years. I'm not sure what response she'll get, but I told her it was worth a try.
It appears they left the old flashing and reroofed. Possible something wasn't but back together right. She assured me it NEVER leaked before the reroof. I didn't know that info before I started chasing the leak.
I am wondering why the squirrel is so determined to gain entrance?
Old nesting area?
Food ?
Might be worth time to have a look see in the attic area and see what is the draw.
Probably some condensation on the back side of the lead. Squirrels usually chew lead flashings in winter when their regular water sources are frozen.http://grantlogan.net/
I'd provide some .22 caliber lead posioning for the rodent first.
1st thing, quit putting tar on it. It's not gonna fix the problem and it makes it harder to fix right later.
Is the flashing laid thru the block or just cut into a reglet. Block chimneys are tough to flash since they can saturate and let water run thru the cores. Thru flashing is the only real solution. Sealer will help as will a parge coat or a Thoroseal type product.
http://grantlogan.net/
You didn't leave much for an old man to say;_)
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