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How to Determine a Roof Leak From a Chimney Issue

Josh Lewis, Owner and CEO of JGL Roofing, has been in the roofing business for about 8 years. He got his start in the Florida market while attaining his BS in Civil Engineering at Florida State University. His obsession with quality work and customer service have taken his small company from nothing to success in a relatively short time.

Rooftop Chimney Sweeps has been a great referral partner for JGL because we share the same values of delivering the best product we possibly can for a fair price and going above and beyond in customer service. Every client we’ve sent to Rooftop have had nothing, but awesome things to say about Dylan and his team.

Determining a roof leak from a chimney issue:

Roofs and chimneys often go hand in hand when it comes to where they intersect on a typical home. Most often chimneys are either in the center of a roof and need to be flashed all the way around or are on the side, which will need to be flashed at least on one side. This flashing on the outside is made of aluminum or copper and is woven between the shingles and then custom bent to make the last cap piece. Because of the close proximity, it can be a little confusing to figure out whether you have a roof or chimney problem. Here are some tips to help:

Be aware of where the water is showing up at:

When the drywall appears wet: Inside the home near a chimney, you’re most likely scenario is that the flashing is failing and would you would need a roofer. Another cause of this can be water seeping between the bricks, which could require repointing. Repointing is a process where the contractor grinds into the mortar between the bricks and then replaces it to make a mostly watertight system. Water-repelling coatings can be added to this.

When water is dripping inside the fireplace: This is most commonly caused by a falling chimney cap which could be made of concrete or capped with metal. Over time the concrete can crack and the metal can rust out.

Know the last time you had a chimney inspection:

A simple chimney service and inspection can save you a load of guessing and worrying. If you’re concerned about the shape of your chimney system at all, let the guys at Rooftop put your worries to rest.

Know the age of your roof:

The same goes for roofing, a simple roof inspection and checkup can save you a lot of money by catching small problems before they become big ones. Just like any other item in a home, a roof needs maintenance also. This can be simple things like repairing pipe collars or caulking flashing that if not repaired can cause serious drywall or roof deck damage.

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