Hello,
I have a wood framed brick veneer chiminy on the back of my house. The 4 pitch roof flows into it so I built a cricket to shed water around it.
Here’s the problem [in short: it leaks]:
On a real heavy rain, I get water dripping down to the prefab fireplace/wood stove below. I went up there and caulked everything, but still water coming in. Then I went up there with a hose and pretty much figured that the water is coming in 1) through the moarter joints and 2) through some cracks in the bricks. the water seems to be getting through the brick then running down to the steel lintil on the roof deck, then flowing to the left side and coming in near where the chimney meets the roof.
Here’s my question:
- Should I tear off the brick and put weep holes in just above the flashing for the cricket? or
- Should I just waterproof the brick to keep the water out?
Thanks,
Roger <><
Replies
you cannot waterproof a brick chimney. You can apply a sealer to the masonry that will help it be water resistant, but it will never be waterproof, and it sounds like you have it baad.
Mike will be along to explain the m,erits of through flashing, I suppose. There is another thread currently here about flashing a masonry chimney...
I am frankly suprised that anyone would build a unit like this. Fireplace and masonry skills mmust be lacking in your neck of the woods. I can get a real fireplace and chimney built for what I suspect it would have cost you for this mistake. I have seen and done wood chases for metal pipe and neve liked the idea so count me as prejudiced, but they were all wood siding. I am sorry but can't get my head around the idea. I would expect exactly this problem....
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So I guess you recommend weep holes? :-(
or
Tearing the whole thing down and building it right? :>)
Problem is: it is masonry veneer over framed construction and no weep holes above cricket flashing.
This is my chimney:
View Image
There is nothing a weep hole will do without through flashing. The idea of a weep hole is that water which runs thru the brick follows down the drainage plane until it reaches the bottom and then the weep gives it a way out. On siding brick veneer this would be the ledge in the foundation. in a chimney situation like this, it would have to be the through flashing.
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Piffen,
I agree.
this is but one reason I prefer old houses---and avoid new construction.
Generally in a situation like this---- I can just see the roofer getting the blame---------when in reality,imho,--it belongs on the material selection.
I laugh when i see the mcboxes with their vinyl sided chimney chases about 12 feet above the roof line
Stephen.
more accurately a bad design than bad choice of material. Any of the materials would be fine if used in a good design.
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My dad had the same problem. Sealer will work for a time, but after several coatings of sealer over the years (with leaks between coats) I suggested he apply furring strips to the brick, install proper flashing and siding. He had to recap the chimeny to the new size.
No more problems.
I would have done it for him but he is just outside of Memphis in Germantown, TN.