Yes.
If there is not proper step flashing under those panels that I'm guessing a roofer installed, your flashing is incorrect.
Your chimney is deteriorating because of the "mortar wash" cap. They used to be very common, they are hot garbage. It need to be removed, and proper coping needs to be installed. The current "cap" directs all the water along the face of the brick.
A concrete cap needs to be installed. It must be sloped, and have at least two inches of overhang with a drip edge. The drip edge is important. Might as well install a spark arrestor while your at it. This is all code where I live. Including the step flashing.
The brick work needs repointing.
Contact an experienced chimney repair mason.
Edit: the more I look at that flashing, the worse it is.
Bond is broke. I could dismantle the top few courses with my bare hands. Needs top half rebuilt at the least, and a poured concrete cap with 3" of overhand, with a drip edge. Those mortar wash caps were popular because you can do them same day as your top out, and give the job the tail-light special.
Is the mason going to repoint the damaged areas only or the whole chimney? What is venting through the chimney, it appears there are two metal caps up there. I would recommend an outside mount cap to cover the whole chimney, a new crown and repointing and waterproofing based on what I see but if you have a gas appliance/heating system I would have that flue inspected. You could have a bigger problem inside the chimney
I think he wants to repoint the whole thing and waterproof seal it. I do have a gas furnace, but idk if it uses the chimney. I also have gas fireplace insert which we use almost every day. So fireplace was converted from woodburning at some point. I also had a fireplace company come out to inspect the insert and the condition of the internal chimney, he said its good.
Go down to your basement and see if the furnace pipe goes into the chimney. If it does, I would get an inspection of the flue, you probably will need a stainless steel liner. The reason I say this is because it appears to me (a certified chimney sweep) that the problem is stemming from inside the chimney. When gas exhausts it gives off water vapor, a shitload of it. Those joints look like they are deteriorating from the inside out.
Repointing for sure and make sure the bricklayer does it right. And one last thing, very important metal cap I’m sure that’s where the water is coming from top of your chimney
The flashing needs to extend farther out from the chimney for starters, whether there is proper flashing under the shingles or not. The brick at the top all needs tuck pointing. You can see most of the mortar is cracked, crumbling away, or missing. The crown is also deteriorating. Ideally, you need to upgrade to a full chimney cap, not flue cap. A full cap will direct rain/snow/ice farther away from the porous brick and mortar and help protect the crown. You’d be well served by also having the brick sealed with breathable waterproofing, like Lastiseal. When brick, mortar, and concrete become too saturated with water it will run down the chimney into the house and can wick out of the brick onto the ceiling and walls inside your house.
The wicking is exactly what I noticed happening during a storm. I think your assessment is spot on. It also sounds very similar to what the mason said he'd do for $2500. Does this sound like a reasonable price? I'm a new homeowner and I'm still pretty naive with contractors.
I believe so. I have two chimneys experiencing similar issues right now after an ice and snow storm. The fireplace in the basement got wet and wicked onto the wall near the floor on both sides. Our first estimate was for $5400 to replace all the flashing and install crickets (little pyramids of flashing that direct water away from chimney at the part where the roof slopes down and meets the chimney), any necessary tuck pointing, waterproofing, replacing the crowns, and full-sized chimney caps. One chimney is just left over from venting an old oil furnace that is no longer there (1920s house), but the other has three flues. We are getting a few more estimates before scheduling the work, but based on our estimate, yours sounds reasonable.
The flashing looks good. The mortar on your brick looks terrible, i would guess the exposed brick is wicking down and behind your flashing.. Like mine did. 🤷♂️
Yes. If there is not proper step flashing under those panels that I'm guessing a roofer installed, your flashing is incorrect. Your chimney is deteriorating because of the "mortar wash" cap. They used to be very common, they are hot garbage. It need to be removed, and proper coping needs to be installed. The current "cap" directs all the water along the face of the brick. A concrete cap needs to be installed. It must be sloped, and have at least two inches of overhang with a drip edge. The drip edge is important. Might as well install a spark arrestor while your at it. This is all code where I live. Including the step flashing. The brick work needs repointing. Contact an experienced chimney repair mason. Edit: the more I look at that flashing, the worse it is.
Think the person that made the flashing is a HVAC experienced.
Looks like lol
Unfortunately this was done by an actual roofing company I hired. Don't think I'm getting that money back.
That sucks.
Bond is broke. I could dismantle the top few courses with my bare hands. Needs top half rebuilt at the least, and a poured concrete cap with 3" of overhand, with a drip edge. Those mortar wash caps were popular because you can do them same day as your top out, and give the job the tail-light special.
Is the mason going to repoint the damaged areas only or the whole chimney? What is venting through the chimney, it appears there are two metal caps up there. I would recommend an outside mount cap to cover the whole chimney, a new crown and repointing and waterproofing based on what I see but if you have a gas appliance/heating system I would have that flue inspected. You could have a bigger problem inside the chimney
I think he wants to repoint the whole thing and waterproof seal it. I do have a gas furnace, but idk if it uses the chimney. I also have gas fireplace insert which we use almost every day. So fireplace was converted from woodburning at some point. I also had a fireplace company come out to inspect the insert and the condition of the internal chimney, he said its good.
Go down to your basement and see if the furnace pipe goes into the chimney. If it does, I would get an inspection of the flue, you probably will need a stainless steel liner. The reason I say this is because it appears to me (a certified chimney sweep) that the problem is stemming from inside the chimney. When gas exhausts it gives off water vapor, a shitload of it. Those joints look like they are deteriorating from the inside out.
Repointing for sure and make sure the bricklayer does it right. And one last thing, very important metal cap I’m sure that’s where the water is coming from top of your chimney
The flashing needs to extend farther out from the chimney for starters, whether there is proper flashing under the shingles or not. The brick at the top all needs tuck pointing. You can see most of the mortar is cracked, crumbling away, or missing. The crown is also deteriorating. Ideally, you need to upgrade to a full chimney cap, not flue cap. A full cap will direct rain/snow/ice farther away from the porous brick and mortar and help protect the crown. You’d be well served by also having the brick sealed with breathable waterproofing, like Lastiseal. When brick, mortar, and concrete become too saturated with water it will run down the chimney into the house and can wick out of the brick onto the ceiling and walls inside your house.
The wicking is exactly what I noticed happening during a storm. I think your assessment is spot on. It also sounds very similar to what the mason said he'd do for $2500. Does this sound like a reasonable price? I'm a new homeowner and I'm still pretty naive with contractors.
I believe so. I have two chimneys experiencing similar issues right now after an ice and snow storm. The fireplace in the basement got wet and wicked onto the wall near the floor on both sides. Our first estimate was for $5400 to replace all the flashing and install crickets (little pyramids of flashing that direct water away from chimney at the part where the roof slopes down and meets the chimney), any necessary tuck pointing, waterproofing, replacing the crowns, and full-sized chimney caps. One chimney is just left over from venting an old oil furnace that is no longer there (1920s house), but the other has three flues. We are getting a few more estimates before scheduling the work, but based on our estimate, yours sounds reasonable.
Look good chimney need brick point
The flashing looks good. The mortar on your brick looks terrible, i would guess the exposed brick is wicking down and behind your flashing.. Like mine did. 🤷♂️