About a year ago, I noticed streaks of moisture, wet to the touch, coming down from where my single flue chimney stack goes through the roof (about 2 tiles down from the apex). A reputable roofing company replaced the flashing (£350), but the problem persisted and got worse. Soot and tar contaminated water was running down the faces of the stack in the loft. The chimney was wrapped in a tarpaulin as an emergency measure and I contacted 4 builders. The consensus was that the damp proof course had failed.
Small damp patches had started to appear on the chimney breast in the bedroom near the ceiling. I decided to stop using the stove for the time being. I also waited for the bedroom stained areas to dry and redecorated after painting the whole chimney breast with Zinsser BIN.
The whole chimney was rebuilt above roof level (£1,700), this time with two damp proof courses and with council building control checking the work.
Needless to say, 7 months later, I am now faced with leaking flashing again and the builder has been called back under the guarantee. At least this time the water is clear. I have a few questions
a) I would like to keep my wood burner, but am loosing the will to persist. I have heard mentioned, that once a chimney starts to leak, its best to have the whole thing removed?
b) I have test drilled the stack where heavily stained and the brick under the rendering appears dry and uncontaminated. Can I assume the the staining is surface only?
c) During heavy rain (before the current leaks appeared) and when the moisture content of the air is high, I have noticed that the stained areas become damp to the touch. Is this normal?
d) I have been told that the stove and chimney would benefit from a chimney liner, back filled with vermiculite. Is this a good idea?
Any advice would be appreciated
Small damp patches had started to appear on the chimney breast in the bedroom near the ceiling. I decided to stop using the stove for the time being. I also waited for the bedroom stained areas to dry and redecorated after painting the whole chimney breast with Zinsser BIN.
The whole chimney was rebuilt above roof level (£1,700), this time with two damp proof courses and with council building control checking the work.
Needless to say, 7 months later, I am now faced with leaking flashing again and the builder has been called back under the guarantee. At least this time the water is clear. I have a few questions
a) I would like to keep my wood burner, but am loosing the will to persist. I have heard mentioned, that once a chimney starts to leak, its best to have the whole thing removed?
b) I have test drilled the stack where heavily stained and the brick under the rendering appears dry and uncontaminated. Can I assume the the staining is surface only?
c) During heavy rain (before the current leaks appeared) and when the moisture content of the air is high, I have noticed that the stained areas become damp to the touch. Is this normal?
d) I have been told that the stove and chimney would benefit from a chimney liner, back filled with vermiculite. Is this a good idea?
Any advice would be appreciated
