Your roof’s most prominent feature is also ironically its biggest threat. Problems stemming from a poorly maintained chimney – whether it be bad masonry, cracked edges, or even a possible chimney fire – can cause major damage to the rest of your house, especially your roof.  We were recently contacted by a homeowner in Columbia, MD who had a damaged chimney that affected their roof. 

Many homes have a chimney, even if they no longer have a fireplace. Some homeowners like to keep their chimney because of the character it provides their home, while others have one because they still have an active fireplace.

No matter what side you fall on, there are several things you need to know about chimneys even if you don’t use your fireplace all that often. Basic things like weather damage can wear down your chimney over time, often leading to other major problems down the line. And when it comes to your roof, a poorly maintained chimney can cause roof damage, which can be extremely costly.

Let’s set the record straight.

Routinely maintaining your chimney and calling in professional chimney sweepers goes a long way to preventing a ton of costly roof repairs in the future. In this article, we are going to discuss:

• The different problems related to bad chimneys
• Various causes for these problems.
• The types of damage they can cause your roof if left unchecked.

When it comes to protecting your roof, knowledge, and awareness are key. The sooner you can detect major problems, the sooner you can solve them, and prevent additional damage.

Chimney Fires

Chimney fires are unfortunately common for homeowners who neglect essential maintenance. A chimney fire can spread to your roof and the rest of your home easily.

What Are Some Signs That It’s Happening?

Common indications include:

• Loud crackling and popping
• A low rumbling sound coming from the fireplace
• Dense smoke
• A pungent, burning scent invading your home

However, some chimney fires are barely audible and hard to notice early on, so taking the right preventative measures is vital.

What Can Cause It?

Over time, heavy weather can break down the structure of a chimney. However, flue lining damage is a major culprit for fires. Flue lining is the material used in masonry to prevent heat from becoming trapped in the chimney. Seeping water can damage this lining, causing thin slices of tile to collect at the bottom.

Also, creosote, a black material with a tar-like texture that collects in your fireplace, can build up as well. Creosote forms naturally the more you use your fireplace and can thicken to several inches over time. The material itself is flammable and thus a major fire hazard. Creosote buildup can also choke your chimney of airflow, making your fireplace much less effective.

How Can I Prevent It?

Calling a sweeper is one method. Damage to flue lining can be difficult to spot, so professional chimney sweepers use specialized cameras to check for cracks and other damage within the chimney itself.

Also, you’ll want to consider getting stainless steel flue liners, which are popular with homeowners since they tend to last a long time and come with generous warranties.

But in general, you can’t beat regular inspections and cleaning. Like anything in life, being proactive will save you a lot of headaches down the line.

Decaying Masonry

Whether we like it or not, masonry does break down over time. Depending on which region you live, your masonry will wear down from the effects of weathering.

What Can Cause It?

Inclement weather can chip away at stone and brick, especially near the mouth of your chimney. Even basic rain can seep into the cement between the bricks, which, when frozen in cold weather, contributes to cracking.

How Can It Damage My Roof?

Broken cement can fall onto your roof. Plus, the chimney’s weakened structure can collapse over time, posing a threat to not only your roof but also passers-by on the ground.

If your chimney does break off and collapse, it can cause extensive damage to your roof as the weight of it can collapse other areas of your roof, damage your shingles and tiles, and much more.

Water Damage

Water damage is one of those things that terrified homeowners across the world. When it comes to your chimney, water damage can erode it, causing it to crack, and in extreme cases, break off completely.

How Can It Damage My Roof?

As stated on sheltonroofing.com, sometimes cement and tar aren’t enough to keep water out. If your chimney is leaking water, the damage can eat into the roof around the chimney quickly. If water is gathering around your chimney, there is a good chance that it will rot your roof away with it.

What Can Cause It?

Decayed chimney flashing is a leading cause. Flashing is the material applied to the base of the chimney to prevent water from seeping into your attic.

What Are Some Signs That It’s Happening?

• Chimney spalling, or the flaking of brick and stone. This symptom is easily seen on your roof where shards of your chimney collect.
• Efflorescence, an official term used in construction to refer to salts encrusted on brick and mortar that show up when water seeps through the masonry.
• Damaged wallpaper in the house near the chimney

How Can I Prevent It?

Even well-designed chimney flashing needs to be maintained every now and again, so call a professional team like the All Pro Chimney Service team if you ever notice rusty spots or holes in the flashing.

Also consider getting a chimney cricket, a small feature on your roof that diverts rainwater and debris away from the chimney as they flow down the roof.

Animal Infestation

What Can Cause It?

When your chimney cap is damaged or missing, the open and exposed chimney mouth is practically an invitation for squirrels, rodents, insects, and other wildlife to enter and make a home. Birds can also build nests in chimneys, causing a blockage.

How Can It Damage My Roof?

Animals living in your attic can chew at your insulation and other parts of your roofing, so get that cover repaired as soon as you can. Additionally, a chimney cap can also prevent water from entering.

Calling the Experts

A lot of the damage-inflicting your chimney and roof are difficult to see from the ground, and since climbing onto the roof, yourself is dangerous. If you’re inexperienced when it comes to roof repairs, we recommend you call an experienced roofing company. Like chimney repairs, an experienced roofing company will know how to fix any problems you are experiencing with your roof properly.

All Pro Chimney Service offers dedicated roof repair services to customers in the Baltimore and DC Metro areas. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about your chimney, its condition, and how you can maintain and stay ahead of potential problems.

As a homeowner, it is important to schedule yearly professional chimney inspections. In addition, it is wise to keep a close eye on your chimney in-between inspections.  We recently received a call from a homeowner in Columbia, MD who noticed that her chimney was damaged.  Seeing the problem and getting her chimney repairs early saved her a lot of money.  Watch for these six problems, which typically indicate that your chimney needs repairs.

1. Damaged Mortar Joints

This is a problem may need to be seen from the rooftop in order to be noticed.  As as result, it may be best handled by a professional chimney sweep company.  A good repair technician will look for any kind of damage to the mortar joints between the masonry of the chimney. If there is damage, it needs to be repaired as soon as possible given the following:

• Mortar joints that are damaged cause the bricks to suffer from exposure to moisture.
• Moisture that enters small cracks can lead to larger cracks.
• Freezing and thawing over the course of the winter speeds up this process.
• Failure to repair damaged mortar could result in the chimney collapsing.

2. Rusted Damper or Firebox

Moisture in your chimney or fireplace is a clear sign that your chimney is not working properly. You can check for this problem by being vigilant for the following:

• Checking to see if there is rust in the firebox or damper.
• Another sign of rust and excess moisture in your chimney is if your damper becomes challenging to operate or doesn’t seem to be sealing correctly.
• Rusting indicates that there is too much moisture in your chimney, which is a serious problem.  Rust can damage the chimney liner. Flue tiles can crack, and this cracking and deterioration in the flue lining can lead to a house fire. 

3. Spalling Bricks

Spalling happens when water gets into brick, concrete, or natural stone and causes the masonry’s surface to either peel off or pop out. Salt is also known to cause spalling.  You can identify spalling by the observing bits of masonry coming off from the chimney. Without repairs, spalling can lead to more crumbling and, ultimately, the destruction of the chimney.

4. Shaling Flue Tiles

Shaling is another problem and sign of chimney damage that you should check for inside your fireplace:

• Shaling can occur when your chimney liner is damaged.  Liner damage results in bits of tile from the chimney piling up at the bottom of the fireplace.

• Shaling flue tiles are more easy to spot than cracked flue liners. Often, checking for cracked flue liners involves a professional chimney sweep using a special camera. The camera allows the chimney repair tech to identify potential problems in the flue that cannot be easily spotted by other means.
• If you notice shaling or suspect cracked flue tiles, your chimney needs repairs.

5. Cracked Chimney Crown

The chimney crown is the top part of your chimney.  The crown serves a critical role in protecting the chimney structure from the elements.  As such, it is important that the chimney crown is kept in good condition. Checking for damage requires that you go to the rooftop or hire a professional chimney sweep. The following problems can occur if the chimney crown is damaged:

• Water can get inside, freeze and thaw, and create bigger cracks.
• Moisture can come into the space between the chimney and liner, which can lead to deterioration of the masonry.
• Weatherproofing the chimney crown as well as the chimney is a helpful step you can take to guard against this problem.

6. Damage to Wallpaper

Damage to wallpaper that’s close to the chimney may be due to excess moisture in the chimney. If you notice this problem, make sure your chimney is inspected and repaired as soon as possible.

Being on the lookout for these issues and contacting a professional chimney sweep at the first sign of these problems can save you from your expensive