Warning signs
Almost every large repair we are called out to started as something small and visible that nobody knew how to read. These are the six signs that come up most often, what each one is actually telling you about your home, and how much time you have before it turns into the next job up.
Water is getting in now, or the structure has moved. Worth having looked at rather than left for the next dry spell.
Not an emergency. It is the stage where the repair is still small, which is the whole reason to deal with it now.
UrgentDark staining, mold or soft, rotting framing means water is already getting in — usually from failed flashing or a cracked crown above.
What this means
WatchWhen brick faces flake and mortar turns to sand, your masonry’s first line of defense against water has failed and needs repair.
What this means
WatchThat powdery white film is salt left behind as water passes through the brick — a clear sign moisture is moving through the masonry.
What this means
UrgentThe concrete cap that sheds rain has split. Water now runs straight into the flue and the masonry below every time it rains.
What this means
UrgentThe metal seal where the chimney meets the roof is the #1 place water gets in. Rust, gaps or lifting edges mean it is time to reseal.
What this means
UrgentA chimney pulling away from the house, or one shedding brick and mortar, points to structural failure that only gets worse and costlier.
What this meansThe pattern
Five of the six signs on this page are water finding a way into masonry, and they tend to arrive in a predictable order. A crown cracks or flashing lifts; the brickwork underneath starts to show efflorescence; the faces begin to spall; a stain appears on a ceiling; and years later the stack itself is no longer sound. That is why the inspection starts at the top of the chimney no matter which sign brought us out, and why we would rather fix the cause than the symptom you can see.
Next step
Send a photo or book an inspection. We will tell you what it is, how urgent it is, and what it actually needs.
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