Barrie Home Inspection common defects

Chiney caps often get negleted due the "out of sight - out of mind" principal. I recommend inspecting your chimney exterior at least once per year. Look for cracking in the cap itself as well as deteriorated mortar joints. Caps should be one solid piece with a greater than 1" overhang and have a capillary break on the underside edge to minize the amount of water damage to mortar and bricks. This cap is not one peice and will require regular maintenance of all mortar joints folowing necessary repairs.

This chimney is 41 yrs old so some repairs have been done over the years. The height of the chimney has been reduced, likely to save money by not replacing the top rows that may have required repointing. Now, the chimney is not 2' higher than the ridge line, withing a 10' radius. This can cause backdrafting in the flue.

The metal fireplace rain screen on the right is well secured but the clay tile below has been cut flush and no longer extends 4" above the cap. It is highly likely that the some of clay tiles could be cracked and the mortar joints between tiles may be deteriorated as well.

Step flashing is noteably rusted but still doing it's job.

If you see broken pieces of brick around the base of your chimney after the winter, moisture may be entering the chimney from a leaking cap or the moisture is coming from the cooling of exhsaust gases escaping the flue, migrating through the brick, then a freeze cycle is causing pieces of brick to break away.

If a wood burning fireplace is venting through a chimney with any of these problems, a WETT level 2 inspecting is recommended.

If you have any questions about this article or Home Inspection in general, please contact me at 705-309-3976 or email scott@milltownhomeinspections.com