Had the same issue about five years back. Thought I could get away with just patching up the mortar joints—looked good for about a year, then every heavy rain brought bits of mortar down into the gutters again. Ended up biting the bullet and rebuilding the chimney from the flashing up. Cost more upfront, but honestly haven't worried about it since. Did you notice any water stains inside yet, or is it still holding off?
Sounds like you caught it just in time. Have you checked the attic yet? Sometimes water sneaks in there first, leaving stains or damp insulation before you ever see anything inside the house. Also, did you notice if the chimney crown was cracked or deteriorating? That's usually the culprit behind mortar issues—patching joints alone rarely solves it long-term. Hate to say it, but your roof might be nudging you toward a rebuild sooner rather than later...
"Have you checked the attic yet? Sometimes water sneaks in there first, leaving stains or damp insulation before you ever see anything inside the house."
Good call on the attic—it's usually the first place to show trouble. I'd also suggest taking a quick look around your vents and flashing. Had a client last year who thought their chimney was the main issue, but it turned out the flashing around a vent pipe had started lifting just enough to let water in. Sneaky little leaks like that can fool you into thinking it's something bigger.
As for the chimney crown, you're spot on about patching joints not being a permanent fix. I've seen plenty of cases where folks keep patching mortar thinking it'll hold, but if the crown itself is cracked or worn out, moisture just keeps getting in. Might wanna get someone up there to check it thoroughly—could save you from a bigger headache down the road.
Hate to say it, but roofs have a way of letting you know when they're ready to retire...sounds like yours might be dropping hints already.
"Sneaky little leaks like that can fool you into thinking it's something bigger."
Yeah, tell me about it. When we first moved in, I was convinced our roof was shot because of a water stain on the ceiling. Turned out it was just a tiny gap around the bathroom vent—easy fix, thankfully. But now I'm wondering...how often should you really be checking things like flashing and vents? Feels like there's always something sneaking up on me with this house.
Same boat here—first-time homeowner, and it feels like I'm always chasing down something small before it turns into a disaster. A few things I've picked up:
- Check flashing and vents at least once a year, especially after heavy storms.
- Keep an eye out for cracked caulking or rust spots; they're sneaky signs of trouble.
- Don't ignore gutters either...clogged ones can cause water to back up under shingles.
Speaking of gutters, anyone have luck with those gutter guard things? Worth the money or nah?
