Missing Flashing Causing Leak Repaired With Cement?

Question

Our landlord got a contractor out to fix the flashing on our top floor flat chimney that was missing and causing water to pour down our wall during a storm (the whole flashing on the side was gone). 

I had a look today and it looks like they have just covered the bottom of the chimney with some cement mix, they haven't replaced the flashing at all. I'm a bit worried due to the age of the property (its a 1900s building) and hot/cold weather that it is going to crack and we will be back to square one.
 
Can anyone advise? I don't want to finally paint/decorate our living room after almost 12 months just to have it get ruined again!

Luke · Answer

It’s quite common for a roofer to do a temporary repair on missing or failed flashing using cement/mastic, but it’s usually not considered a proper long-term fix.
A proper repair is:
- replacing or re-securing the flashing.
- chasing new lead flashing into the brickwork using the correct lead code.
- or fitting stepped flashings/trays.

Cement alone tends to crack with movement and frost, seperate from lead/brick over time, and fail again within months to a few years.

Neil · Answer

I can help resolve any issue with the roof. 
It needs to be carefully removed 
Them redone with a lead flashing there doesn't need to be any cement whatsoever.

Ian · Answer

It wants a proper Lead flashing reinstating  and sealed correctly sand cement mix not waterproof and will crack overtime

Mike · Answer

Wants to be flashed with code 4 lead  . cement is not suitable  for making a chimney water tight .

Colin · Answer

Hi you need lead flashing to be chased into the brickwork and then sealed with a lead sealant. Regards Colin from manor roofing.

Peter · Answer

Hi you need to chase the lead into brickwork then seal with lead mate or a sealant

Benjamin · Answer

Yes flashing beeds to be fitted into the chimney and must be sealed with lead sealant and depending on the spaces inbetween it could also be fitted into the chimbey with cement thia looks and sounds like cowboys have just bodged the job for him hope you get this sorted soon thanks

Graham · Answer

From a roofing point of view, what they’ve done sounds like a temporary bodge rather than a proper repair. On a 1900s property especially, chimney flashing should be done in lead, properly stepped into the brickwork and dressed into the roof so it can move with temperature changes. Cement “fillet” repairs might stop water short term, but they’re known to crack over time with heat, frost and general movement in the chimney stack, so your concern is valid.

If the original flashing was missing completely and they’ve just built up cement at the base, it’s very likely water will find its way back in again eventually, especially in heavy wind-driven rain. It’s not really a long-term fix, more of a quick patch to stop immediate leaks.

Proper job would be to remove the cement, install new lead flashing (usually code 4 or 5 depending on exposure), chase it into the brickwork with a proper lead wedge and seal, and make sure the apron and side flashings are correctly dressed so water is thrown clear of the wall.

If you’re about to decorate, I’d be cautious because if it is just cemented, there’s a fair chance it could fail again. At the very least, it’s worth pushing the landlord for confirmation that lead flashing has actually been installed and not just temporarily sealed.

Cullan · Answer

I would definitely advise getting rid off the cement flaunch  and replace with lead flashing returning into the brick course it's self .

George · Answer

Hi,

All chimeny stack should have code 4 lead flashing around front / sides and back and sealed into the mortar with flexible lead sealant.

regards 
George

Missing Flashing Causing Leak Repaired With Cement?

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