Another Roof Leak

A troubled area

The people at Patriot Roofing in Gig Harbor, Washington, stand behind their work. That’s based on the company’s quick and professional response this week to the latest leak in a troubled area of my roof (see photo). The best part: They did the work at no charge.

The flashing around the chimney has a long history of leaking with resulting damage inside to nearby ceilings and walls—both in the living room and front hall. The previous owner disclosed this when I bought the home in 2007 but assured me that the roof had been repaired. It didn’t take long, though, before the leaks were back.

Over the years I made several attempts to address the problem, both with amateur fixes (roofing cement) and by hiring a roofing contractor. Nothing I did could stand up winter after winter to Western Washington’s relentless rain. Inside, professionals repaired the ceiling and sheetrock damage, and I completed the disguise by applying stain blocker and interior paint.

Every year or two the cycle would repeat.

One winter I got a moisture meter and recorded some discouraging readings. “You don’t need that,” my neighbor said. “I can tell you the ceiling is damp without a meter.”

The irony? The home has a gas fireplace and doesn’t need a brick-and-mortar chimney. Nor does the chimney add to its curb appeal. There is no “curb” since I live at the end of long driveway.

In 2016 the home got a new roof. It would take another post to explain all of my reasons for choosing Patriot Roofing, who by far supplied the most detailed—and expensive—proposal among the estimates I got. As examples, their approach to two attention-to-detail items stood out: increasing the venting capability and leak proofing the torchdown gutters. Of course, the chimney got new flashing, counter flashing, and caulking. Call them the Cadillac of roofing companies.

“You won’t have any more problems with leaks,” their salesman told me.

Fast forward to this winter. A few days ago I noticed a small brown stain on the hallway ceiling and some loose paint at a point where the wall and ceiling join. When I checked the attic, the plywood roofing adjacent to the chimney showed water stains. The chimney is less than a foot from the latest leak evidence in the hall.

I called Patriot Roofing on Monday of this week. Two guys came out yesterday, diagnosed the problem, and repaired it. To find the leak, one man ran water from a hose around the chimney area while the other watched from inside the attic. After the repair was made, this process was repeated to make sure the leak is gone.

Here’s how the Patriot project manager described the repair in an email:

Based on the water test results C___ determined that the backpan flashing was not properly secured to the rear corner of the chimney which allowed water to wick in behind it. C___ replaced a few shingles, the backpan flashing, new ice and water shield with new sealant as well.

Should the backpan flashing have failed in less than three years? Does this type of issue mean Patriot Roofing didn’t flash the chimney correctly to begin with? I don’t know. Most chimneys don’t leak. Some do.

I’m focused more on the positive: Patriot Roofing stands behind their work and made the repair quickly and at no charge to me.