Tar light, tar bright, will you keep my chimney sealed tonight?
By itself, probably not for long.
That’s a lesson today as we head to North Stamford, Connecticut, near the Gunner home base. This section of Stamford is an oasis of privacy, with hills and woods and lots of space between houses while being only a short distance from Long Island Sound.
It’s easy to see why it’s a most desirable Connecticut city for peace and quiet.
But regardless of where you live, your house will have issues. In the case of a Stamford homeowner, it was leaks in her old roof and around her chimney.
Initially, she wasn’t sure what was going on but figured it wasn’t good. Any time it would rain, a dripping sound from the ceiling near the chimney could be heard.
To her dismay, she discovered leaks in her roof and around her chimney. With the rainy weather season looming, this became an urgent situation.
She was a little uneasy about possible project cost and the prospect of vetting roofing contractors. Fortunately, she came upon a fellow Stamford homeowner singing our praises online after a new roof installation, so she decided to put her trust in us as well.
We went to work on a roof replacement consultation and a plan. During the roof inspection, we found there was no flashing around the chimney. The only barrier of protection between the weather and the inside of our client’s residence was a thin layer of broken-down tar. Not the sign of a quality roof.
GAF Asphalt Shingle Replacement
North Stamford, CT
If chimneys are not properly sealed, you run the risk of water damage to the wood and more. All it takes is one good storm and suddenly you are looking at thousands of dollars of damage to your home exterior as well as inside.
The most effective way to prevent a roof leak near a chimney is to use flashing. Flashing is the metal barrier between the chimney and the roof. A layer of shingles or any other type of roofing materials aren’t any good without protection around them.
It might be fair to ask: Wouldn’t installing flashing during a new roof installation with a chimney be a given? For Gunner, the answer is yes.
Unfortunately, some inexperienced roofing contractors will attempt to take shortcuts and place tar around the chimney. This may offer temporary protection but will most likely result in leaking at some point, and then roof damage. If you go outside and look at your chimney and it does not appear there is flashing around it, you might want to give us a call before the next storm.
Now back to the Stamford roof damage. For the chimney, we had to scrape off the tar around it and replace the plywood. The water had penetrated, causing the original wood to rot.
GAF Asphalt Shingle Replacement
North Stamford, CT
We also needed to create a cricket and apply the flashing. A cricket is a double-triangle structure that is built behind the chimney. It diverts the water, preventing pooling and water damage to the wood, your chimney, and your roof. You may also need to update the drip edging.
It worked out perfectly that while we were fixing the chimney, we were also replacing the old roof. As always, we use the finest roofing materials available for a roof replacement.
Our client went with gorgeous architectural GAF asphalt shingles in a stunning Pewter Gray. Asphalt shingles are a standard for roof replacement and a quality roof, and GAF is a brand you can trust. In fact, GAF asphalt shingles are the top seller in the United States.
GAF asphalt shingles are cost effective, durable, and come with a solid warranty. Plus, the GAF asphalt shingles color selection is amazing. If, say, you want a gray roof, it doesn’t have to be Pewter. There are several other gray roof shade options available, and other colors, of course.
This new roof was a rather large job by square foot. The house was three stories, and the size of the roof and height of the roof made it challenging. Fortunately, our team was able to get everything done in less than a week, and the gray roof looked smashing!
GAF Asphalt Shingle Replacement
North Stamford, CT
We know a roof replacement can be an inconvenience to the homeowner. Here at Gunner, we want to minimize that as much as we can, which is why we always put the appropriate-sized team on the job. That way we can get the job done quickly and get our clients back to loving their home.
When all the work was done, our client had a quality roof and was relieved to know the next time it rained she wouldn’t have to fret about her chimney. She could again enjoy her fireplace (and new roof!) knowing there wasn’t water pooling around it.
Maybe you have roof damage or need a new roof or an updated roofing system. Maybe you need help about roofing costs or roofing materials. Contact us. We’re the roofing contractor you’re looking for.
City: North Stamford
State: CT
ZIP: 06905
Category: Roofing
Materials used (manufacturer): GAF
Materials used (type): Architectural
Materials used (color): Pewter Gray
Project Cost: $50,000
Time to Complete: One week