Chimney Flashing and Repair in Hartford

Why do older brick chimneys leak around Hartford?

Older brick absorbs water, and the mortar between the bricks wears faster than the brick does. In winter that water freezes inside the masonry, and the frost slowly opens joints and cracks the crown. Meanwhile the flashing at the base is shifting and rusting.

Hartford's reported median year built is 1931, with about 38.5 percent of homes built before 1939. Houses of that age often carry chimneys that have been repointed or patched at least once, and sometimes the flashing has had more than one coat of roof cement over it. A roofer working on a chimney like that is reading a history of repairs.

In a freeze, water in the masonry expands. Hartford's January highs average about 36 F and lows around 22 F, so a brick chimney in this area goes through many freeze and thaw cycles in a winter. The cold, damp upper section gets the worst of it because it is exposed on all four sides.

What do roofers check on a chimney that homeowners miss?

Roofers check the back of the chimney, where the roof slopes up toward it, and the underside of the counter-flashing. They also look for old roof cement hiding failed metal and for mortar joints behind the flashing. These hidden spots are where chimney leaks most often start.

The back of a chimney is a natural trap, because snow and water slide down the slope and stop against the brick. On a wider chimney a small peaked saddle, sometimes called a cricket, turns that water around the sides. If there is no saddle and the leak is behind the chimney, a roofer will usually bring it up.

Counter-flashing is the part most people never notice. It is metal set into a cut in the mortar that laps over the base pieces. If it is loose, or the mortar around it has crumbled, the whole joint is open even when the metal looks fine from below.

• Rust at the bottom edge of the metal or at the corners of the chimney
• Open gaps between the metal and the brick, filled only with sealant
• Cracks in the crown or a cap that is missing, bent or loose
• Water staining on the attic framing beside the chimney

Does historic-district housing change chimney work?

It can. Wethersfield's Old Wethersfield district covers about 2 square miles with roughly 1,100 buildings, more than 150 of them built before 1850. On a very old house in a district, ask whether local rules apply to visible chimney or roof changes before work begins.

Old chimneys on very old houses often have mortar that is softer than modern mixes, and a mason may want to match it so the brick is not damaged. A roofer can tell you what is needed on the roof, but the question of what the brick can take usually belongs to a mason.

If your house sits in a historic district, ask the town's building office whether district review applies to the work. The historic home roofing page covers that side of roofing in more detail.

Do I need a permit to repair chimney flashing in Connecticut?

Probably not for flashing alone. Connecticut guidance indicates minor repairs typically do not need a permit, while a full re-roof does under the 2022 State Building Code. Rebuilding a chimney is different, so confirm with your town building office before any structural work.

Permit rules differ by town, and permit-guide listings name building permit pages for West Hartford, East Hartford, Glastonbury and Newington. The roofer or mason doing the work usually knows the local routine, and you can ask who is pulling any permit before you sign.