Chimney questions.

[wayne soper]

1) Should this crack be caulked. There is a flashing between the house and the chimney side so water will not enter. This is just shrinkage in the concrete.
2) Is there a code that states the slate cap should extend out past the chimney side. This one is small by my standards and no drip edge has been installed at the chimney top.
3) Is there a minimum clearance required between the top of the flue liner and the bottom of the slate cap?

Thanks in advance, Wayne

[Jerry McCarthy]

Wayne
That separation of the chimney stack from the house may indicate building movement/settlement? It would also allow moisture infiltration into an area it shouldn’t be.
Then there’s no SA and I would be concerned about the chimney's "draw" due to the narrow opening, but that's not a concern for home inspectors, thank goodness.

[wayne soper]

Jerry, Not building movement. They have installed a flashing between the house and chimney and thenpointed in the gap. Possibly shrinkage of concrete along the flashing edge. Thanks for the info on the flue clearance.
Wayne

[Brian Robertson]

Hi, thats some chimney! The cap must slope and and there needs to be a drip edge at least 25mm (1 inch) past the outside edge of the chimney. As far as the height off the flue it's obviously way to close but I'm not sure about requirements. No spark arrester or animal guard at all that I notice either. Hope that helps.

[Ken Meyer]

So the gray vertical band against the siding is the metal flashing? That's a pretty big gap, looks like it will be an ongoing problem to keep it sealed.

[wayne soper]

My feeling was that since the concrete filler coat will not bond to the flashing there will be a crack. The area I photo'd was in the center of the chimney and had the largest gap, around 3/16. I very rarely see flashing in this area. Possibly due to chimney install on a Modular home. Never the less. They have the report and it's ALL in there with big flags waving around. Thanks, Wayne

[Ken Amelin]

Wayne,

In my part of the world (ocean exposure and high winds), the flashing along the sidewall/chimney tucks behind the siding and lays on the surface of the brick chimney (2-3 inch exposure). (Sorry, but couldn't find a picture for you)

Your photo shows it behind the brick. This is not common practice in my area.

I would assume that the tuck behind the brick only goes in an inch or so, therfore water could easily get into the crack and contact the sheathing. Caulking is not the answer for defective flashing. I would write it up as defective flashing installation.