Roof Leak - can’t figure out what it could be :(

Newuser0

Doozergirl said:

I can recommend you a roofer.  Which bit if Brum? 

I think you should vent it first.   Is it fresh plaster? 

It could be a bit of condensation.  It's on a join which is relatively protected from the rain, but it could easily be a thermal bridge.   

I’m around the Great Barr/Hamstead area. 

The plaster was done in December 2019 so definitely dry by now lol it was under coated 2 weeks ago.

thank you! 

stuart45

Doozergirl's advice about venting it is the best step to start off with. The problem with your stacks could also be that the brickwork does not come out far enough. If you look at the drawing, the third part is how it should be at the plate level. The cavity then protects from any rain entering the brickwork on the stack.
I doubt if yours has the cavity like this.

Janxx

Sorry for jumping in on your thread but I have exactly the same problem as you but not able to give advise as such.
I have spent a thousands on having the roof fixed, lead around chimney stack replaced and still damp and smelly wall and floor around where the chimney is! 

The house I bought has had the fireplace bricked up and capped off at the top. The chimney is also external like yours and there is no vent.
Also another chimney stack on the other side of my house has been knocked down to roof level, capped off and now there is damp wall inside and what looks like soot on the external chimney breast. 
 After doing a search on here and especially Doozergirl advice on damp around chimneys I think I need to get vented. Just got to find someone who is not going to rip me off!   
I had bookmarked yours and another to do with chimneys and definitely think this is where we should go.
I have been in my house for 3 years and is just getting worse.    

Newuser0

Janxx said:

Sorry for jumping in on your thread but I have exactly the same problem as you but not able to give advise as such.
I have spent a thousands on having the roof fixed, lead around chimney stack replaced and still damp and smelly wall and floor around where the chimney is! 

The house I bought has had the fireplace bricked up and capped off at the top. The chimney is also external like yours and there is no vent.
Also another chimney stack on the other side of my house has been knocked down to roof level, capped off and now there is damp wall inside and what looks like soot on the external chimney breast. 
 After doing a search on here and especially Doozergirl advice on damp around chimneys I think I need to get vented. Just got to find someone who is not going to rip me off!   
I had bookmarked yours and another to do with chimneys and definitely think this is where we should go.
I have been in my house for 3 years and is just getting worse.    

No problem on jumping on the thread, the quicker we can find a resolution and help others the better

Falafels

Newuser0 said:

Thank you for all the info guys! 

The house was built in the 1930’s so definitely no liner.

In terms of the stains, here’s some images that may help.

The red circles are the new damp spots. The green circle was were the old wet patch was, which I feel is now dry.

the purple line Is approx where the external chimney is running up.


Externally, the red circles showing approx new stains location. Green line showing the master bedroom size and purple to reflect the interior pic.



I’ll go in to the loft and have a good look when I’m off and see if I can see anything. However, before the work was carried out for flashing, soakers etc the roofer had a look in the loft and said it was bone dry

Thank you for all the help again guys! 

Also, can anyone recommend a good roofer or builder for this job in Birmingham?

I'm in Bromsgrove, and these guys did a fantastic job for me a couple of years ago. Like yourself, I had leaks around the chimney area which nobody seemed able to sort out - but they did! Not cheap, but when you consider the amount you spend fiddling around and still getting the problem, well worth it: https://www.gmroofingservices.co.uk/

JohnB47

You are getting some really good advice here. However, as you suggested yourself, you really do need to get into the loft with a good lamp/torch and have a careful look and feel about. Also, try getting yourself secure and try turning the light off. Wait a bit and see if you can see any daylight coming through. 
Bear in mind that water/damp can track a fair distance from the source to where it causes a stain.
I've been there and done that, to find damp timberwork and a good guide as to what needed fixed - on two houses so far. 
It still might not be conclusive but that is the very first thing I would have done.