Chimney problems we find in Buechel and Hikes Point, Louisville
Documented by David York, Owner
This page is based on 7 completed Chimney Experts inspections in Buechel and Hikes Point. The photos are from those inspections, and nothing in them identifies a home.
Buechel and Hikes Point have a real mix of homes. The ones we checked with a known build year range from 1962 to 1998. That mix shows up in the fireplaces too: brick fireplaces, factory-built fireplaces and a wood-burning insert with a metal liner.
Older brick chimneys here need crown and mortar work. Newer homes tend to have trouble with flashing, caulk and metal parts. The crown is still the top problem. In 5 of 7 homes the crown had no overhang to throw water off, and in 4 the flashing where the chimney meets the roof was not right. Flashing problems can show up as a leak or a stain on the ceiling near the chimney.
This page shows what our crew found in 7 inspections in Buechel and Hikes Point, with real photos from those chimneys.
What we found in 7 Buechel and Hikes Point inspections
- A crown with no overhang5 of 7
- Flashing problems at the roof4 of 7
- A crown poured tight against the flue tile with no gap4 of 7
- A cracked or broken crown3 of 7
- Worn or missing mortar on the outside brick3 of 7
- Failed caulk or sealant on the chimney2 of 7
- A crown that is too thin2 of 7
- Open mortar joints between flue tiles2 of 7
- A rough, uncoated smoke chamber with gaps2 of 7
Photos from these inspections
What it means for you
Flashing and crown problems are water problems. Water at the roof line can rot wood and stain ceilings, and water at the top of the chimney breaks down brick and mortar. They are fixed by resetting or replacing the flashing and by rebuilding or repairing the crown.
If you have a wood insert or a factory-built fireplace, rust and flaking inside the metal liner or pipe mean the parts are wearing out, and they need to be checked before you burn. Open joints between flue tiles and a rough smoke chamber get repaired so smoke stays inside the chimney. NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys, calls for an inspection once a year.
Want us to take a look at yours?
Questions we hear in Buechel and Hikes Point
I have a stain on the ceiling near my chimney. Could it be the flashing?
It could be. Flashing problems can show up as a leak or a stain on the ceiling near the chimney. In 4 of 7 Buechel and Hikes Point homes we inspected, the flashing where the chimney meets the roof was not right. It is fixed by resetting or replacing the flashing.
What is the most common chimney problem in Buechel and Hikes Point?
The crown. In 5 of 7 homes the crown had no overhang to throw water off, and in 4 it was poured tight against the flue tile with no gap. Water at the top of the chimney breaks down brick and mortar, so the crown gets rebuilt or repaired.
My wood insert's metal liner is rusty inside. Is that a problem?
Yes. Rust and flaking inside the metal liner or pipe of a wood insert or factory-built fireplace mean the parts are wearing out, and they need to be checked before you burn. NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys, calls for an inspection once a year.
Not sure what your chimney is telling you? Try our chimney problem diagnosis guide, or browse all of our inspection findings.
What homeowners say about working with us
“we had 3 different chimney companies give us different opinions on the same chimney. one said it was fine, one said it needed a full rebuild, one said something in between. chimney experts was the 4th visit and was the most specific about what was actually wrong and why. that specificity is what finally let us make a decision”
“Had a full chimney inspection done before listing our home in Taylorsville. The report came back with a few minor items that we addressed before the buyers could raise concerns. The documentation was clear enough that we included it in the disclosure package without any hesitation.”