White chalky streaks on your chimney: what they mean
Efflorescence is harmless salt deposit. What it tells you is that water is moving through your masonry, and that is worth acting on.
Category Leaks & masonry repair
Crowns, flashing, tuckpointing, spalling brick and where water actually gets in.
Why chimney caps pay for themselves
A cap is one of the least expensive parts of a chimney and prevents four separate expensive problems. Here is what an open flue actually costs you.
Why chimney leaks almost always start at the top
A brown stain on the ceiling beside the chimney is usually not the roof. Here are the three places water actually gets in, and how to tell them apart.