Contractor installed the roof on a new addition in my mother's house a few years back. Since then, the new addition and adjoining patio leaks when there is rainfall with heavy winds. This occurred this past Tuesday (1/2/24) night. This rain/wind scenario only occurs about once per year. However, when it does happen, it causes damage in excess of $1000 for the wall/ceiling and floor repairs. This doesn't even account for any damage occurring between roof & ceiling that were not aware of. This also doesn't account for the leaking patio which is just a nuisance. This obviously needs to be fixed permanently as unnecessary and consistently recurring repair costs are not logical.

The contractor's response: "These leaks are common on wind driven rain."

I guess my roof was installed with superior quality as I've never had a leak to to wind driven rain.

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Do you know where it is leaking? Can you describe the roofline and where/how the leak is occurring? I won't sugar coat it, I have had instances, especially additions, where they can be challenging to devise proper installation techniques and materials to prevent leaks. Either way, it might be "common" but it should be fixable and that statement is very dismissive. If you send me your address I may be able to pull up a recent sat image and see if I can advise remotely on how best to fix it. Or, just describe it and I'll do my best. I think the contractor should be on the hook though, for what it's worth.

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55 Aspen Court, Lake Jackson, TX 77566

I've highlighted the addition in the red box. The new addition buts up to the back of the fireplace/chimney as you can see in the picture on top of the red box. The leak in the addition is coming from the ceiling roof edge that buts up against the fireplace/chimney.

It's the chimney.

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It's the chimney.

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I have a chimney on my house and it does not leak.

If the chimney didn't previously leak, then they probably either damaged the chimney with the install, or they messed up something with the roof to chimney interface. Probably need an independent roof inspector to look at it.

First, I apologize for my terrible drawing, in 2024, apparantly a 'snip' does not include the ability to add text.

Either way, I want to make sure my eyes are working....

1.) Is the 'valley' line that I have in my image accurate? It seems that way from satellite, but I can't tell.

2.) Did they add a 'cricket' on the the blue area in my drawing?

3.) Did they flash and counter flash the chimney where the new parts of the structure touch it? If you don't know what that means, let me know, and I'll find a picture.



I am struggling to figure out where the 'wind driven' part comes into play, but I'm thinking on it.

The responses and posters above, I feel are accurate. I don't know where the wind part comes in but I think the roof/chimney interface is where your issue lies.

Can OP get into the attic space and find the actual leak location? Would help if we could see that and some pictures.

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1.) Is the 'valley' line that I have in my image accurate? It seems that way from satellite, but I can't tell.

2.) Did they add a 'cricket' on the the blue area in my drawing?

3.) Did they flash and counter flash the chimney where the new parts of the structure touch it? If you don't know what that means, let me know, and I'll find a picture.

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1) Yes
2) Not sure & the house is 5 hours away.
3) Same as #2

The reason the chimney is on the valley line is that the chimney used to be the back wall of the house before the addition. I'm assuming this design was necessary due to the existing position of the chimney and the addition going on the other side of it.

Lake Jackson is right on the gulf coast and they get a lot of rain fall. This issue only occurs when very strong wind is combined with a heavy rain.

Have your mom call a roofer to take a look at it. Wind driven rain is a thing that can cause problems but you most likely have a flashing issue.

All these guys are on the right track
As for me, would call a 5-star roofer w/in-house flashing ASAP
to come fix, bill me then I bill the roofer crook.

Thiose are tough to diagnose when they only leak certain times under certain circumstances. If you want a second opinion, I can have my leak guru come take a look, but I think the contractor should be fixing it. If he won't, you have to do something. My guy gives a longer warranty than others for exactly these intermittent issues. Im happy to send him out if you'd like.

I can't think of any other way to resolve it other than having someone with leak experience put a set of eyes on it. It entirely possible it's leaking up high due to some change in the structure and wind driven rain but my suspicion, like everyone else, is that the issue lies at the roof level.

I have a couple of project managers out of Pearland. I'd be happy to dispatch someone over to take a look and help mitigate the problem for you. You can reach me at (979) 559-0514 or by email travis@pilotroof.com.

1. All the advice here is spot on
2. Really important to have crickets on the upper slope coming to the fireplace
3. Flashing is really tricky, especially where it ties in to the new construction


4. Is there brick on the backside of the chimney or does it have that el-cheapo siding stuff? Those are notorious leaking sieves as they get older and must be replaced periodically.


5. Do you have ridge vent? I have leaks during sideways driving rain and it drives me insane. (Contractor I stalled over a small section with cathedral ceilings where it served zero purpose...)