Maintenance
If you’ve got a chimney, the flashing around it is one of the first things I check on every inspection, and it’s something most homeowners never think about. That thin strip of metal where the chimney meets the roof deck isn’t watertight on its own, and in Georgia’s heat-humidity-storm cycle, the sealant and solder joints break down faster than people expect.
Warning signs to watch for: rust streaks running down the brick, a ceiling stain near the chimney after a hard rain, or flashing that looks loose or lifted when you glance up from the yard.
Catching chimney flashing problems early is usually a simple repair. Wait, and water gets into the decking, which is a much bigger fix that insurance doesn’t always cover once it’s ruled wear and tear instead of storm damage.