Source of Water Stains Showing up on our Chimney Wall?

​Recently o​n our 1st (parlour floor) and 2nd floors, ​there are water stains and a few paint cracks​. Important Note: These stains/paint cracks are ONLY on 1 of the chimney walls (there are 3 chimneys). Despite numerous​​ paint​ ​stain ​treatments,​ the water stains keep coming back through the plaster walls. There’s clearly a moisture problem going on behind the walls.

​Here are two possibilities where the water stains may be coming from:

​1. ​We have a 4 story townhouse. Adjacent to us is a 3 story that an investor started to renovate. They removed their roof​ (which is level with our 2nd floor)​, presumably because it was falling apart. ​Then they stopped working ​more than 6​ months ago because of multiple violations, and it’s not clear when (or if) they’re returning to work on this house.​ They​ loosely covered the top of their house with a blue tarp. Without a roof, there is no sealant between our buildings​. So rain water ​goes through the crack between the buildings. But, is it going going in between the bricks on our wall (which used to be covered by our neighbor’s roof) and -going across the empty chute, to show up through the plaster walls?! Is the mortar between these bricks (that have never seen the elements) weakened?

​2. THAT chimney was uncovered on top (exposed to the elements) for many years. We recently covered it temporarily. But we did not ​dry the chute. Maybe there was standing water that needs to dry out? Maybe a high-powered heat fan blowing down into the chimney for a few hours will resolve the problem?

Firstly, what kind of professional should I contact to determine which source the water stain is coming from?
Or do you have DIY advice how to remedy this myself?

BedStuyGuy

in Exteriors 7 years and 7 months ago

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robyim1 | 7 years and 7 months ago

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Wait for the area to dry out. Grab a water hose and do a test by soaking the party wall. If the area becomes wet then you know the cause. If not do more tests.

daveinbedstuy | 7 years and 7 months ago

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I think a good roofing guy could determine the source of the issues including looking at the adjacent building issues. Capping an unused chimney shouldn’t really lock in moisture that would do that amount of damage but it does sound like the unsealed roof/parapet/party wall is the most likely source of the water.