Rhode Island’s freeze-thaw cycles are the biggest culprit. Water gets into small cracks in your masonry, freezes during winter, expands, and makes those cracks bigger. This process repeats every winter until you have serious structural problems. Damaged flashing is another common cause. The metal strips that seal the gap between your chimney and roof deteriorate over time, especially with our heavy snow loads and ice dams. When flashing fails, water pours right into your home. Missing or damaged chimney caps let rain and snow fall directly down your flue. Without proper protection at the top, water has a straight path to your fireplace and the surrounding masonry.