My Husband is a Genius

So among the many reasons I married Matt is that he's a genius. :) Okay, just kidding (about that being why I married him, not about him being one). His engineer analytical mind is just what I need sometimes! And last night and today were "those times." :)

Last night as we sat talking on the couch in the family room when I noticed an odd shadow on the brick of the fireplace. As Matt was talking to me, I kept looking around the room trying to determine what in the world could be casting the shadow. Suddenly I hopped up and checked out the brick. It wasn't a shadow.... oh no. It was water. Oh yes...... I mean, oh NO!!! Matt was at my side in 2 seconds inspecting the wall himself. The strangest thing was that the water seemed to be seeping right through the very brick!! We eventually figured out that the water was seeping through the mortar, but still. Not at the wall's seam with the ceiling, but rather an inch or two below that... right through the mortar. Three drips making their way down the wall. Thankfully they were slow drips, nothing was damaged along the hearth, and we just set a towel up to absorb any moisture through the night. It was dry this morning, and Matt planned to come home at a very decent hour to get up on the roof for a closer inspection.

That brings us to this evening. And the genius factor. Matt designed several experiments (it reminded me SO much of Dad!) to test different areas and narrow down the source of the drip. He checked all along the flashing and sealant and felt like that was kinda of dried out and maybe not sealing properly. He checked the shingles all around the area in question. Then we got the hose. He systematically sprayed different areas (with me inside looking for the drip to start back up) until we eliminated some as the source and narrowed it down to one place. We think it is indeed the sealing goop (that's the technical term) between the chimney and the roof. Matt said he could poke holes in it! We also sprayed and sprayed and sprayed the roof, but no leak. I did see drips, however, after he sprayed the area joining the roof and chimney and it soaked a bit. First the mortar inside darkened in three spots (right next to each other), and then the drips started. So, this weekend we'll be buying more goop and sealing that puppy back up. We'll let you know how it turns out (another storm is coming through right now, and the drips have started back up). :) We're praying that's the solution, especially because our roof is only 4 years old!

That's my little update for now. I've been saving up funny things my kids have said lately... but I keep forgetting them! Hopefully they'll come back to me soon and I'll fill you in on their little quips. :)

And if anyone actually does make up a multiplication rap, I'll be sure to pass that along too. :)

Have a great beginning to the weekend!

Love,
Becca