Leak by the chimney could be caused by rusted flashing
Q. I think rain is coming through the cement blocks of my fireplace, and my carpet gets wet. How do I fix this?
A. This moisture getting into your home could be getting in where the chimney and roof connect. The water can easily trickle down to the floor and wet the carpet without showing up elsewhere.
One of the most common reasons for a leaking chimney is failed chimney-to-roof flashing. The chimney to roof flashing is designed to prevent water leakage where the chimney penetrates through the roofing material. The flashing is made of sheetmetal and can rust over time.
A tiny pinhole in the sheetmetal flashing can result in a serious leak.
The roof is a foreign place to walk upon and we suggest that you contact a sheetmetal contractor or a roofing contractor to check out the problem.
Q. The storm door on my home is falling apart and letting in cold drafts. I was doing measurements so I could replace it and found out that the doorframe is not a perfect rectangle, but has different lengths on each side -- like a trapezoid. How can I put in a door that will fit right in this shape?
A. Although you could purchase a custom-made storm door that would easily fit the frame's current unusual shape, it might be better to invest the time in making a repair that would allow you to install a standard rectangular storm door.
All you have to do is adjust the door frame.
Simply remove the trim moldings from both inside and out. You'll find shim shingles attached between the doorframe and the house frame. These act as spacers that can be removed, adjusted, replaced or whatever else is needed to "square up" the door frame and bring it to its original rectangular position.
Keep in mind that once you have completed this task the old trapezoidal door won't fit. Once the frame is correctly aligned, use expanding foam sealant at the entire area between the door frame and the house frame. This step will substantially reduce drafts and improve your home's energy efficiency.
Finally, reinstall the interior and exterior trim. And don't forget to make sure that your new door comes with weather stripping for top, bottom and sides.