Why So Many Tulsa Roof Leaks Start at the Chimney (And How to Stop Yours Before It Costs You Thousands)
If you’re dealing with water spots near your fireplace or in the ceiling close to a chimney — you're not alone.
In fact, more than 50% of the leak repairs Tier-One Roofing performs in Tulsa begin at the same place: the chimney.
It’s no surprise. Chimneys are one of the most complex, leak-prone parts of any roofing system — and in Tulsa’s older homes, many chimneys were built decades before today’s materials or flashing standards even existed.
The issue isn’t just bad luck. It’s a combination of poor flashing, old mortar, settling brick, temperature swings, and careless past repairs — all working together to create slow, expensive water damage.
Let’s walk through why chimney leaks are so common in Tulsa, what signs to look for before it gets worse, and how Tier-One Roofing permanently solves the problem — no shortcuts, no patchwork.
Why Chimney Leaks Are So Common in Tulsa Homes
Tulsa has an abundance of older homes in neighborhoods like Maple Ridge, Swan Lake, and Florence Park. Many of these homes have:
Brick chimneys with aged mortar
Wood siding or stucco adjacent to chimneys
Steep roof pitches with multiple angles intersecting around the chimney
Layers of roofing from past remodels, each with different flashing work
This creates a perfect storm for water intrusion.
Here’s what we see over and over again:
Improper flashing installation.
Flashing — the metal that seals the area between your roof and chimney — is often done wrong. Some roofers reuse old flashing or skip critical parts like counter flashing altogether.
Old or deteriorating mortar joints.
Chimneys made of brick or stone eventually crack and shift. Water seeps into mortar joints, trickles down, and ends up inside your attic — or your drywall.
Poor roof-to-wall transitions.
Where the roof meets the chimney wall, water needs to be carefully diverted. Many roofs lack the correct step flashing or cricket, allowing water to pool and find its way in.
Settling chimneys or roof movement.
Over time, chimneys and roofing materials shift in different directions. That tiny movement is enough to crack seals, pop nails, and separate flashing.
Noticed staining near your chimney or a faint musty smell?
Call Tier-One Roofing today for a free, chimney-specific roof inspection.
We’ll show you exactly what’s going on — and what it’ll take to fix it permanently.
The 5 Most Common Chimney Leak Failures We Find in Tulsa
Let’s get specific. These are the most frequent chimney-related issues we uncover during inspections:
1. Missing or Incomplete Step Flashing
Step flashing is essential. It's a series of metal pieces woven into the shingles that bridge the roof and the chimney. When missing — or when only face flashing is used — water flows behind the shingles, not over them.
2. Cracked or Failing Counter Flashing
Counter flashing covers and protects the edges of step flashing by embedding into the chimney. If it’s lifted, rusted, or pulling away from the brick, it no longer does its job — and water follows the path right into your home.
3. No Cricket (Saddle) on Wide Chimneys
If your chimney is 30 inches or wider and doesn’t have a cricket, it’s violating modern building code. Crickets divert water around the backside of chimneys. Without one, water pools and pushes directly into seams.
4. Mortar Cracks and Brick Saturation
Old chimney brick soaks up water like a sponge. Then it releases that moisture inside your attic or wall cavity over days or weeks. When freeze-thaw cycles hit in spring or fall, these cracks widen — fast.
5. Flashing Tied Into Siding Instead of Chimney
In some Tulsa homes with vertical siding or stucco, we’ve found roofers improperly installing flashing into the siding instead of the chimney masonry itself — leading to predictable leaks year after year.
Why Chimney Leaks Are Hard to Diagnose
Water is tricky. It often enters at one point and shows up somewhere else entirely. That’s why many homeowners misidentify where the problem starts.
We’ve seen:
Ceiling stains 10 feet from the actual leak
Drips appearing only during wind-driven rain
Mold growth in walls where flashing failed years ago
Repeated leak repairs that never actually addressed the chimney
Tier-One Roofing approaches chimney areas with a forensic mindset.
We trace the water path, use moisture detection tools, and pull back shingles if necessary to identify:
Exact entry points
Flashing flaws
Underlayment rot
Framing damage
We don’t guess. We prove it — with photos, documentation, and clear explanations.
Had a leak “repaired” before that came back? Or still can’t find the source?
Let Tier-One Roofing run a full leak audit.
We’ll track the damage, show you the source, and build a fix that lasts.
The Real Cost of Ignoring a Chimney Leak in Tulsa
It might just be a water stain now — but left untreated, chimney leaks evolve into much bigger problems:
Rotted roof decking
Moldy attic insulation
Buckled drywall or plaster
Structural framing damage
Collapsing ceilings
Electrical risks near wet junction boxes
Decreased property value and failed home inspections
We’ve repaired homes where a $600 flashing fix, if done early, could have prevented $15,000+ in interior restoration.
Your chimney isn’t just a charming part of your home.
It’s a known point of weakness — and treating it that way prevents major repair bills.
How Tier-One Roofing Solves Chimney Leaks Permanently
We don’t patch flashing and walk away. We rebuild the whole system if that’s what it takes — and we do it to the highest standard.
Here’s what our chimney leak repair process often includes:
Full removal of old flashing and compromised shingles
Fresh step flashing, custom bent for your roof pitch
Chimney counter flashing embedded into mortar joints (not just glued on)
Installation of a cricket when required by code
Resealing or repointing chimney mortar as needed
Full waterproofing membrane installation around the area
Ventilation and moisture check inside the attic
Complete before-and-after photo documentation
And we back our work with real warranties — not empty promises.
Don’t trust your chimney leak to a quick fix.
Call Tier-One Roofing.
We’ll solve it for good — and protect your home from the damage no one else caught.
Why Tulsa Homeowners Trust Tier-One Roofing
We’re not here to just sell roofs.
We’re here to solve problems, prevent damage, and help you make the best decision for your home — even if that means doing less, not more.
Homeowners across Tulsa trust Tier-One Roofing because:
We know historic homes, complex chimneys, and Tulsa’s unique weather
We show you everything — photos, scopes, and code references
We don’t pressure. We educate. Then we execute.
We’re veteran-owned — which means precision, accountability, and honor matter
We do the job right — or we don’t do it at all
We’ve spent years earning the trust of your neighbors, your realtors, your home inspectors, and your insurance agents.
Because we don’t want to be the biggest — just the most trusted.
Seeing signs of a leak near your chimney?
Call Tier-One Roofing for a no-cost, no-pressure inspection.
Let’s fix the problem before it spreads — and give you peace of mind, not just patched drywall.