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R.15 · Residential roofing

Chimney flashing repair in Tulsa.

The chimney is the most common source of roof leaks in older Tulsa homes. The brick moves. The mortar cracks. The metal flashing that was tuck-pointed into those mortar joints pulls free. When someone caulks over it, the fix lasts two or three years. When the flashing is replaced and the mortar is tuck-pointed correctly, it lasts until the next re-roof.

Step flashing replacedCounter flashing embeddedMortar tuck-pointedSaddle installed if needed

Q: How do I know my roof leak is coming from the chimney flashing?

A: If your leak appears during rain only, shows up near or directly below the chimney, or stains the wall near the fireplace, chimney flashing is the likely cause. We inspect the full assembly from the roof: step flashing, counter flashing, mortar condition, and the saddle at the uphill face. Most chimney leaks trace to counter flashing that has separated from the mortar.

The old Midtown Tulsa neighborhoods, along with homes in the 74103 and 74105 ZIP codes, have brick chimneys that range from 40 to 80 years old. These chimneys have experienced hundreds of Oklahoma freeze-thaw cycles. Each cycle works the mortar joints slightly looser. Over decades, counter flashing that was originally embedded two inches into the mortar joint now sits in a gap that widens with every winter.

We have inspected chimneys in South Tulsa where the counter flashing was attached solely with a layer of tar that someone applied when the original mortar failed. That tar held for a few years. When it peeled, the entire chimney-to-roof transition was open. No step flashing visible, no mortar connection, just a gap.

We replace chimney flashing correctly. New step flashing interwoven with shingles on all four sides. Counter flashing cut and tuck-pointed into fresh mortar. Saddle at the uphill face if the chimney is wide enough to require it. That assembly, done right, lasts until the roof around it needs replacing. See our roof flashing page for other flashing types.

Chimney flashing failures

Five failure modes we repair.

Each one has a specific cause and a specific correct repair method.
01

Counter flashing pulled from mortar

The most common failure. Counter flashing that was tuck-pointed into mortar pulls free as the mortar deteriorates. The entire side of the chimney becomes an open water path.

02

Step flashing missing or corroded

Original step flashing that was never properly interwoven with shingles, or that has corroded through over decades of water contact, needs full replacement.

03

No saddle behind wide chimney

Water ponds behind chimneys wider than 30 inches without a saddle. That standing water accelerates every other failure on the list. If no saddle exists, it needs to be installed.

04

Caulk-only previous repair

Multiple layers of roofing caulk applied over failed flashing as a series of temporary fixes. When the caulk finally fails completely, the underlying structural failure is often worse than when it started.

05

Water staining inside near fireplace

Brown staining on the wall or ceiling near the fireplace or chimney breast is the interior symptom. The water is entering at the roof-to-chimney junction and traveling down through the wall assembly.

Chimney flashing process

Replace the assembly, not just the sealant.

01/04

Assess the full assembly

Step flashing, counter flashing, saddle condition, mortar joint integrity. We photograph every element before we remove anything. This is the diagnostic record.

Complete check
02/04

Remove failed flashing

Old step flashing removed from under the shingles. Old counter flashing cut out of the mortar joints. We clear the existing assembly completely rather than building on top of failure.

Full removal
03/04

Install new flashing system

New step flashing interwoven with shingles on all four sides. New counter flashing cut, bent, and tuck-pointed into chased mortar joints. Saddle installed at uphill face if needed.

Correct assembly
04/04

Document and warrant

Before and after photos of the complete assembly. Mortar tuck-pointing time given to cure before inspection. Written warranty on all flashing work.

Written warranty

Chimney leaks get worse every winter. Fix it now.

(918) 978-2660Talk to a project manager todaySchedule chimney inspection
Why AE Roofing

We handle both the metal and the masonry.

Chimney flashing repair requires both roofing knowledge and masonry knowledge. The mortar tuck-pointing has to be right for the counter flashing to hold. The step flashing has to be properly integrated with the shingle course above it. When these two disciplines are handled by separate companies, things fall through the gap.

We handle both on the same crew. We cut, form, and install the metal. We tuck-point the mortar joints for the counter flashing. We integrate the new flashing with the existing shingle courses. One scope, one warranty, one company responsible for the result. That is how chimney flashing repair should work.

Service area

Chimney flashing repair across Tulsa and:

Broken ArrowCoverage
OwassoCoverage
BixbyCoverage
JenksCoverage
Sand SpringsCoverage
SapulpaCoverage
ClaremoreCoverage
CatoosaCoverage
Chimney flashing FAQ

Questions about
chimney leaks.

Call us if you have an active chimney leak situation.

Ask us directly
Old Tulsa brick chimneys move. The freeze-thaw cycles from November through March work mortar joints loose, brick expands and contracts, and the entire chimney mass settles slightly over decades. Counter flashing embedded in mortar joints pulls free. Step flashing bends out of alignment. These are structural movements that caulk cannot permanently accommodate.
Step flashing is the individual metal pieces interwoven with the shingles along the sides of the chimney. Counter flashing is the metal that caps the step flashing from above, typically embedded in the mortar joints of the brick. Both must work together. One without the other fails.
It depends on what failed. Counter flashing that has pulled away from sound mortar joints can sometimes be re-tuck-pointed back in. Step flashing that is bent or corroded needs replacement. We assess each situation honestly and recommend the repair that will actually last.
A saddle is a peaked metal structure installed at the uphill side of a chimney to divert water around it rather than letting it accumulate behind the chimney mass. Chimneys wider than 30 inches are required by code to have a saddle. Narrower chimneys benefit from one regardless.
No. Caulk-only repairs on chimney flashing typically last one to three years. When the caulk cracks in an Oklahoma temperature swing, water is back in. We replace the failed components. Mortar is tuck-pointed. Step flashing is interwoven with new shingles if needed. Counter flashing is embedded, not just surface-caulked.
You need both skills in the same crew. The flashing repair requires someone who understands how the roof assembly and the masonry interact. We handle both sides of the repair: the metal flashing and the mortar tuck-pointing. We do not hand the masonry portion off to a separate crew.
Ready when you are

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isn't waiting.

Whether your shingles are curling, your gutters are sagging, or you just want a second opinion before your insurer's deadline runs out, book the inspection. We don't charge for it, and we don't push for it.

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