Chimney and fireplace repair in Tulsa
Water, animals and heat damage shorten the life of a chimney. We tell you how urgent each problem is, give you the options and only do the work you approve.
Chimney and fireplace
Bring your fireplace back to life
When an inspection turns up a problem, you should hear about it in plain English. We explain what is wrong, how soon it needs attention and what the repair involves. Then you decide. We do not start work you did not approve.
You approve first
We explain the problem and the options before any work starts.
Urgent or can wait
We tell you which problems need attention now.
Seven kinds of repair
Caps, crowns, liners, masonry, tuckpointing, parging and rebuilds.
Tulsa and nearby towns
Broken Arrow, Bixby, Jenks, Owasso, Sapulpa.
Repairs we handle
Most chimney damage starts small and grows when water gets in.
Water is the main enemy of a chimney. It gets in through a cracked crown, a missing cap, worn mortar or a failed flashing seal, then freezes and thaws and makes the damage bigger. Oklahoma storms and temperature swings make that cycle common. Fixing a small problem early costs less than fixing a big one later.
Chimney cap installation
The simplest way to protect a chimney.
A chimney cap sits on top of the flue. It is a small part, but it does a big job. It sheds rain, keeps birds and squirrels from nesting above the damper, stops leaves from piling up, and its screen keeps embers from landing on the roof.
- No cap on the chimney at all
- Rust streaks running down the side of the chimney
- A dented or loose cap after hail or high wind
- Nests, leaves or twigs above the damper
- Water in the firebox after it rains
A cap has to fit the flue and the top of the chimney. We measure, check the crown it sits on, and recommend a cap that fits. If the crown is cracked, we tell you, because a new cap on a broken crown still lets water in. See crown repair for that work.
Chimney crown repair
Small cracks, big leaks.
The crown is the slab of concrete or mortar on top of a masonry chimney. Its job is to shed water away from the brick. When it cracks, water gets into the masonry, and every freeze makes the crack bigger. A crown repair stops that cycle early.
- Visible cracks across the top of the chimney
- Pieces of mortar or concrete on the roof
- Crumbling or flaking bricks near the top
- Water stains near the fireplace or on the ceiling
- A wet or rusty damper
Small cracks can often be repaired and sealed. A crown that is broken through, crumbling or pulling away from the flue usually needs to be rebuilt. We look at it up close, show you what we found and tell you which option makes sense. You decide.
Chimney relining
The part of the chimney you never see.
The liner runs up the inside of the chimney and carries smoke, heat and gases out of the house. You cannot see it from the room or the roof, which is why liner damage often goes unnoticed. An inspection finds it. Relining restores the protection.
- Cracked, shifted or missing liner tiles
- Damage after a chimney fire
- A chimney that was built without a liner
- A change to the fireplace or heating appliance the chimney serves
- Ongoing draft or smoke problems tied to flue size
First we inspect the flue and show you what we found. If relining makes sense, we explain the liner options that fit your chimney and what each one costs. You choose. Then we reline the flue, clean up and walk you through the finished work.
Chimney masonry repair
Brick is strong until water gets in.
A brick chimney is built to last, but it stands in every storm. Water that soaks into the brick and mortar freezes, expands and breaks the masonry apart from the inside. Masonry repair fixes the damage and closes the paths the water used.
- Bricks with flaking or crumbling faces
- Cracked or loose bricks
- Gaps or crumbling mortar between bricks
- White staining on the brick, which shows water moving through it
- Pieces of brick or mortar on the roof or the ground
We look at the whole chimney, not only the spot you noticed. Then we explain what is damaged, how urgent it is and what the repair involves. Damaged bricks can be replaced, and worn mortar joints are repaired with tuckpointing.
Tuckpointing
Fresh mortar, sealed joints.
Mortar wears out faster than brick. When the joints crumble, water gets into the chimney and the damage speeds up. Tuckpointing removes the worn mortar and replaces it with fresh mortar, so the joints seal again and the chimney stays strong.
- Mortar that crumbles when you touch it
- Joints that look recessed or hollow behind the brick face
- Gaps you can see light or daylight through
- Sand or bits of mortar at the base of the chimney
- Water stains near the fireplace after rain
We start by looking at the whole chimney and showing you which joints need work. Some chimneys need a few areas done, and some need the whole surface. We explain which yours needs, and you approve the work before we start.
Smoke chamber parging
A smoother path for the smoke.
The smoke chamber is the sloped space above the damper where the fireplace narrows into the flue. In many masonry chimneys it was left rough, with stepped brick. Parging coats it smooth. A smoother chamber helps smoke move up cleanly and leaves fewer ledges for soot and creosote.
- A rough, stepped smoke chamber that collects heavy soot
- Cracks or gaps in the smoke chamber walls
- Smoke that rolls back into the room
- Creosote buildup that keeps returning in the same spot
First we clean the smoke chamber so we can see it. Then we explain what we found and what parging would change. If you approve, we coat the chamber walls with a smooth layer, clean up, and walk you through the finished work.
Chimney and firebox rebuild
When a patch will not hold.
Most chimney damage can be repaired. But when brick is crumbling through, the chimney is leaning, or the firebox walls are cracked and loose, patching only buys time. A rebuild replaces the damaged section so the chimney or fireplace is sound again.
- Cracked or broken bricks inside the fireplace
- Mortar missing from the joints
- Loose bricks you can move by hand
- Gaps at the back or sides of the firebox
We do not jump to a rebuild. If masonry repair or tuckpointing will fix the problem, we say so. When a rebuild is the right call, we explain why, what it involves and what it costs. You decide.
How a repair works
We start with a look at the problem, usually during an inspection. We explain what we found and how urgent it is. Then we give you the options and the cost, and you tell us which repairs to do. We do those and nothing else.
When the work is done, we clean up and show you what changed.
Completed all the recommended repairs I approved in a very timely manner.
Lucas Lingelbach, customer review
Repairs are quoted after an inspection. If your chimney also has buildup, we can clean it on the same visit. See chimney and fireplace cleaning.
Repairs for Tulsa-area homes
Older Tulsa brick chimneys often need mortar and crown work. Newer homes in Broken Arrow, Bixby, Owasso and Jenks more often need cap and flashing attention. Whatever you have, call (918) 361-4929 and describe it. We will tell you what to expect before we come out.
On this page
Ready to book?
Request an appointment and we will confirm your time window.
What to expect
From inspection to finished repair
1
We look closely
We inspect the problem and the parts around it.
2
We explain it
You hear what we found, how urgent it is and what your options are.
3
You approve the work
We only do the repairs you choose.
4
We repair and clean up
The work gets done and the area is left clean.
Repair questions
Chimney repair FAQ
Another question? Call us and talk to a real person.
How do I know if my chimney needs a repair?
Cracks in the crown, rust on the cap, water stains by the fireplace and loose or missing mortar are common signs. An inspection tells you for sure and tells you how urgent each problem is.
Will you do repairs without asking me first?
No. We explain the problem, give you the options and do only the work you approve.
Do you handle both masonry chimneys and metal flue pipes?
Our repair work includes masonry repair, tuckpointing, parging, crown maintenance, cap installation and relining. Call us with a description of your chimney and we will tell you what to expect.
More from Ashes Away
Other services you may need
Chimney and fireplace cleaning
Removes creosote, soot and debris so smoke goes up the flue and not into the room.
Chimney and fireplace inspection
A close look at the flue, damper, crown and firebox, explained without jargon.
Book your sweep
Ready for a safe, clean burn season?
Request an appointment and we will confirm your time window.