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Chimney Leak Repair in Tacoma, WA
Leaking chimney on an older Tacoma home? We find the source in the crown, joints or flashing and fix it. Free quote.
- Serving Tacoma & Pierce County
- Free 2nd-opinion quotes
- Price match + 10–25% discount
Free Chimney Leak Repair Quote in Tacoma
We'll confirm a time by phone or text.
Tacoma chimney leaks tend to be masonry leaks. With the oldest housing stock in our area, a median build year of 1967 and a big pre-1940 share, most of the chimneys we see in Tacoma are solid brick, and solid brick leaks through itself once the crown cracks and the mortar joints open. Water shows up as damp plaster on the chimney breast in an upstairs bedroom, a white crust on the brick in the attic, or a puddle on the smoke shelf. On Tacoma's 1950s-60s ramblers the more common entry is flashing, where decades of roof replacements have left step flashing that was tarred over instead of reset. We find the actual source on the roof, in the attic, and inside the flue before we quote anything.
The quote is free, and if someone has already told you the chimney needs a full rebuild, get our free second opinion first, because many Tacoma leaks are fixed with a crown rebuild and repointing at a fraction of that. We price match plus 10-25% off, our Renton office is about 35 minutes away, and same-day service is often available. If you're not happy, we're not done.
Symptoms
Signs Tacoma homeowners notice
- Water pooling in the firebox or dripping from the damper after rain
- Brown stain on the ceiling or wall beside the chimney that grows during the wet season
- White crusty efflorescence on the brick inside or outside
- Rust streaks down the siding of a framed chimney or down the face of the brick
- Spalling brick faces or crumbling mortar near the top of the chimney
- Damp firebox walls even when it has not rained for a day or two
Tacoma Conditions
Why this happens in Tacoma
A Tacoma brick chimney is a sponge that is refilled for six months a year. The Sea-Tac normal is 40.34 inches of rain, about 29.65 of it between October and March, with November the heaviest at 6.31 inches. Pre-war brick is typically more absorbent than modern brick, so an old Tacoma chimney saturates faster and stays saturated longer. The Brick Industry Association notes that improperly filled mortar joints lead to leaky walls and that water penetration followed by freezing and thawing contributes to cracking and disintegration, and the Sound's pattern of roughly 60 freezing nights with daytime thaws supplies that cycle all winter.
Moss adds to it in Tacoma's tree-heavy North End and Proctor neighborhoods, where chimneys on the shaded side of the roof typically stay green from October through April. Moss holds water on the crown and in open joints, so the masonry never gets the dry spell it needs. Clearing the moss, repointing, and rebuilding the crown together is the leak fix that lasts.
How It Works
Our chimney leak repair process
Map the symptom
We ask where the water shows up, when, and how long after rain, because each entry point leaves a different signature.
Check the top
Crown, cap and chase cover are inspected first, since they are the most common leak sources and the fastest to rule in or out.
Check the roofline and masonry
Flashing, mortar joints, spalled brick and the flue itself are checked, including for condensation that mimics a leak.
Fix in the right order
We repair the entry points that are actually leaking, from the top down, and leave the sound ones alone.
Water-test and follow up
Where possible we run water on the repair to confirm it is dry, and if the next storm proves us wrong, we come back at no charge.
Full details, options and pricing factors on the main Chimney Leak Repair page.
Need chimney leak repair in Tacoma?
Call now or request a free quote — we confirm by phone or text.
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Chimney Leak Repair in Tacoma — FAQ
The brick in my Tacoma attic is wet and white after rain but I can't see a hole anywhere. Where is the water coming from?
Typically through the masonry itself. Old Tacoma brick and mortar absorb rain over several wet days until the chimney is saturated, and then water moves through to the attic side, leaving efflorescence as it dries. There is no single hole to find. The fix is a sound crown, repointed joints, and a breathable water repellent. We confirm this on site, and the quote is free.
My roofer says the chimney flashing on my Tacoma rambler is fine, but it still leaks. Who is right?
We will look and tell you honestly, because we do both flashing and masonry. On Tacoma's 1950s-60s ramblers it is common for flashing to be sound while the crown or joints above it let water in behind it, which looks like a flashing leak from inside. We check all three before quoting. The second-opinion quote is free, and we price match plus 10-25% off.
How soon can you do chimney leak repair in Tacoma?
We confirm a time by phone or text after you request a quote; same-day service is often available for urgent problems in Tacoma and the rest of Pierce County.
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