Local chimney cap replacement in Lake Asbury

How a galvanized cap runs out of zinc

A galvanized cap is steel protected by a zinc layer that corrodes in the steel's place. The zinc wears away fastest where water lingers: along the screen wires, at folded seams, and around fastener holes.

Once it is gone in a spot, the steel beneath rusts, and rust takes up more room than the steel it came from, so the wires swell and break. Streaks of orange on the crown or the brick below are the visible sign of that stage. By then recoating is not practical, since the zinc cannot be put back on the roof, and the cap is replaced in a longer-lived metal with the old fasteners removed as well.

What to look for from the yard after a storm

Binoculars and a clear day are enough for a first look after bad weather. Stand where you can see the top of the chimney and check four things. Is the cap still square on the tile, or leaning? Is the lid flat, or lifted at one corner? Is the screen continuous all the way around, or is there a dark gap? Are there fresh rust streaks, screws or metal pieces on the roof below?

Any one of those is a reason to call before the next storm, and none of them needs you on a ladder. If you can, take note of which side of the chimney the damage faces, since it helps us plan the visit.

Chimney swifts and the timing of a cap

Chimney swifts nest inside masonry flues, gluing small stick nests to the tile wall, and federal law protects the birds and their active nests. An active nest cannot be removed or sealed in, so a flue in use by swifts waits for its cap until the nestlings have fledged and the flock has moved on. Once they leave, the old nest is cleared and the cap closes the opening before the birds return the next year. If you hear steady chattering in the chimney during the warm months, tell us when you call so the visit is timed properly and nothing is disturbed that should not be.