The local chimney company that covers Oceanway

The top of a chimney is closed by one of two different parts, and knowing which one you have helps when you call. A masonry chimney has a crown of concrete or stone over the brickwork, and on top of the flue tile sits a cap, which is a metal hood with a mesh screen that keeps out rain, animals and debris and stops sparks from leaving.

A factory-built fireplace sits in a framed chase, and the chase is closed by a chase cover, a sheet-metal top shaped to the chase with a collar where the metal chimney passes through and a storm collar above it. The failures differ. Caps get knocked loose, lose their mesh or rust at the fasteners, while chase covers rust through, sag and hold water, and the streaks run down the siding below.

Where a spark arrestor is fitted, the building code sets out what it has to be, including a net free area of at least four times that of the flue outlet and openings no larger than half an inch. For a cap, sizing decides the type, since a single-flue cap fits the tile while a cap for several flues mounts on the crown and covers them all.

For a chase cover, we measure the chase, fabricate the top with a slope or cross-breaks so water runs off, and size the collar to the listed chimney pipe. The metal is chosen for the exposure, following the maker's guidance. Both parts go on the estimate with the measurements and the metal named. A cap that has lost its mesh is an open door for animals and a path for sparks, so it is replaced rather than left.

A cap and a chase cover are not interchangeable, and a cap set over a chase top without a proper collar leaves the seam open to water. When you call, tell us whether your Oceanway roof carries a masonry cap or a chase cover, if you can see it. Call (904) 920-5495 to book a free inspection anywhere in Oceanway.