Here at Southern Chimney and Fireplace we are often asked “does my chimney need a cap?” The short answer is YES! all chimneys need some sort of cap to protect them. There are many different styles and names of chimney caps. Sometimes referred to a chimney topper, a flue cap, a hip cap, a chase cover, a shroud or chimney pot.
We will simply just refer to them all as caps for this discussion.
What does a cap do?? Well, it should keep out rain, leaves, animals and any other debris from the inside of your chimney. A good cap will also protect the top of the chimney or “crown” from deterioration. For most masonry chimneys, we recommend a full “hip” style chimney cap. This type of cap protects the entire chimney and even has a little overhang. It’s also a very stylish top that will look great.
For a wood framed chimney chase, we recommend a chase cover (some call a rain pan.) A chase cover is basically a custom lid for your wood framed chimney chase. Often, we add a decorative shroud for a finished look to a chase cover.
We only build our chimney caps out of 24 gauge stainless steel. The stainless metal will never leak or rust. (rust staining is practically impossible to remove from a roof) We can build a stainless cap and have it powdercoated black, brown, copper or any color desired.
It’s important to install not just a quality cap but the right cap for your chimney. That’s where a certified chimney expert will advise on what the right options are. You would NEVER want to install a masonry hip style cap on a wood framed chimney as we’ve seen done before. This is against building code and could be a major fire hazard.
Each year a migratory bird comes to nest in our area from South America. This bird is called a chimney swift and it is federally protected. We’ve also encountered bats, owls and even a duck stuck down in a chimney. We recommend getting a proper chimney cap in place before these critters become a problem!
Call us today to discuss getting a new chimney cap installed!
Southern Chimney and Fireplace serves Athens, Gainesville, Blairesville, Blue Ridge, Dahlonega, Dawsonville, Elberton, Highlands North Carolina and Anderson South Carolina.
(706) 395-5566