Chimney Services
Chimney cap replacement done properly in Chuluota
Our workmanship warranty goes with each cap we fit, and so does our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Spark arrestor mesh that meets the code
Arrestor screens on masonry chimneys are spelled out in the Florida Building Code. Mesh openings have to be small enough to catch a half-inch sphere yet large enough to pass a three-eighths-inch one, and the screen material has to match the heat and corrosion resistance of 19-gage galvanized or 24-gage stainless steel.
NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys and fireplaces, also addresses spark arrestors. We fit screens that meet the code in place of the finest mesh on the shelf, since mesh that is too fine clogs with soot and restricts the flue.
Mesh that keeps squirrels and raccoons out
Raccoons pull at loose mesh and squirrels chew at gaps along the lid, so the screen needs to be sound and fastened on every side. A cap with a bent corner or a missing panel invites the same animals back.
We fit caps with a screen that meets the code for the flue, fasten it to the frame and check the gaps where the cap meets the tile or crown. If animals have already damaged the old cap, we show you where they got in and what the new cap changes.
Caps on flues that vent other appliances
Chimneys often carry more than a fireplace flue. A furnace, water heater or other fuel-burning appliance may vent through its own tile, and that flue needs a cap that suits the appliance. The appliance maker's installation instructions set what may be fitted at the top.
We identify which flue serves which appliance before choosing caps. A screen suited to a wood-burning fireplace is not automatically right for another appliance's flue, and we price the cap for each flue on its own line.
Oversized and undersized caps
An undersized cap may not slide over the tile, or it gets forced on and cracks it. An oversized cap may be fastened with long bolts that barely reach the tile, leaving it free to move in the wind. Both happen when a cap is bought before the flue is measured.
When stock sizes do not fit, a cap can be made to the flue's measurements. We explain the difference in price and lead time, and we fit a stock cap only when it truly fits your chimney.
