Our Services
Choosing, fitting and fastening the cap
Family-owned and local, we price every cap upfront with no hidden fees.
How a single-flue cap is fastened
Most single-flue caps drop over the tile and clamp to it with corner bolts. Installation guidance from HY-C, which makes caps, says those bolts must not penetrate the tile, and some of its caps put a metal ridge between each bolt and the tile to protect it. A tile that is already cracked cannot hold that clamp for long.
Our team tightens each bolt evenly, checks that the cap sits level and pulls on it by hand before leaving the roof. If the tile is chipped at the top, we show you and price the repair before fitting anything to it.
The crown the new cap sits on
Every cap depends on the masonry around it. For masonry chimneys, Florida's code asks for a sloped top of concrete, stone or metal that sheds rain, ends in a drip at its edge and is kept separate from each flue liner by a caulked joint so the two can move. The code calls it a cap too, while the trade calls it the crown.
A cracked or crumbling crown loosens fasteners and lets water in beside the flue even with a perfect cap above it. We check the crown at the same visit and price any crown repair on its own line.
A cap with a top-sealing damper
Some caps are combined with a damper that seals the top of the flue. A cable runs down to the fireplace, and pulling it opens or closes the lid. When it is closed, rain, animals and outside air stay out of the chimney.
A top-sealing damper suits some chimneys better than others, and it has to be fully open whenever the fireplace is in use. We explain whether your flue can take one and how it compares with a standard cap before you decide.
Checking your cap from the ground
You can learn a lot about a cap without climbing. From the yard, look for a lid that sits crooked, mesh that is bent or missing, rust streaks below the cap and debris or nesting material poking out of the sides.
After a strong storm, a quick look from the ground is worth doing. If anything looks different, call us instead of going up yourself. A loose cap can often be refastened before it falls, which keeps the job smaller.
