Our Services
What a lasting chase repair involves
Chase repairs quoted upfront by a local family business, with no hidden fees.
The storm collar at the pipe
A storm collar rings the pipe just above the chase top and throws water off the opening around it. For its system, the DuraTech manual wants a one-inch gap below the collar, above the chase top flashing, and six inches or more between the underside of the chimney cap and the chase top.
A collar that has slipped, cracked its sealant or been caulked solid to the pipe can let water run straight down inside the chase. We check its position and seal against the chimney's manual and correct it as part of the repair.
Preparing the chase for storm season
Each year the Atlantic hurricane season spans June 1 to November 30, and a tall chase takes wind and rain on every face. Loose siding, open seams, a lifted top and worn flashing let water in quickly once a tropical storm arrives.
Spring is a good time to have the chase checked and repaired. After a strong storm, we look for lifted panels, damaged trim, a shifted top and new stains, and we fix loose parts before the next rain.
Using the fireplace before the chase is repaired
A wet chase does not always make a fireplace unsafe, but some findings do. Damaged pipe sections, missing firestop parts or combustible material packed into the required air space are reasons to stop using the fireplace until they are corrected. Stains on the siding alone are a repair question, while problems at the pipe or its clearances are a safety question.
At the inspection you hear plainly whether the fireplace can be used in the meantime. When the repair is complete, we explain what was corrected and any remaining restrictions.
Chases that sit on the roof
Some chases start on the roof deck instead of the ground, rising only a few feet above the roofline. Their base sits in the path of roof water, and their framing is tied into the roof structure. Water that gets past the base flashing can travel along the roof framing and appear some distance from the chase.
Repairs to a roof-mounted chase usually involve the flashing and the roofing around it as well as the chase walls. We plan both together so the roof and the chase are closed up tight at the same time.
