Our Work
Inside a chase top replacement in Whites Landing
Which metal part at the top is failing
A framed chase is the boxed enclosure, usually sided to match the house, that hides the metal pipe of a factory-built fireplace. Its top is closed by a sheet-metal chase cover, and the pipe rises through a hole in that cover to a termination cap of its own. The two parts wear out separately. Knowing which part failed also tells you whether the fix is a listed part from the chimney maker or a cover fabricated to measure.
On a home in Whites Landing our specialists look at both from the roof during the free inspection. A rusted cover under a sound cap needs a new cover, and a damaged cap on a sound cover needs the cap. You pay only for the part that is letting water in.
Galvanized or stainless steel for the new cover
A zinc coating is what protects galvanized steel. According to the American Galvanizers Association, temperature, humidity, rainfall, sulfur dioxide and air salinity decide how quickly that coating is used up, and once it is gone the steel beneath begins to rust.
Stainless steel does not depend on a coating and costs more to buy. Our team prices both metals side by side for your Whites Landing home, so the choice is made with the real difference in front of you. Whichever metal you choose, the cover still needs slope, a raised collar and a drip edge, and our specialists explain how each metal is expected to age on a well-drained top.
Checking the wood deck under the old cover
Many chases have a plywood or board deck that the metal cover rests on. After a cover has leaked for a while, that deck softens, the metal sinks into the soft spots and water collects faster. A new cover laid over rotten wood sags the same way.
Our specialists check the deck and top framing when the old cover comes off. If repair is needed, it appears as its own line on the estimate, so you can see what the chase top job includes and approve each part. Wood that is only surface-stained can stay, and wood that crumbles or flexes is replaced before the cover is set.
When a patch is enough and when it is time to replace
A single small hole in otherwise sound metal can sometimes be sealed as a short-term measure. Widespread rust, a sagging sheet or a collar that has separated are different, because the metal has reached the end of its useful life and patches tend to fail at their edges.
We explain which situation your cover is in. If a patch is the right call for now, the estimate describes it as temporary, so you know what you are paying for and how far to rely on it.
