Chimney Services
Inside the chase, from top to bottom
Each chase we repair or rebuild carries our workmanship warranty and our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Signs of rot inside the chase
Rot inside a chase shows up outside in small ways first. Paint bubbles or peels on one face, siding swells at the edges, nail heads rust through, and a panel flexes when pressed. Inside the house, a stain can appear on the ceiling or wall near the fireplace.
Sheathing that stays wet for long periods softens and loses its hold on fasteners. We probe suspect areas, check for moisture where we can and tell you how much of the chase we expect to open before any work is priced.
The top of the chase and its flashing
The top of a chase is closed with a metal sheet or flashing that the chimney passes through. In the DuraTech manual, a chase larger than its chase top flashing gets a galvanized sheet that covers the chase and overhangs the sides by one-half to three-quarters of an inch, with spacers keeping the required air gaps and screw heads sealed with non-hardening sealant.
A rusted or flat top lets water pond and drain into the framing. When the top has failed, we price its replacement alongside the chase repair so the new walls are not sitting under an old leak.
Stucco chases need their layers
Stucco on a framed chase is a layered system. The Florida Building Code calls for a water-resistive vapor-permeable barrier behind stucco over wood-based sheathing, with performance equal to two layers of Grade D paper, and the stucco itself goes over lath.
A patch of new stucco over rotted sheathing or a missing barrier will crack and stain again. We cut back to sound material, repair the sheathing, restore the barrier and lath, then rebuild the stucco and blend the finish.
Caulk is not a chase repair
Sealant has a place in chase work, at screw heads, trim joints and the storm collar. Used as the whole repair, it hides problems. The Brick Industry Association's chimney guidance makes the same point, noting that caulking is often treated as a way to hide poor workmanship when it should be detailed with the same care as the rest of the structure.
We use sealant where the details call for it and repair the parts it was covering for. A bead of caulk over a rotted seam may look fine for a season while the wood behind it keeps getting worse.
