Family-owned chimney chase repair in Bay Ridge
Rebuild or repair, our family team prices both for Bay Ridge homes and backs the work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
What we check on a framed chase
- Stucco rebuilt in three coats over new lath
- Seam and flashing where the chase meets the house
- Firestops, shields and pipe supports reset as listed
- Added work priced in writing before it starts
What a lasting chase repair takes
Rot at the base where the chase meets the roof
The bottom of a roof-mounted chase is where rot tends to collect. Water running down the chase walls, water that got past the top and water splashing off the roof all end up there. The bottom plate and the lower ends of the studs stay wet longest.
Siding that stops too close to the roofing can wick water upward. Flashing that is bent, missing or tucked behind the wrong layer sends water into the wall instead of onto the roof. Leaves and debris trapped on the upslope side keep the base wet even longer.
We remove the lower siding to reach the base plate, probe each stud and look at the roof deck under the chase. Rotted framing is cut back to sound wood and replaced, the flashing is redone, and the siding goes back up held off the roof surface the way its maker directs.
Three coats of stucco over lath
Stucco on lath is built up in coats. The first, called the scratch coat, is pressed into the lath and scored. The second, the brown coat, builds thickness and flattens the wall. The finish coat carries the texture and color.
Under R703.7.2 of the Florida Building Code, cement plaster over lath goes on in at least three coats. Two coats are allowed directly over masonry, which is why a patch copied from a block wall can end up too thin on a framed chase. It is also why a patch on a chase needs the same full build as a new wall.
A patch built too thin is more likely to crack and let water reach the barrier. When our crew patches or reclads a chase, we build the full three coats and match the finish to the rest of the wall. Your Bay Ridge estimate names the stucco system and the number of coats.
Gutters and valleys that dump water on a chase
Roof water does not always land where it should. A valley that ends beside a chase, a gutter that overflows onto a lower roof next to it or a downspout that empties at its base can pour far more water on one face of the chase than rain alone.
That extra water finds the flashing and siding joints first. A chase that sits in a heavy run of roof water can rot at the base while its other faces stay dry. Splash marks, dirt lines and worn paint low on one face are the clues that point to it.
Our crew looks at where the roof sends water around your chase. Where a valley or gutter is the problem, we suggest changes like a diverter or a moved downspout and coordinate with your roofer or gutter installer. The chase repair is priced on its own line.
Leaving the fireplace off while the chase is open
While a chase is open, the fireplace below it should not be used. Shields and firestops may be off, the air space is disturbed while framing is replaced and the chimney top may be uncovered. A tag on the fireplace is a simple reminder for everyone in the house.
The same goes for the time between finding serious damage and fixing it. A chase with charred framing, a shifted pipe or a missing shield should not see another fire until it is repaired. Heat from a fire rises straight into the top of the chase, which is the part most likely to be open or missing its shields during the job.
Our crew tells you when the fireplace in your Bay Ridge home can be used again, which is after the chase is closed, the listed parts are back in place and the top is sealed. Until then, leave the tag on.
Other work in Bay Ridge
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Quick answers on chimney chase repair
How do you price damage you cannot see yet?
The estimate prices what the inspection can confirm and explains how hidden damage is handled. If opening the chase shows more rot, we stop, show you and write up the added work with its price. Nothing extra is done until you approve it.
Can a chase be changed from siding to stucco?
Yes, as long as the framing is sound and flat. Stucco over wood needs a two-layer barrier, corrosion-resistant lath and three coats, so we price it as its own option next to a like-for-like siding repair.
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- Free inspection
- No hidden fees
- Family owned and operated
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