Chimney chase repair and framing work in Bryn Mawr
Honest chase repair. We fix what is rotted, keep what is sound and show you the line in writing.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
The chase layers we price for Bryn Mawr homes
- Replacement siding matched to the existing profile
- Two-layer barrier behind stucco on wood sheathing
- Step or L flashing where the chase meets shingles
- Apron and back flashing at the chase base
The wall behind the siding
Flashing that laps the right way and drains out
Flashing on a chase works by lapping. The upper layer goes over the lower layer, so water runs down and out instead of behind. R703.4 of the Florida Building Code calls for flashing applied shingle-fashion or per the maker's instructions, placed so water stays out of the wall cavity and away from the framing.
The same section says flashing extends to the surface of the exterior finish. A flashing that ends behind the siding can dump water onto the sheathing instead of outside.
We check laps at the base, around trim that breaks the wall and where the chase meets the house. A reversed lap can stay hidden until the rot is deep, so our crew points out each one we find and corrects it in the new work. Trim ledges and horizontal joints get a small flashing that kicks water out past the siding face.
Peeling paint and what it says about the wall
Paint peeling off a chase is more than a cosmetic problem. Paint tends to fail from behind, when water in the wood or sheathing pushes it off. Blisters and peeling that come back soon after repainting point to water getting in somewhere. On a chase, peeling tends to start at the base, under trim ledges and just below the top.
Painting over a wet chase traps the moisture and hides the rot for another season. The next coat often fails sooner than the last one did. It also makes the next repair harder to read, because fresh paint hides the stains that show where water has been.
Our crew probes the wood behind any peeling area before recommending paint. If the wood is sound, prep and paint are enough. If it is soft, we find the water path and repair the wall first, then paint. Your written scope in Bryn Mawr says which case you have.
Listed chimney parts only, never a mix
A factory-built chimney is a tested system. Under R1005.1 of the Florida Building Code, factory-built chimneys are listed, labeled, and installed and terminated per the maker's instructions. DuraVent's manual, as one example, says to use only its own listed parts, not to mix parts from other products and not to improvise.
Chase repairs are where improvising tends to creep in. A missing shield replaced with a scrap of sheet metal, a support hung from strapping it was never designed for or a pipe section from another brand all take the system outside its listing.
Our technicians match any replaced part to the chimney's maker and model. If a part is no longer made, we tell you what the maker offers instead before going ahead. You get the part names in writing for your Bryn Mawr home.
The yearly check that includes the chase
NFPA 211 sets a yearly inspection of chimneys, fireplaces and vents, checking that they are sound, free of deposits and properly clear of combustibles, with cleaning, upkeep and repairs wherever the inspection finds a need. On a factory-built system, the chase around the chimney is a sensible part of that look.
A yearly look catches open joints, lifted flashing and soft spots while they are small. It is also a chance to confirm that nothing has been stored, run or packed into the air space since the last visit. On a stucco chase, it is also when new hairline cracks and hollow spots are easiest to catch and seal.
Our technicians include the chase walls, trim, base flashing and attic side in the yearly check for homes in Bryn Mawr. Anything that needs repair goes into a written estimate you can act on now or keep for later. If nothing needs work, you hear that too.
Other work in Bryn Mawr
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Questions about your chase in Bryn Mawr
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.
How long will my chase be open to the weather?
That depends on how much of the wall comes off and on curing time if the finish is stucco. We give you the plan at the start, and any open section is covered before the crew leaves each day.
Request your free estimate
Share the job details and arrange a free inspection with our local team.
- Free inspection
- No hidden fees
- Family owned and operated
Need an answer now? Call (352) 675-6376
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