Chimney chase repair for Catalina homeowners
We repair rotted chase framing, siding and stucco, then close the water path. Free inspection, then 10% off any service booked within 72 hours after it.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
The chase layers we price for Catalina homes
- Probe test of siding, corners and the chase base
- Water-resistive barrier lapped upper over lower
- Air space around the chimney pipe kept clear
- Added work priced in writing before it starts
Chimney chase repair, explained for Catalina homeowners
What cracks in chase stucco can point to
Cracks in stucco on a framed chase mean something different from cracks on a block wall. A framed chase can move as the wood takes on and gives up moisture, and cracks often follow the edges of sheathing panels or run out from the corners of the top.
A few fine surface cracks can be sealed and painted. Cracks that are wide, stained or paired with a hollow sound usually mean water has been getting behind the stucco for a while, and the sheathing may be soft. Cracks running down from the top corners are worth tracing back to the cover edge.
Our technicians check cracks by tapping and probing around them, and by looking at the framing from the attic side where it can be reached. The written estimate says whether a crack is cosmetic or a sign of damage, and it prices each option.
The insulation shield at an insulated attic
When a factory-built chimney passes through an insulated attic, the insulation has to be held back from the pipe. Florida's code, in R1005.8, calls for an insulation shield that keeps insulation at the clearance the chimney maker specifies, and where the chimney passes through attic space, the shield ends above the insulation.
DuraVent's DuraChimney II manual, as one example, calls for its attic insulation shield where the chimney passes into an attic, unless the chimney is fully enclosed through the attic. The same maker's DuraTech instructions say an installed shield must be high enough to cover current or future insulation. Insulation added in later years is worth checking against the shield height.
On roof-mounted chases, our technicians look at the attic side of the chimney during the inspection when it can be reached. A missing or buried shield is written up with the chase repair, since the two share the same opening.
Straps and supports tied to the chase framing
Inside a tall chase, the chimney pipe may be held in line by straps or a stabilizer fastened to the chase framing. In DuraVent's DuraChimney II manual, for example, the stabilizer keeps the chimney centered in the chase and does not support its weight, and the same manual uses wall straps or stabilizers at set spacing to hold the air space around an enclosed chimney.
When the studs those parts are fastened to rot, the pipe can drift toward one wall. Replacing the framing without resetting the supports can leave the pipe off center and too close to the new wood.
Our crew marks each support before the framing comes out and refastens it to new framing in its listed position. We also check that the pipe stands plumb before the chase on your Catalina home is closed up.
Reading the chimney label before repairs start
Factory-built fireplaces and chimneys are listed and labeled, and the label names the maker, model and listing. Under R1004.1, factory-built fireplaces are tested to UL 127 and installed per their listing. R1005.3 ties factory-built chimneys for solid-fuel appliances to UL 103, and R1005.4 has chimneys for factory-built fireplaces meet UL 127.
The instructions that go with those labels decide the clearances, shields and supports inside your chase. The fireplace label is often inside the firebox opening or behind a panel, and original paperwork helps if you still have it. The chimney pipe itself may also carry a label on a section near the top of the chase.
Our technicians record the maker and model at the first visit, so the chase work follows the right instructions. If a label is missing or unreadable, we tell you how that limits the repair plan. This step comes before any framing is cut on a chase in Catalina.
Other work in Catalina
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Chase repair questions we hear
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.
Should I repair the chase before putting my home on the market?
A chase with visible rot or leaks tends to come up in a buyer's inspection. Repairing it first, with the work put in writing layer by layer, gives buyers a clear answer. If you would rather sell as is, our written estimate helps both sides agree on the work.
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- Free inspection
- No hidden fees
- Family owned and operated
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