Chimney chase cover service for Clear Lake

Checking the chase for square

Few chases stay perfectly square after years in the weather. Measuring both diagonals shows whether the top has racked into a slight parallelogram. A cover built as a true rectangle for an out-of-square chase gaps at two corners and binds at the other two. When the diagonals differ, the new top is laid out to the measured shape. We record all four sides and both diagonals so the fabricated cover matches the chase you actually have. A cover that fits the true shape also keeps an even skirt gap on every side, which looks neater from the yard.

Which joints get sealant and which stay open

Sealant has a place on a chase cover, and a limit. Seams in the sheet and the joint where the collar meets the top are sealed, since the manuals call for caulking seams to prevent leaks. The gap between pipe and collar stays open, and ventilation openings in the termination are never sealed. We follow the written instructions for your fireplace system joint by joint, because a bead run around everything can trap water or block openings the system needs.

What we check while the top is open

The time the cover is off gives the only full view of the chase top, so we use it. Findings are recorded in writing, and anything outside the cover replacement is priced as its own item for you to approve or decline.

• The outer casing of the chimney pipe, for rust or damage
• The joints where pipe sections lock together
• The edges of the framing and sheathing at the top
• Debris, nests or wet insulation inside the enclosure

What the free inspection includes

The free inspection covers the chase top from the roof, the visible chase walls, the termination cap and storm collar, and a look at the fireplace from inside for signs of water. We measure for a replacement at the same visit. You receive written findings and a price for each recommended item. The visit is free, and you decide afterwards whether the work goes ahead. If we find nothing wrong with the cover, we tell you so.