Chimney chase covers replaced in Cypress Springs

The small gap left open at the pipe

A careful installer does not seal the chimney pipe tight to the cover. Manufacturer manuals call for a small open gap between pipe and collar, and one warns in plain terms against caulking the pipe to the chase top collar. The storm collar then covers that gap from above. Filling it with sealant works against how the system was designed to handle heat. When we find the pipe glued to an old cover in Cypress Springs, the estimate says so and the new top restores the gap.

If more damage appears after removal

Some damage stays hidden until the old cover comes off, so we explain before work starts how that situation is handled. If we find wet or rotted wood, we stop, show you the finding and write up the added repair for your approval before continuing. Nothing is added to the bill without your agreement. That process keeps the approved scope honest when the top of your Cypress Springs chase turns out worse than it looked from the roof. You can also decide in advance how much added repair we may proceed with before stopping to ask again.

Screws through the top surface

Screws driven down through the flat of a chase cover invite leaks. Each one is a hole in the part of the cover that sees the heaviest water, and their rubber washers age in the sun. When we find them, the new cover is fastened through the skirt only. If the old screws went into the framing, the holes are checked for moisture while the top is open. Sealant dabbed over each screw head helps for a while, then cracks and lets water in again around the shank.

What to tell us when you call

A few details help us plan the inspection of your Cypress Springs chase, and none of them requires a ladder. You do not need to know the metal or the fireplace model. If you still have closing papers or the fireplace manual, those help too. If the fireplace is on a second floor or behind furniture, mention it so we plan the inside look as well.

• When you first noticed rust, stains or noise
• Whether the fireplace burns wood and is still in use
• Whether the roof or siding was replaced recently
• How many stories the chase rises