Chimney chase repair from framing to finish in Eatonville

A chase that leans or twists

A chase should stand plumb and square. When one corner rots, the box can lean toward it or twist, and you may see it in the gap under the cover, the line of the siding or a chimney cap that no longer sits straight. Measuring the lean at the top and the base shows whether it is still moving.

A lean inside the chase can push framing toward the chimney pipe and close the air space the maker requires. It can also pull the roof flashing loose at the base.

A level and a plumb line show how far the chase has moved, and our crew then opens the low corner to find the cause. A slight lean can be pulled back and reframed, while a chase that has moved a lot may need rebuilding. We explain which fits your Eatonville chase and why, in writing. The cause gets fixed before any siding goes back up.

What a full chase rebuild involves

A chimney chase rebuild follows a set order. The fireplace is taken out of use, the cover and chimney cap come off, and the siding and sheathing are stripped down to the framing. Rotted framing is replaced and the box is squared and braced around the chimney pipe.

Firestops, shields and supports inside the chase are checked and reset to the chimney maker's instructions along the way. For homes in Eatonville, the full sequence is laid out in the written estimate before work starts. The new chase goes together in this order.

• New framing laid out to keep the listed air space around the pipe
• New sheathing, barrier and flashing at the roof and house wall
• The chosen siding or stucco, trim and paint
• A new or reset cover at the top, priced as its own line

Decorative shrouds on top of the chase

A decorative shroud is a metal housing set over the chimney termination to dress up the top of a chase. It looks good, but it also changes what surrounds the top of the chimney. R1005.2 allows decorative shrouds at the termination of a factory-built chimney only where the shroud is listed and labeled for that specific chimney system.

An unlisted shroud can also hold water or debris on the chase top, right above the framing we are there to repair. A shroud also has to come off for any work on the top framing, so its fasteners and condition get noted.

When a chase with a shroud is repaired, our crew looks for a listing label that matches the chimney. If there is none, we explain the code limit and your options, from removing it to a listed replacement from the chimney maker. Whatever you choose, the shroud is priced as its own line and dealt with before the top framing is closed.

Same-day chase inspections when available

When a chase starts leaking into the house, waiting a week for someone to look is hard. Same-day inspections are available when the schedule allows, so a technician can check the chase, find the water path and put temporary protection in place.

A same-day visit does not mean a rushed repair. Temporary protection buys time, and the permanent repair is planned and priced in a written estimate like any other job. A leaking chase is usually covered from the top down, with the metal top protected and any open siding sheeted until the crew returns.

Ring early in the day for the best chance at a same-day slot for homes in Eatonville. If the schedule is full, we tell you honestly when the first opening is, and our 24/7 emergency line is there for water coming in after hours. A same-day visit still ends with a free written estimate.