Chimney chase repair from framing to finish in Florida Center
Chase siding repaired or replaced to match, with the barrier and flashing behind it done right.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
Chase repair lines priced before any work
- Replacement siding matched to the existing profile
- Stucco rebuilt in three coats over new lath
- Roofer coordination at the chase base
- Ladder, roof anchor or scaffold access
The wall behind the siding
The water-resistive barrier behind the siding
Behind the siding of a chase there should be a water-resistive barrier, a sheet of building paper or house wrap over the sheathing. R703.2 calls for at least one layer, continuous behind the siding, and felt or similar sheet barriers go on horizontally with the upper layer lapped over the lower one.
Siding sheds most rain, but some gets past it sooner or later. The barrier is what catches that water. When the barrier is torn, lapped backwards or taped in the wrong order, water behind the siding goes straight into the sheathing.
Our crew in Florida Center replaces torn or brittle barrier in every section we open and laps the new sheet into the old in the right order. Small tears are patched by slipping the new piece under the layer above it. Where the barrier was missing entirely, we tell you so, and the new barrier gets its own price.
Framing that carries the chimney load
A factory-built chimney has real weight, so the framing that holds it matters. R1005.5 of the Florida Building Code says that where joists, rafters or other structural members support a factory-built chimney, those members are designed to carry the added load.
Depending on the system, the weight of the pipe may rest on the fireplace or on a support anchored to the framing. DuraVent's DuraChimney II manual, as one example, anchors its supplementary support to nearby building framing. When chase framing that carries a support has rotted, that load has to come off safely before the wood is replaced. Temporary blocking or bracing holds things in place while old wood comes out and new wood goes in.
Our crew identifies what carries the pipe before any framing is cut. Supports tied to rotted wood are reattached to new framing sized for the load, following the chimney maker's instructions. Support work is noted on its own in the estimate, and the pipe stays braced the whole time the wood is being changed.
Firestops where the pipe passes a floor or ceiling
Where a factory-built chimney passes through a floor or ceiling, the chimney maker calls for a firestop, a metal plate that closes the framed opening while keeping the air space around the pipe. DuraVent's DuraChimney II instructions, for example, call for a firestop at every floor and ceiling level, including where the chimney enters the attic, but not at the roof.
The Florida Building Code, in R302.11, also calls for fireblocking in concealed spaces of wood-framed walls at ceiling and floor levels. Each plate is fastened to the framing as the maker shows, with the air space around the pipe left open.
Each firestop gets checked for position, fastening and damage whenever a chase is opened. Missing or damaged firestops are replaced with the chimney maker's listed part, and any that were missing are pointed out to you before the chase on your Florida Center home is closed.
Getting a chase ready for wind-driven rain
Wind-driven rain hits a chase from the side and pushes water into joints that stay dry in a straight-down shower. Loose siding, open trim gaps and lifted flashing let in far more water in a storm than on a calm day.
The time to find those weak spots is before heavy weather, not after the first leak. A walk-around check for loose boards, open joints and flashing that has lifted catches many of them while they are still small fixes. From the ground, look for boards that flap, trim that has pulled away and flashing edges you can see lifting.
Our technicians can look over the chase ahead of time and close small gaps before they become rot. If the inspection finds deeper damage, you get a written estimate and a plan to close the chase before heavy weather. If a storm is close, temporary protection comes first.
Other work in Florida Center
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Learn more about chimney chase repairFlorida Center services
Chase repair answers for Florida Center homes
Can you repair only the rotted part of my chase?
Often, yes. When rot is limited to the base, a corner or the top, our crew removes siding in that area, replaces the damaged wood and laps new barrier and flashing into the old. If probing shows rot running through most of the framing, we price a rebuild alongside the repair so you can compare.
Do you work with my roofer?
Yes. Flashing at the chase base sits between the roof and the chase, so we agree with your roofer on who replaces which pieces before work starts. The written estimate spells out that split.
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