Family-owned chimney chase repair in Hunter's Creek
Rebuild or repair, our family team prices both for Hunter's Creek homes and backs the work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
Chase work written up for Hunter's Creek homeowners
- Moisture readings across each face of the chase
- Damage boundary marked on each face
- Apron and back flashing at the chase base
- Firestops, shields and pipe supports reset as listed
Our approach to chase repair in Hunter's Creek
Wall chases that reach down to the ground
A chase that runs from the ground up the side of the house has a bottom edge that stays wetter than the rest. Soil, mulch, sprinkler spray and rain splashing off a walkway all reach the lowest boards and the sill.
The Florida Building Code, section R317.1, calls for wood that sits close to the ground or to exposed slabs, including siding, sheathing and wall framing, to be naturally durable or preservative-treated. That is why the sill of a wall chase gets the closest look.
When we repair the bottom of a wall chase, rotted sill and stud ends are replaced with decay-resistant material where the code calls for it. We check the clearance to soil and mulch and point out sprinklers aimed at the wall. Small changes like those keep the new wood dry.
Stucco that sounds hollow or bulges
Tapping stucco tells a lot. Sound stucco gives a solid, dull knock. Stucco that has let go of its lath or sheathing sounds hollow and may flex under light pressure. Tapping works best in a grid across each face, since hollow areas seldom show to the eye.
Hollow areas and bulges on a chase usually mean water has reached the lath, or the sheathing has swollen and pushed the stucco out. A bulge near the base or just under the top tends to line up with soft wood behind it. Left in place, a loose section can keep growing.
During the inspection on your Hunter's Creek home, our technicians tap each face of a stucco chase and mark the hollow areas. Those areas are opened first, since they show how far the damage goes. Each hollow area is marked on the written estimate, and what turns up behind it is shown to you before the work goes further.
Animals that move into chase gaps
Gaps in a chase are an open door for animals. Squirrels, birds, rats and insects move into openings at the top, at loose trim and at rotted corners. Once inside, they can nest in insulation, chew wiring and leave droppings that hold moisture against the wood.
Animal damage and water damage tend to go together, since the same gap lets in both. Birds and squirrels also pull at loose barrier and insulation to build nests, which opens new paths for rain.
Our crew closes animal entry points as part of the chase repair and checks inside for nests and chewed wiring. If an animal is still living in the chase, we tell you before closing it so the right next step can be arranged, because sealing one inside creates a bigger problem. The estimate lists each opening we closed. Screens or metal patches used to close gaps stay clear of the air space around the pipe.
Sequencing chase repair with a new cover
When the cover has failed and the chase under it has rotted, the order of work matters. The rotted top framing is repaired first, the siding and barrier are finished up to the top plate, and then the new cover goes on over sound wood.
Putting a new cover on a rotted top plate means taking it off again later. It also means paying to open the top of the chase twice. Repairing the chase and leaving a failed cover in place means the new wood gets wet right away.
Cover replacement is its own job with its own line on the estimate, and we schedule it right after the top framing is sound. You see both lines side by side, so you can decide on each and know the order they will happen in. If the top framing needs no repair, the cover can go on as soon as the siding reaches the top plate.
Other work in Hunter's Creek
-
-
-
-
-
-
Learn more about chimney chase repairHunter's Creek services
Quick answers on chimney chase repair
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.
What happens to the chimney pipe while you work on the chase?
The pipe stays in place and is protected while the framing around it is replaced. Our crew keeps the listed air space clear and puts firestops, shields and supports back where the chimney maker's instructions call for them.
Request your free estimate
Share the job details and arrange a free inspection with our local team.
- Free inspection
- No hidden fees
- Family owned and operated
Need an answer now? Call (352) 675-6376
Your request is received
Thank you. We will contact you to discuss the job and confirm an appointment.