Your chimney chase repair crew in Lake Nona
Our technicians probe the whole chase, not only the stain, so your Lake Nona estimate matches the real repair.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
Chase repair scope for your Lake Nona home
- Siding removed and reused where boards are sound
- Seam and flashing where the chase meets the house
- Temporary cover over any open section each day
- Added work priced in writing before it starts
How we repair chimney chases in Lake Nona
Two barrier layers under stucco on wood
Stucco on a framed chase needs more protection behind it than siding does. Section R703.7.3 calls for a barrier over wood-based sheathing that performs at least as well as two layers of Grade D paper, each layer its own continuous plane, with flashing directed between the layers.
With flashing draining between the two layers, water that gets through the stucco has a path down and out rather than into the sheathing. The code also allows an exception where a single, more water-resistant barrier is kept apart from the stucco by a drainage space or a layer that does not absorb water. Flashing at the base and at trim is tucked between the layers, not behind both.
When we reclad a stucco chase, both layers go on before the lath, lapped the right way at every seam. Our estimate for stucco chimney chase repair on your Lake Nona home lists the barrier as its own line, so you can see it was not skipped.
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 Lake Nona 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.
Opening the chase one section at a time
Some damage can only be seen once the siding comes off. Rather than stripping the whole chase on the first day, our crew opens the worst area first and works outward until the wood is firm.
Opening in stages keeps as much sound siding in place as possible and limits how much of the chase is exposed at once. It also gives you a clear point to decide on any extra work before we go further. The first area opened is usually the base or the corner with the worst probe readings.
Each opened section is covered at the end of the day. When the edge of the damage is found, we show you, patch the barrier into the old and close that area before opening the next. On homes in Lake Nona, this is how we keep the repair no larger than it needs to be.
Tree limbs rubbing against the chase
A limb that brushes a chase in the wind scrapes paint, loosens siding and can knock the cover out of line. Leaves and needles pile up on the roof behind it and hold water at the base. Shade from a tree also keeps one face of the chase damp longer after rain.
Trimming limbs back from the chase and the roof is one of the simplest ways to protect a repair. It also cuts down the leaves and needles that pile up behind the chase and the animals that use limbs as a bridge to the roof.
During the inspection, our technicians note any limbs that reach the chase and any damage they have done. We do not cut trees, but your Lake Nona estimate says which branches should come back before or after the repair, so your tree service knows what to do.
Other work in Lake Nona
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What homeowners ask about chase work
Will I be able to use my fireplace during the repair?
No. While the chase is open, shields, firestops and the top may be off, so the fireplace stays out of use. We tell you when it is ready again, which is after the chase is closed and the listed parts are back in place.
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.
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
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