Honest chimney chase repair for LaVina homes
Framing, sheathing, barrier, flashing and finish, each priced on its own line before a single board comes off.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
Your chase repair scope, layer by layer
- Probe test of siding, corners and the chase base
- Replacement siding matched to the existing profile
- Trim primed, installed and sealed at joints
- Roofer coordination at the chase base
Chase repair facts for LaVina homes
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 LaVina home is closed.
Water or rust inside a factory-built firebox
In a factory-built fireplace, water from a leaking chase can run down the chimney pipe and into the firebox. Signs include rust streaks on the metal walls, damp ash, water marks on the refractory panels or a musty smell after rain. The leak may only show after long or wind-driven rains, which makes it easy to miss.
The metal parts of a factory-built firebox are not meant to be soaked again and again. Repeated wetting can rust them badly, and then the fireplace itself may need parts, which is a bigger job than stopping the leak.
When you see water in the firebox, stop using the fireplace until the source is found. Our crew traces the water from the top of the chase down, repairs the chase along that path, and notes any firebox damage for a separate fireplace estimate. Water that reaches the firebox has often sat in the chase for a while first.
Sealant at siding joints versus near the pipe
Sealant has a job on a chase, but a narrow one. At siding joints, trim and the seam with the house, an exterior-grade sealant closes gaps where the siding maker calls for a seal. It is maintenance, not a stand-in for flashing or a barrier. Old sealant is cut out before new goes in.
Near the chimney pipe it is a different matter. Chimney makers can name specific sealants for specific joints at the chase top. DuraVent's instructions, for example, call for a non-hardening waterproof sealant at certain chase-top joints and keep the ventilation openings clear.
Our crew uses the product each maker calls for in each place and never fills the air space with caulk or foam. If old caulk is bridging the gap to the pipe, we remove it and tell you why.
Using a hose test to check a chase repair
When a leak has been hard to pin down, a hose test is one way to check a repaired chase. One area is wetted at a time, starting low and working up, while someone watches the attic or the ceiling where the stain appeared. Each area gets enough water to act like a steady rain on that face before the hose moves up.
Testing low first matters. If water is run over the top first, it drains down and wets everything below, and the source gets lost. It also keeps anyone from blaming the top for a leak that starts at the base flashing.
A dry result is a good sign, but a garden hose cannot copy every wind-driven rain, so it confirms a repair rather than guaranteeing it. When a test is part of the job, the estimate says so, and any water it turns up is traced while the tools are still out.
Other work in LaVina
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Before you book chase repair in LaVina
Can you match my existing siding or stucco?
We match profile, texture and color as closely as the materials allow, and we tell you before the job how close that will be. When an exact match is not available, we price options like re-siding one full face or painting the whole chase.
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.
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- Free inspection
- No hidden fees
- Family owned and operated
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