Chimney chase cover replacement in Maitland

The air space around the pipe inside the chase

Inside the chase, the factory-built chimney pipe needs a stated clearance to wood framing and insulation. One manufacturer lists two inches for its chimney series, and manuals also call for firestops where the pipe passes each floor level. With the cover off, we look down into the top of the chase and see whether insulation, debris or a nest has crept into that space. Anything we find is written down, and work outside the cover job is priced separately for your approval.

Brick-faced chases around a metal chimney

Some homes have a factory-built chimney inside a chase faced with brick or stone veneer. The lid over that enclosure is still a chase cover, and it still needs a collar, a slope and a drip edge. The top edge of the veneer is often uneven, so the skirt is sized to its highest points. We also check whether the top of the veneer is sealed or open, because water entering there follows a different path than water through the cover.

Finding your fireplace's model information

The installation instructions for your chimney system decide several details of the chase top, so the model matters. Factory-built fireplaces carry a listing label on the unit that names the maker and model. If you have the original manual, keep it handy for the visit. If not, we read the label during the inspection and locate the instructions for that system before specifying the cover for your Maitland home. If the label is missing or unreadable, we tell you what we could identify and how that affects the cover specification.

What to tell us when you call

A few details help us plan the inspection of your Maitland chase, and none of them requires a ladder. You do not need to know the metal or the fireplace model. If you still have closing papers or the fireplace manual, those help too. If the fireplace is on a second floor or behind furniture, mention it so we plan the inside look as well.

• When you first noticed rust, stains or noise
• Whether the fireplace burns wood and is still in use
• Whether the roof or siding was replaced recently
• How many stories the chase rises