Chimney chase repair and framing work in Mercy Drive
Honest chase repair. We fix what is rotted, keep what is sound and show you the line in writing.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
Siding to framing, what gets priced
- Apron and back flashing at the chase base
- Seam and flashing where the chase meets the house
- Air space around the chimney pipe kept clear
- Firestops, shields and pipe supports reset as listed
Chase repair details that keep the wall dry
Three coats of stucco over lath
Stucco on lath is built up in coats. The first, called the scratch coat, is pressed into the lath and scored. The second, the brown coat, builds thickness and flattens the wall. The finish coat carries the texture and color.
Under R703.7.2 of the Florida Building Code, cement plaster over lath goes on in at least three coats. Two coats are allowed directly over masonry, which is why a patch copied from a block wall can end up too thin on a framed chase. It is also why a patch on a chase needs the same full build as a new wall.
A patch built too thin is more likely to crack and let water reach the barrier. When our crew patches or reclads a chase, we build the full three coats and match the finish to the rest of the wall. Your Mercy Drive estimate names the stucco system and the number of coats.
Brick veneer around a metal chimney
Some chases are faced with brick or stone veneer, so the chimney looks like masonry from the street. Inside, it is still a framed box around a metal chimney pipe, with the veneer tied back to the framing.
R703.8 of the Florida Building Code generally limits anchored stone and masonry veneer over wood framing to the first story above grade plane, and it lists exceptions. When a veneer chase is rebuilt, the height of veneer on wood framing is one of the first things we check against the code.
Repairs to a veneer chase cover both the masonry face and the framing behind it. Our crew checks the ties, the flashing at the base of the veneer and the wood behind, and the estimate separates veneer work from framing work. Any veneer that has pulled away from the framing is taken down and relaid on sound ties.
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.
Upfront pricing on chase repairs
Chase repairs have a reputation for growing once the siding comes off. Our pricing is set up so that does not catch you off guard. The estimate prices what the inspection can confirm and states in writing how any hidden damage will be handled. Framing is priced for the extent the probe found, and the estimate says so, so you know what the number is based on.
Every line has a price, from siding and trim to sheathing, framing, barrier, flashing and access. There are no hidden fees for disposal, setup or cleanup. If more damage turns up, you get a written change with its price before we do it.
That same approach applies to every home we work on in Mercy Drive, whether the chase needs a few boards or a full rebuild. You can hold our estimate against any other quote line by line and see exactly where the two differ.
Other work in Mercy Drive
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Questions about your chase in Mercy Drive
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.
Do you charge to look at my chase?
No. The inspection and the written estimate are free, with no obligation to book the repair. If the chase only needs small fixes, we tell you that too.
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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