Family-owned chimney chase repair in MetroWest
Same-day chase inspections when available for MetroWest homeowners, plus a written repair plan you keep.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
What we check on a framed chase
- Probe test of siding, corners and the chase base
- Siding removed and reused where boards are sound
- Paint on new siding and trim
- Added work priced in writing before it starts
How we repair chimney chases in MetroWest
Rot at the base where the chase meets the roof
The bottom of a roof-mounted chase is where rot tends to collect. Water running down the chase walls, water that got past the top and water splashing off the roof all end up there. The bottom plate and the lower ends of the studs stay wet longest.
Siding that stops too close to the roofing can wick water upward. Flashing that is bent, missing or tucked behind the wrong layer sends water into the wall instead of onto the roof. Leaves and debris trapped on the upslope side keep the base wet even longer.
We remove the lower siding to reach the base plate, probe each stud and look at the roof deck under the chase. Rotted framing is cut back to sound wood and replaced, the flashing is redone, and the siding goes back up held off the roof surface the way its maker directs.
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 MetroWest, this is how we keep the repair no larger than it needs to be.
Framing that carries the chimney load
A factory-built chimney has real weight, so the framing that holds it matters. R1005.5 of the Florida Building Code says that where joists, rafters or other structural members support a factory-built chimney, those members are designed to carry the added load.
Depending on the system, the weight of the pipe may rest on the fireplace or on a support anchored to the framing. DuraVent's DuraChimney II manual, as one example, anchors its supplementary support to nearby building framing. When chase framing that carries a support has rotted, that load has to come off safely before the wood is replaced. Temporary blocking or bracing holds things in place while old wood comes out and new wood goes in.
Our crew identifies what carries the pipe before any framing is cut. Supports tied to rotted wood are reattached to new framing sized for the load, following the chimney maker's instructions. Support work is noted on its own in the estimate, and the pipe stays braced the whole time the wood is being changed.
Reading the chimney label before repairs start
Factory-built fireplaces and chimneys are listed and labeled, and the label names the maker, model and listing. Under R1004.1, factory-built fireplaces are tested to UL 127 and installed per their listing. R1005.3 ties factory-built chimneys for solid-fuel appliances to UL 103, and R1005.4 has chimneys for factory-built fireplaces meet UL 127.
The instructions that go with those labels decide the clearances, shields and supports inside your chase. The fireplace label is often inside the firebox opening or behind a panel, and original paperwork helps if you still have it. The chimney pipe itself may also carry a label on a section near the top of the chase.
Our technicians record the maker and model at the first visit, so the chase work follows the right instructions. If a label is missing or unreadable, we tell you how that limits the repair plan. This step comes before any framing is cut on a chase in MetroWest.
Other work in MetroWest
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Quick answers on chimney chase repair
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.
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
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