Chimney chase repair with a written estimate in Oakshire

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 Oakshire home is closed.

Old patch jobs that hide rot

Many chases have been patched before. Caulk smeared over split siding, roofing tar along the base, a coat of paint over soft wood or a strip of trim nailed over a gap can all hide damage for a while. Some of these fixes went on quickly after a storm, and others were left by a previous owner.

The patch often traps water and makes the rot behind it worse. Tar at the base can block the drainage path, and a trim strip over a split can hold water against the board.

Our technicians look closely at old repairs and probe around them. When a patch is hiding soft wood, we take it off and repair what is behind it. Each old patch we plan to remove gets its own line on your Oakshire estimate. If an old patch is sound and covers sound wood, it can stay.

Selling or renting a home with a framed chase

A chase in poor shape can hold up a sale or cause trouble with a tenant. Visible rot, stained ceilings and a fireplace that cannot be used all come up during showings and walk-throughs. A buyer's inspector is likely to probe the same soft spots we do, and a vague note in a report can stall a deal. Sellers and landlords usually want a clear answer and a fixed scope, done on a schedule that works around move-outs, listing dates or tenants.

Our crew works with owners, agents and property managers to set access times and keep the work inside the agreed scope. You get a written estimate up front that you can hand to a buyer or keep in the rental file. For a rental, we can coordinate entry with the tenant, keep the fireplace out of use during the work and keep the owner updated as each stage is done.

Workmanship warranty and a 100% satisfaction guarantee

Our workmanship warranty applies to chase repair, and so does our 100% satisfaction guarantee. The warranty covers the work we did, and the written estimate, with any approved changes, names that work layer by layer.

Being specific matters on a chase, because most of the work ends up hidden. The new wood, the barrier and flashing laps and the finish we installed are named in writing, so there is no question later about what the warranty covers. Parts made by the chimney maker come with whatever terms the maker offers, and work done by your roofer is the roofer's to stand behind.

If anything about the repair does not look or perform the way you expected, call us and tell us what you see. That promise is the same for every chase we repair in Oakshire, from a single corner to a full rebuild.