Insulated chimney liners installed in Otter Lake

The top plate carries the liner

In a flexible liner system, the top plate sits on the chimney top and bears the total weight of the liner. It is fastened to the masonry, the liner is clamped to it and cut flush with the assembly, and then the cap goes back on.

A sound surface under that plate matters, so we check the crown and the tile height before the top kit is chosen. A plate fastened to crumbling masonry cannot hold its seal for long, which is why any crown repair it depends on is scheduled ahead of the liner.

The cap at the end of the liner

A listed top kit pairs the top plate with a rain cap made for the liner. It keeps rain and debris out of the flue opening while leaving the gases a clear way out.

The liner cap is part of the relining system and separate from a chimney cap that covers a whole crown. We explain which one your chimney will have, and whether both can sit together. When a chimney cap is also wanted, we check that it clears the liner cap and does not trap it.

Permits and the local building department

Liner instructions note that building permits may be required before installation, and tell installers to contact local building and fire officials about inspection requirements. Local building inspectors have the final say over what they accept, whatever a national code or a product sheet says.

We check what applies to your relining job and tell you before scheduling, so a required inspection is planned rather than discovered. If a permit is needed, the estimate shows how it fits into the timeline.

How the installation day runs

Relining day follows a set order, and we tell you the plan the day before, including when the fireplace and the roof will be in use and roughly how long each stage takes for your chimney.

• The flue and smoke chamber are cleaned
• The route is proven with a test piece or guide cone
• Insulation, where required, goes on the liner
• The liner is lowered from the top
• The base connection is made and checked
• The top plate and liner cap are fitted and fastened