Chimney chase repair and rebuilding in South Apopka
Your South Apopka chase, repaired by a local family-owned company that puts every layer in writing first.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
What we check on a framed chase
- Stucco rebuilt in three coats over new lath
- Rotted studs, plates and corners replaced or sistered
- Top plate and framing under the cover
- Apron and back flashing at the chase base
Building a chase back the right way
Wall chases that reach down to the ground
A chase that runs from the ground up the side of the house has a bottom edge that stays wetter than the rest. Soil, mulch, sprinkler spray and rain splashing off a walkway all reach the lowest boards and the sill.
The Florida Building Code, section R317.1, calls for wood that sits close to the ground or to exposed slabs, including siding, sheathing and wall framing, to be naturally durable or preservative-treated. That is why the sill of a wall chase gets the closest look.
When we repair the bottom of a wall chase, rotted sill and stud ends are replaced with decay-resistant material where the code calls for it. We check the clearance to soil and mulch and point out sprinklers aimed at the wall. Small changes like those keep the new wood dry.
A chase that leans or twists
A chase should stand plumb and square. When one corner rots, the box can lean toward it or twist, and you may see it in the gap under the cover, the line of the siding or a chimney cap that no longer sits straight. Measuring the lean at the top and the base shows whether it is still moving.
A lean inside the chase can push framing toward the chimney pipe and close the air space the maker requires. It can also pull the roof flashing loose at the base.
A level and a plumb line show how far the chase has moved, and our crew then opens the low corner to find the cause. A slight lean can be pulled back and reframed, while a chase that has moved a lot may need rebuilding. We explain which fits your South Apopka chase and why, in writing. The cause gets fixed before any siding goes back up.
Straps and supports tied to the chase framing
Inside a tall chase, the chimney pipe may be held in line by straps or a stabilizer fastened to the chase framing. In DuraVent's DuraChimney II manual, for example, the stabilizer keeps the chimney centered in the chase and does not support its weight, and the same manual uses wall straps or stabilizers at set spacing to hold the air space around an enclosed chimney.
When the studs those parts are fastened to rot, the pipe can drift toward one wall. Replacing the framing without resetting the supports can leave the pipe off center and too close to the new wood.
Our crew marks each support before the framing comes out and refastens it to new framing in its listed position. We also check that the pipe stands plumb before the chase on your South Apopka home is closed up.
Charred or darkened wood near the pipe
Wood inside a chase should look like ordinary framing lumber. Framing near the chimney pipe that is dark brown, charred or brittle has been exposed to more heat than it should. Possible reasons include a pipe that has shifted, an air space that has been filled or a shield that is missing.
If you find charred wood near the pipe, stop using the fireplace until the cause is found and fixed. If you ever see smoke or flame coming from the chase walls, or notice fire in the walls, get everyone out of the house and call 911.
Heat-damaged framing is replaced, and the reason behind it is found and corrected before the chase is closed. The pipe position, the clearance and the listed parts are all checked, and the findings go into the written estimate so you can see what caused the damage and what the repair covers.
Other work in South Apopka
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Chimney chase repair questions in South Apopka
Can a chase be changed from siding to stucco?
Yes, as long as the framing is sound and flat. Stucco over wood needs a two-layer barrier, corrosion-resistant lath and three coats, so we price it as its own option next to a like-for-like siding repair.
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.
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- Free inspection
- No hidden fees
- Family owned and operated
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