Honest chimney chase repair for Timberleaf homes
Framing, sheathing, barrier, flashing and finish, each priced on its own line before a single board comes off.
- Licensed & insured
- Locally run
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
The chase layers we price for Timberleaf homes
- Probe test of siding, corners and the chase base
- Tap test for hollow or loose stucco
- Siding removed and reused where boards are sound
- Trim primed, installed and sealed at joints
The wall behind the siding
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.
The screed along the bottom edge of the stucco
Stucco on a framed wall needs a clean stop at the bottom. A screed is a metal or plastic strip fastened along the base of the wall, and the stucco is finished against it. R703.7.2 says that on wood-frame construction with an on-grade floor slab, exterior plaster covers the lath, paper and screed but does not extend below them.
When stucco runs past the screed onto the roof, a slab or the flashing, water draining down the barrier has no way out. The bottom edge stays wet, and over time the plate behind it can rot.
On a stucco chase in Timberleaf, our crew checks where the stucco stops at the base and along any roof line. If it runs past the screed or is buried in roofing, we cut it back to a clean edge so water can leave the wall. That edge detail is written into the scope, since it is easy to lose once the finish coat goes on.
Decorative shrouds on top of the chase
A decorative shroud is a metal housing set over the chimney termination to dress up the top of a chase. It looks good, but it also changes what surrounds the top of the chimney. R1005.2 allows decorative shrouds at the termination of a factory-built chimney only where the shroud is listed and labeled for that specific chimney system.
An unlisted shroud can also hold water or debris on the chase top, right above the framing we are there to repair. A shroud also has to come off for any work on the top framing, so its fasteners and condition get noted.
When a chase with a shroud is repaired, our crew looks for a listing label that matches the chimney. If there is none, we explain the code limit and your options, from removing it to a listed replacement from the chimney maker. Whatever you choose, the shroud is priced as its own line and dealt with before the top framing is closed.
Keeping the open chase dry during repairs
Once siding or stucco comes off, the chase is open to the weather. The sheathing, the framing and the chimney pipe inside all need cover until the wall is closed again. Rain on bare sheathing for even one night can undo part of the repair.
At the end of each workday, every open section gets sheeting lapped so rain runs off it, not into it. The top of the chase stays covered whenever the metal cover is off, and the covering is fastened so wind cannot peel it back.
If heavy rain is forecast during a job that runs several days, we check the covers before it arrives. Your fireplace stays out of use while the chase is open. Before work starts on a chase in Timberleaf, you hear how many days it is likely to be open and how it will be protected.
Other work in Timberleaf
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Before you book chase repair in Timberleaf
Can you repair only the rotted part of my chase?
Often, yes. When rot is limited to the base, a corner or the top, our crew removes siding in that area, replaces the damaged wood and laps new barrier and flashing into the old. If probing shows rot running through most of the framing, we price a rebuild alongside the repair so you can compare.
How do you price damage you cannot see yet?
The estimate prices what the inspection can confirm and explains how hidden damage is handled. If opening the chase shows more rot, we stop, show you and write up the added work with its price. Nothing extra is done until you approve it.
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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