Chimney cap vs flue tile cap

90% of the repairs we provide our customers is repair to chimneys above the roofline.

Miriam Webster will tell you that a chimney cap is a device fitted to the top of a chimney to improve the draft by presenting an exit aperture to leeward. But what does that mean? A chimney cap is your first line of defense. Chimney caps are one of the most important components of your fireplace system because of the way they protect the rest of the chimney and flue. Without a working chimney cap, animals, debris, and moisture can all freely enter the flue. Likewise, chimney caps help prevent sparks and embers from flying out onto the roof and causing accidental fires.

Flue Cap

Flue tile caps leave crown exposed and do not protect the entire footprint of the chimney from weather. A proper chimney cap is one that shelters and protects the entire masonry crown footprint and all terminations.

90% of the repairs we provide our customers is repair to chimneys above the roofline.

A chimney in the PNW gets hit so hard with rain, the chimneys become saturated. Then, if temperatures drop below freezing, the bricks and mortar of your chimney expand and contract. This causes chimneys to crack at the crowns and around the flue tiles, and the mortar begins to fall out of the chimney onto the roof. We also find bricks themselves going through decomposition. This is when you see the brick face sheer off because it filled with water and literally burst like a frozen ice cube. Known as spalling bricks. These cracked areas are open water ways and cause all kind of leaks and water damage into the home. We have seen it all, rotten roof, falling ceilings, leaking fireplace face, rusted dampers, rotting floors, and Mold! MOLD! MOLD!

We have found customers suffering from mold allergies for years not knowing it was coming from their chimney! This is called masonry saturation decay. With no chimney cap or the wrong cap this decay is accelerated in our climate. If a chimney has never had a proper cap. It is likely you will need some repairs.

Proper Cap 1

A proper chimney cap is one that shelters and protects the entire masonry crown footprint and all terminations, with a screen to keep out pests and debris.

All of this decay is preventable. I think of a proper chimney cap as a crucial piece of flashing—we all know how important flashings can be. The proper chimney cap is a very important water diverting flashing for the chimney and everything below it.

If your chimney had a proper cap from the start of its existence, it would not need as much repair. Our chimney caps and water seal treatments help customers fully protect their home from PNW masonry saturation decay. With applicable repairs, curing, water seal treatment, and proper chimney caps installed, we guarantee no leaks.

We can provide a proper fitting chimney cap to shelter and protect your chimney from excessive water accumulation and further damage. If your Chimney had a proper cap since the start of its existence it would not need as much repair. Our chimney caps and water seal treatments help customers fully protect their home from PNW masonry saturation decay. With applicable repairs, curing, water seal treatment and proper chimney caps installed we guarantee no leaks.

503-758-4710

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