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Chimney Caps
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"A Chimney without a Cap is like a House without a Roof"
Imagine an 8" x 8" hole in your roof. How much water do you think would come into your home through this hole during a normal spring thunderstorm? This 8" x 8" hole is the smallest size flue available for a chimney. Most chimney flues are much larger then that. So where does the forming water go? It pours down the chimney and saturates the interior walls mixing with the soot/creosote and acid that deteriorates the interior walls of the chimney. These surfaces remain wet for days and will erode the mortar joints, flue liners, brick, and surrounding area. In cold weather the moisture freezes, expands and causes the masonry to crack and break down.
All Chimneys are in need of Caps:
To keep out rain, snow, sleet, etc.
To keep out birds and animals
To keep out debris such as leaves, twigs, etc. which can cause a blockage in the flue.
To keep sparks from flying out and landing on nearby roofs, trees, etc., possibly igniting a fire.
To help eliminate downdrafts caused by wind.
There are a variety of Chimney Caps available. Some of the more common Caps are made from galvanized metal, stainless steel, copper and slate. If you prefer a metal cap, our recommendation would be either stainless steel or copper, since they are guaranteed for life and WILL NOT cause unsightly rust stains on the exterior of your chimney.
On older homes, slate caps set on brick or stone pillars will complement the overall facade of your home.
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