Chimney Cap Installation and Replacement in St. Augustine, FL
Rain, leaves and animals stay out. Smoke still gets out.
- Family run
- Locally owned
- Licensed and insured
- Same-day service
Get Your Free Inspection
Request Received
Got it, thank you. Expect a call from the family to book your free inspection.
Or call us at (904) 943-7482
Short version
Chimney cap replacement swaps a rusted, loose or missing cap for a new one sized to the flue or crown. A technician measures on the roof, fits a stainless or copper cap with a mesh screen, and fastens it securely. The new cap keeps rain, debris and animals out while letting smoke escape.
Inspect First, Then Save 10%
Free inspection first; book the new cap within 72 hours and take 10% off.
Why Homeowners Call Us Back
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Family run
The company is run by one family, so the people who price the job are the people who answer for it.
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Upfront, honest pricing
The price is on paper before we start. If something changes, we ask before doing more.
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Workmanship warranty
Our workmanship warranty backs every repair we complete.
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Licensed and insured
Licensed and insured, with an experienced crew on every roof and hearth.
What a Chimney Cap Does
A chimney cap is a metal hood with a mesh screen that sits over the flue. The hood keeps rain off the open flue and the crown around it. The screen keeps birds, squirrels and leaves out and acts as a chimney spark arrestor, catching embers before they reach the roof. NFPA 211 lists spark arrestor screens among the chimney top parts it covers.
Without a cap, rain falls straight down the flue. It rusts the damper, softens mortar in the smoke chamber and can leave standing water in the firebox.
Chimney Cap Installation, Sized to Fit
Caps come in two main styles. A single-flue cap clamps or bolts onto one flue tile that sticks up above the crown. A multi flue chimney cap covers the whole crown when several flues sit close together or the tiles are too short to clamp to. We measure on the roof before ordering, because a cap that is too small leaves gaps and one that is too big catches wind.
For a new chimney cap we look at the crown too. A cap fastened to a cracked crown loosens as the crown breaks up, so we tell you if the crown needs work first.
Stainless Steel, Copper and Painted Caps
A stainless steel chimney cap holds up well near salt air and does not rust the way galvanized or painted steel does. A copper chimney cap costs more up front but weathers to a brown or green finish and lasts a long time. Painted steel caps are the cheapest and the first to rust through.
We fit the cap with stainless fasteners and follow the cap maker's installation instructions. If you want a decorative chimney cover or a larger hood for a wide crown, we can price that too.
Chimney Cap Repair or Replacement
Some caps only need chimney cap repair: a loose bolt tightened, a bent screen straightened, a new strap. When the hood has rusted through or the screen has broken away, replacement makes more sense than patching. We explain which applies on your roof.
A chimney rain cap is not the same as a chase cover, the metal top on a framed chase around a factory-built chimney. If your chimney has a chase cover, see our chase cover page; many factory-built systems use a cap made by the chimney maker as well.
Caps and Chimney Screens for Animals
A chimney screen with the right mesh size keeps birds and squirrels from nesting in the flue. If an animal is already inside, the cap goes on after it is out, and spark arrestor installation waits until any protected chimney swifts have left for the season.
Urgent Chimney Problem in St. Augustine?
The 24/7 emergency line is answered at any hour. Once the house is safe, the family sorts out the repair plan with you.
If there is fire, a gas smell or a carbon monoxide alarm, get everyone out and call 911 first. Report a gas smell to your gas utility from outside the house.
Request a Free Inspection in St. Augustine
- No-charge inspection, priced on paper
- Upfront pricing with no hidden fees
- Family owned and run
Request Received
Got it, thank you. Expect a call from the family to book your free inspection.
What We Check For
- Rust stains down the brick
- A painted or galvanized cap is rusting. A stainless replacement stops the streaking.
- Cap blown off in a storm
- The old fasteners failed. We refit a cap and fasten it to sound masonry.
- Leaves in the firebox
- The screen is broken or missing. A new cap or screen keeps debris out.
Questions We Hear Often
How does a chimney cap work?
A chimney cap works as a roof and a fence for the flue. The metal hood sheds rain off the opening, and the mesh screen around the sides lets smoke out while keeping birds, squirrels and leaves from getting in; the screen also stops larger embers before they land on the roof.
What size chimney cap do I need?
Cap size depends on the outside of the flue tile for a single-flue cap, or the top of the crown for a multi-flue cap. The cap also needs enough height above the flue so smoke can leave freely. We measure on the roof before ordering anything.
Do chimney caps affect draft?
A cap of the right size has little effect on draft, but a small, clogged or badly placed cap can slow it. Mesh packed with soot or leaves acts like a partial blockage; if smoke spills into the room after a cap is fitted, the screen and the height of the hood are the first things we check.
Do chimney caps keep water out?
A chimney cap keeps most rain out of the flue, which protects the damper, smoke chamber and firebox. Water can still enter through a cracked crown, open mortar joints or failed flashing, since the cap only covers the opening. A dry firebox after a cap goes on is a good sign the flue was the main source.
How long do chimney caps last?
Painted or galvanized steel caps often rust within a few years near the coast, while stainless steel and copper caps last far longer. Storms, loose fasteners and a cracking crown can end a cap's life early; we check the cap at every sweep or inspection and tell you when it is getting close.
Are chimney caps required by code?
Requirements depend on the appliance and the chimney type. NFPA 211 calls for spark arrestors in some situations, and many factory-built chimneys must use the cap listed by their maker. For a masonry fireplace flue, a cap is strongly advised even where it is not strictly required, because it keeps water and animals out.
Proudly American
Owned and run by one St. Augustine family. Our experienced crew puts every estimate on paper and backs its repairs with a workmanship warranty.
Call Now (904) 943-7482Close the Top of the Chimney
A cap that fits keeps the weather and the wildlife out of your flue.