Chimney Care Company's Blog

The Importance of the Chimney Chase Cover

Chase covers fit over the top, outer opening of your chimney. These covers are designed to keep precipitation, debris and animals out of your chimney and are custom made to fit your specific application; it’s similar to the lid on a shoebox. Buying a chase cover is extremely important and absolutely necessary to the life and maintenance of your chimney and your home. Because of its job function, a chase cover is more than an option; it’s a necessity!

Material Options for Every Budget… 

Everyone loves knowing that they have options. For those of you in the market for a new chase cover, you’ve got options, too. Chase cover materials run the gamut and can accommodate all budgets: galvanized steel, aluminum, copper and stainless steel. Galvanized steel covers are the least expensive; unfortunately, they rust quickly and need to be replaced within a few years. Aluminum covers don’t have the same rusting issues as their galvanized counterparts, however they’re not typically used for this function simply because the metal is too soft.

Copper is, by far, the highest quality choice and is accompanied by the largest price tag as well; if you’re in the market for that type of look (and can afford the additional cost associated with it), you can’t go wrong with copper. Stainless steel is the strongest of the four materials. It costs a bit more up front than galvanized steel, however, the mere fact that it won’t rust and should never need to be replaced again more than makes up for the increased initial investment.

Never Trust the Rust…

Many homeowners do not notice that their chase cover has begun to rust. This is because it’s all the way up on top of the chimney, which isn’t exactly the easiest place to see. Sometimes it’s easier to spot a rusted chase cover after it has rained. This is due to the fact that when the water runs off of the chimney cap and down the sides of your chimney, it carries the rust down the sides with it, leaving stains and discoloration.

It is your responsibility as a homeowner to have this problem repaired as quickly as possible to prevent more significant damage from occurring to the chimney system. If rust damage isn’t repaired, the middle of the cover may begin to sink in, which will lead to an accumulation of water, leaves, and other debris. This buildup puts more stress on your already damaged cover and could cause it to cave in completely, thereby exposing the inner workings of your chimney system to the elements.

If you’re in the market for a chase cover for your chimney — either as a replacement for a damaged cover or as an enhancement for your chimney — contact the professionals at Chimney Care Company. Our professional technicians will inspect your entire chimney system and, if necessary, will properly fit a chase cover to your chimney’s exact dimensions to ensure that it is properly sealed from the elements. Your home is an investment, and we want to help you protect it. No matter what your chimney or vent needs, contact us today. We look forward to serving you!

What is masory spalling and how can it affect your chimney and fireplace?

As your well-built masonry chimney ages, your exterior bricks and mortar are going to naturally suffer weather-related damage. Not only do older chimneys experience deterioration, newer masonry chimneys can also show signs of damage if they are not properly maintained. Unfortunately, the decaying of chimney masonry is a slow, gradual process and not always easy to spot. The biggest signs of masonry decay include cracks, holes, and crumbled bricks and mortar. All of these signs are symptoms of spalling, a term we at Chimney Care Company often have to explain to customers. We would like to take an opportunity to inform you about the causes, impact, and repair of chimney spalling damage.

What exactly is the definition of spalling?

As described by InspectAPedia, an online encyclopedia of building inspection and repair, spalling is the chipping off or loss of surface of any masonry material, including a brick chimney, a masonry block chimney, or even concrete sidewalks.

What causes spalling?

Water exposure and penetration are your masonry chimney’s biggest enemies. Most severe in colder climates, the freeze-thaw process causes major spalling damage. When water penetrates the bricks and mortar of your chimney, that water will freeze in cold temperatures and expand. As the temperatures rise and the ice thaws, parts of those bricks and mortar will break off completely due to the stress of the expansion. The more this cycle repeats in a season, the more spalling occurs, which can cause structural damage to your chimney. Other causes of spalling include masonry products that are soft, porous, improperly made, or poorly constructed.

Other than structural damage, are there other impacts of chimney spalling?

Yes, besides structural damage to your chimney, spalling can cause bricks to fall into your chimney and make it unsafe by blocking the flue. Your flue should always be inspected when your chimney suffers from spalling damage. Furthermore, holes left in your chimney structure from lost bricks and mortar increase the opportunity for water penetration, which leads to more costly damages.

How can spalling be repaired?

If the damage is not too serious, the expert masons at Chimney Care Company can fill in the holes, brick by brick. However, if your chimney has undergone severe spalling damage, it will need to be torn down to a sound level and rebuilt. When a flue has also suffered damage, rebuilding the chimney allows for new flue tiles to be installed.

What are ways to prevent spalling?

Keeping water out is crucial in preventing spalling damage. To stop water leaks, you should be sure you do not have a damaged or missing chimney crown or chimney cap. Damaged flashing also leads to water penetration of your masonry chimney. Our certified technicians at Chimney Care Company can inspect, repair, and install all three of these essential components of your chimney. We can also apply a 100% vapor-permeable waterproofing formula to further protect your masonry from water-caused spalling damage.

If you have noticed signs of spalling on your chimney, contact Chimney Care Company today. Our masons will take care of your chimney and give their full attention to every detail.