Quick AnswerIf your prefab chimney chase has rust streaks, standing water, or a cover that's pulling away at the seams, it needs to be replaced, not patched. We fabricate and install new galvanized or stainless steel chase covers sized to fit tight against your chase, with properly sloped edges so water sheds instead of pooling.
What’s Included
The chase cover is the flat metal top over a factory-built, or prefab, chimney chase, and it takes more weather abuse than almost any other part of the system. Once it rusts through or the seams open up, water gets straight into the chase framing and insulation below. We replace worn covers with new, properly sloped metal built to actually shed Cleveland's rain and snow instead of holding it.
- We remove the failing cover completely rather than patching over rust or resealing failed seams, since caulk and tar are a temporary fix at best on a cover that's already compromised.
- New covers are fabricated from galvanized or stainless steel, sized and sloped to fit your specific chase dimensions so water runs off rather than pooling in low spots.
- Seams and the flue penetration are properly sealed with materials rated for exterior exposure, not the general-purpose caulk that fails within a season or two.
- We check the chase framing and any visible insulation for water damage while the old cover is off, since a failed cover is often not the only issue if it's been leaking for a while.
- Cover edges are turned down and fastened to shed wind-driven rain, a common failure point on covers that were installed flat or under-secured originally.
- Every job includes a flat-fee written estimate before we begin, covering material, fabrication, and installation with no surprise charges.
Signs You Need This
- Rust streaks running down the chase siding or brick below the top
- Standing water or visible ponding on top of the chase
- Gaps, separated seams, or lifted edges around the flue pipe
- Water stains or damage inside the chase or nearby ceiling
- A cover that flexes, rattles, or has visibly rusted through in spots
Our Process
Assessment
We inspect the current chase cover for rust, gaps, and pooling, and check for signs the leak has already reached the chase framing below.
Written Estimate
You get a flat-fee, written quote covering material and installation before we schedule the work.
Removal and Fabrication
We remove the failing cover and fabricate a new one sized and sloped correctly for your specific chase and flue penetration.
Sealed Installation
The new cover is installed, seams and penetrations are properly sealed, and edges are secured to shed wind-driven rain.
How Much Does It Cost?
Chase cover cost depends on the size of the chase, the metal chosen, and how many flue penetrations need to be sealed around. Stainless steel costs more up front than galvanized but resists rust indefinitely, which matters given how much weather exposure this component takes. We provide a written, flat-fee estimate after inspecting the current cover, before any work begins, so there's no ambiguity about the final price.
FAQs
Minor surface rust can sometimes be treated, but once a cover has rust-through, separated seams, or is holding water, patching it is a short-term fix. Replacement is more cost-effective than repeat repairs on failing metal.
The chase cover is the entire flat metal top over a factory-built chimney chase; the cap is the smaller cover specifically over the flue opening. Both matter, but a bad chase cover leaks into the whole structure, not just the flue.
A properly installed stainless steel chase cover can last decades. Galvanized steel is a lower-cost option but will eventually need replacement sooner, especially in a lake-effect climate like Cleveland's.