Dealing with Chimney Cap Repair

Your chimney cap is the apparatus on top of your chimney that keeps debris and animals out of your chimney, while still allowing the smoke and soot to leave when you have a fire going. Your chimney cap is incredibly important for the safety of your fireplace or woodstove, so you need to make sure that it’s in good condition. What can you do if you’re in need of chimney cap repair? Here are a few tips and tricks that you can use and consider before you make a call to a professional.

Why Does The Cap Get Damaged?

Obviously, time is a very big factor that comes into play when you’re looking at chimney cap repair. How long has it been since you put the cap on originally? Has it ever been replaced in all that time? You also want to make sure that you consider how much you’ve been using your cap during the cold winter months. The process of freezing and thawing that cap is going to make it difficult for you to keep it in the best condition possible. Cracks will happen because it expands and contracts, and so it may be frustrating when you start to notice that there are cracks in your cap. There are ways to prevent this, which we will talk about in the next section, but it is something that you want to make sure that you’re aware of before you even get started.

Use a Coating that is Made from Elastomeric Material

There are a lot of different coatings available that can be used in order to make sure that the cracks in your cap are dealt with. One such product is called elastomeric paste. This unique little product is actually incredibly useful, because it serves two different purposes. The first purpose is to; of course, fill in any of the cracks that have already started to form on the surface of your cap. The second purpose, however, may be what is so appealing. These coatings are actually meant to prevent further issues from happening. They help with the flexibility that is necessary to ensure that your cap doesn’t crack under the pressure that freezing and thawing does to it over time. Look at the label when you’re purchasing the product in order to make sure that you’re getting the right thing.

The best part is, it’s not really that hard for you to apply to the chimney cap either. There are a lot of different types that are available for you to choose from, but many of them just require you to use a paint brush in order to apply it to the area over the cap of your chimney. Obviously, this means that you’re going to have to utilize a ladder to get on your roof, so if that’s an issue for you, you may want to call someone in to take care of your chimney cap repair. If not, then get up there and make sure that you apply a generous amount to the entire area. If you put too much on, it may not hold very well, but make sure that there’s enough on there to take care of the cracks that have already surfaced.  Don’t just put it over the cracks, the objective of the product it not only to repair the cracks but to prevent future cracks as well.  So if you put it on the entire cap you can help to expand the lifespan of the cap, which makes it well worth your investment.

If this sounds like something that you may have difficulty with, or your chimney cap issues are a little more difficult than the ones that can be fixed with the repairs that we’ve talked about here, then you’re going to want to call a chimney professional to come in and take care of your chimney cap repair. That way you’ll have the best care possible for your chimney cap, and you can be certain that the things that needed to be fixed were fixed correctly the first time that they were dealt with. Call a professional and make an appointment today to get the best results.

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Making necessary repairs

As the leaves fall, the nights grow longer, and the cold air comes down from the North, bringing snow, ice, and sleet.   Winter is here and you need to make necessary alterations and changes in your home to withstand whatever nature has in store.  You bring in all items from outside, put in storm windows and store your screens and spring furniture for the season.   In preparation, you inspect your boiler and furnace to make sure they are in good working order as the temperature drops during the cold days of the harsh winter.  You examine your stock of logs to ascertain if you have an adequate supply for the winter.  In addition, you clean your fireplace.  You remove all debris from the metal grate, scrub the inner walls of the fireplace, and make sure the damper opens and closes with no problems.  You check the flue for any obstructions, as you prepare to light the first fire of the season.  As part of the inspection, you look at the top of the chimney to see if you need to do chimney cap repairs.  

Getting ready for the cold

The chimney cap is in need of a repair.  It is not an easy job, but one that needs to be undertaken to insure the proper functioning of your fireplace.  The chimney cap is a vital piece on the chimney.  It is located on the top of the stack, and acts as a protection and barrier to the elements, the weather, and any creatures who wish to do damage to your chimney.   The following are basic guidelines, and should always be supplemented by the approved materials and rules and regulations of your local town.
•    Preventing any leaks.  Your chimney cap repairs are first and foremost an attempt to properly seal your chimney from any water leaks. If there are cracks, breaks, or missing parts of the chimney, you must add mortar to the existing structure to create a fully sealed shaft.  When using your mortar, make sure it is not too dry, and at the same time it is not too soggy and runny. Your goal is to have water run away from the top of the chimney so apply the mortar from the opening of the chimney down towards the sides, creating a slope for the water to run off.
•    Repair any bricks. It may be necessary to add mortar to the joints between the bricks surrounding your chimney cap.  This will enable a better adhesion and a complete structure from fireplace to the top with no holes or cracks.  When applying the mortar makes sure it is tightly packed into the joints. 
•    Repair the cap and screen.  As a final touch, replace the cap and screen which act as the barrier to the entrance of the chimney.  This cap will stop any water from flowing into the flue, as well as stop unnecessary debris and dirt from falling down into the fireplace.   By having an appropriate cap with a screen, you can prevent any animals from crawling into your chimney and obstructing the flow of smoke and ash.  Make sure you follow all the steps outlined by the manufacture when installing the cap. 

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