Good day,

in our chimney inspection, it was noticed and noted that we need a chimney cap put on our chimney. The chimney sweep quoted almost $800 for that which seemed really high. I have yet to get this done and want to make it a priority as we turn to fall.

Is it me, or is that high? It’s a normal single flue chimney. It is high as we have a 2 story house with a steep pitch roof.(not super steep, but steeper than others I have seen.

Is it reasonably easy to do on my own? I would be out the cost of the ladder, but at least I would have something to show for it.

Thanks for your thoughts and insights.

James

 

Don't know if it if code or not for your location, but you do want one. And you want it in stainless steel or aluminum. Several years ago I had mine replaced (from plain steel to aluminum). The cost seems reasonable.

 

Assuming you're talking about the metal "lid" on top of the flue , you can buy one for as low as $40 at the big box stores. I installed 2 of them on my chimmey last year and it is very easy - just measure for the size you need and slide it on and tighten the screws. You can get fancier ones that cost more, but 800 seems crazy unless there is some masonry work needed as well.

 

Sounds high to me, but we have a ranch with a walkable roof, and everything is relevant. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, and you're not sure about the price, call a local roofing company or two and get something to compare it to. Just be sure that you are comfortable with whoever you hire, and ask them to look at the crown as well, because that could be more significant, not just in cost but in terms of potential damage.

 

I'm not talking about the actual stack cover that smoke comes out of. I'm referring to the topper for the chimney chase structure that the stack(s) come through.

 

The cap is the metal cover, usually with a screen to keep birds and varmits out, and the crown is the concrete on top of the bricks that the flue protrudes through, typically in the vicinity of 3" thick, sloped away from the flue, extended past of edge of the bricks, and ideally with a small detail to provide a drip point so that water does not travel back to the bricks. If you are referring to the crown, then yes, I agree with Norm that you have a reasonable price, actually very reasonable I would guess for a two story with a steep pitch. But a cap, as mentioned, is going to be in the $40 range, so another $750 or thereabout to installed seems high. Although we don't know all of the circumstances either. I have seen some homes, no idea what they had in mind, but extremely difficult to even find a spot where a ladder can be safely positioned due to steep terrain or whatever.

 

Sorry to be MIA for a few days. The chimney is a wood cased chimney. What I am referring to is the sheet metal cap that goes over the wood structure to send rain down and away from the structure. The flue pokes through it.

Good call on having a roofer coming out to take a look. I was being.nartowly focused on it needing to be a chimney person.

Thanks