Wind-damaged chimney repair, step by step, in The Hammocks
Water that showed up after the storm is traced to its entry point before any repair is chosen.
- Owned and run locally
- Available for same-day service
- Fully licensed and insured
- Family owned and run
Clues that wind or water got in after a storm
- Cap bent or hanging to one side
- Loose bricks at the chimney top
- New crack across the concrete crown
- Metal pieces on the roof near the flue
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Putting a storm-damaged chimney right
A cover must never block a working flue
Consumer safety guidance on carbon monoxide warns that appliance vents and chimneys must not be blocked by tarps or debris. That matters after a storm, when covers go onto roofs quickly and in poor light.
If the chimney also vents a water heater or furnace, a cover over its flue could send exhaust back into the house. We check what each flue serves before covering anything. A flue that must stay open gets a different kind of protection, and we explain the choice on the visit.
A torn screen on the cap
The screen on a chimney cap works as a spark arrestor and keeps animals and debris out. The building code expects it to be removable for cleaning and to resist heat and corrosion.
Wind and flying debris can tear a screen or bend it away from the frame. A torn screen lets sparks out and animals in. We check the mesh and its attachment and replace the screen or the whole cap, depending on what is available for that model and how the frame fared.
Stains that appear days after the storm
Some leaks show up days after a storm. Water soaks into masonry or framing and then works its way through to an interior finish. The stain appears long after the rain has stopped.
A late stain still points to the chimney if it sits near it. Tell us when it appeared and whether it has grown. We check the chimney top and faces for the entry point. The repair is chosen once the path is clear, not from the stain alone.
Custom chase covers measured on site
Chase covers are usually made to measure. The chase size, the pipe opening, the skirt height and the collar all have to fit the chase they sit on, and no two chases are quite alike.
We measure on site and order the cover to those measurements, with a shape that sheds water. While it is being made, the chase is protected with a temporary cover. When the new cover arrives, it is fastened and sealed as the chimney maker's instructions describe, and the temporary cover is removed and hauled away.
How a storm damage estimate is laid out
- Chase cover and storm collar check
- Permanent repairs listed item by item
- Listed parts for factory-built chimneys
- Debris cleaned up and hauled away
Chimney cap and chase cover storm questions
Do you run a water test to find where a storm leak starts?
A hose water test is used when the job calls for it, usually when the entry point cannot be found by looking. It lets us wet one area at a time and watch for water inside.
Can loose pieces of a damaged chimney top fall?
Loose top courses or a shifted cap can fall, especially in the next strong wind. Keep people and vehicles away from the area below the chimney, and do not use the fireplace. Tell us what you see when you call.
What should I tell you when I call after a storm?
Describe what you see from the ground, what changed inside, such as water or debris in the fireplace, and when you noticed it. Mention whether the chimney is masonry or a metal flue in a framed chase.
More Ways to Care for Your Fireplace
- Chimney WaterproofingTreat suitable chimney masonry after checking the surface, repair needs and product requirements.
- Smoke Chamber RepairRepair identified smoke-chamber surfaces with the access and material requirements clearly defined.
- Chimney Cap Installation and ReplacementProtect the chimney opening with a cap chosen for its fit, attachment and compatible system.
- Chimney Animal RemovalAssess occupied chimney openings and plan appropriate follow-up cleaning or entry protection.
- Gas Fireplace VentingAssess and repair the gas fireplace vent arrangement using components suited to the identified system.
We received your request
Our team will contact you to arrange your inspection.
Chimney & Fireplace Brands We Work With
DuraVent 
Olympia Chimney and Venting 
Copperfield Chimney Supply 
Rutland 
Heatilator 
Heat & Glo