A chimney cap is the single cheapest preventative maintenance item on a chimney — and the most often neglected. It's a stainless steel or copper hood with a mesh screen that covers the top of your flue.
Without a cap, your chimney is an open water funnel collecting rain, snow, leaves, acorns, and occasional raccoons, squirrels, and birds. With one, you solve 80% of water damage problems and stop embers from landing on your roof.
What a good cap does
- Keeps rain out — water-in-flue causes rust, creosote activation, and masonry damage
- Keeps animals out — mesh blocks raccoons, squirrels, birds, and bats
- Blocks embers — required by some NY municipalities, strongly recommended everywhere wood is burned
- Reduces downdrafts — correctly designed caps improve draft, don't hurt it
- Prolongs masonry — water is the #1 killer of brick chimneys
Cap types we install
- Single-flue stainless steel — standard, fits most Long Island chimneys, $275-$475 installed
- Multi-flue stainless — for chimneys with 2+ flues under one crown, covers all at once
- Draft-correcting caps — Vacu-Stack or similar for chimneys with chronic draft problems
- Custom copper — decorative, high-end, 50+ year lifespan, premium pricing
- Lock-top dampers — dual-purpose: cap + energy-saving damper controlled from the fireplace
When to call us
- Missing cap (wind storm, never installed)
- Rusted cap (galvanized, after 5-10 years)
- Damaged mesh (animal break-in)
- Wrong size (too loose, vibrates in wind)
- Blocked mesh (creosote buildup, reducing draft)
Our process
- Measure. Flue opening, crown dimensions, count of flues. Custom caps require accurate measurements.
- Select cap. We bring options to the job and show you sizes/finishes before installing.
- Secure to flue. Most caps attach to the flue tile with stainless set screws. We seal threads with high-temp sealant.
- Test. Confirm proper draft isn't obstructed, mesh is intact, cap is level.
- Warranty registration. Manufacturer warranty registered in your name.
Typical install is 45-60 minutes.
