Chimney cap refinishing

[evercl92]

I have a metal custom-sized chimney cap - basically they took a sheet of metal, layed it over the entire top of the chimney, broke it over each edge, then cut a hole in it for the covered vent to sit in. The metal has started to rust as it appears that there's no slope to it, and water will pool until it evaporates.

When we bought the house, it had this issue and was fixed. Fixed means it was painted over.

I would be willing to sand it down and apply a coating material to it, but what do I coat it with? It would need to be UV resistant, water resistant, heat resistant, and bond to metal.

The other obvious answer is to find someone to replace the whole thing.

 

[Bretny]

If its rusting its the wrong metal to be on a roof. Out of sight and out of mind may leed to a rusted out cap and water entering the house.

 

[gungatim]

When I built my house I needed to cap the chimney. I was told by the supplier to "go to a local fireplace store with the dimensions of the finished chimney", which of course varies with materials, the framer, etc. mine is rectangular but a bit off square.

the local fireplace store has a large die, and proper equipment to make a new cap to the exact specs, the die flanges out the hole for the ss chimney flue/liner, and a seal goes over the flue to seal the cap with some sort of caulk. they do not just cut a hole for the pipe it is properly flanged to fit and shed water.

so what I would do, and did, is have my roofer get up there and measure, then have a SS cap made and have him put it on with a new seal. no more rust or water pooling.

I paid something like $150 or so for the cap, 25 yrs. ago. YMMV.

 

[ilovevocs]

Check out metal roof restoration products. I’m not a big fan of coatings because of the cost but it may be viable option for you.

I would recommend a welded stainless cap or soldered flat lock copper cap.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[zak77]

I painted the chimney cap i made for my flues with Rustoleum high heat paint and i just had to repaint the very top of it since it was starting to rust a little. I made it about 6 years ago so if i only have to take 10 minutes to sand and paint every 6 years years, i'm ok with that. The rest of the cap looks fine with no sign of rust. I made it out of scrap expanded metal and angle iron i had kicking around.

 

[JackDiddly]

Talk to a local HVAC sheet metal guy. Its a pretty common request for a good sheet metal outfit.

 

[evercl92]

If this is of any help

 

[The Cobbler]

That is a leak waiting to happen In my opinion/if not already leaking
the cap should be underneath the storm collar, not over it, and it should have been heavily cross broken ( bent diagonally from corner to corner) to create a slope that water runs off of.
this of course is my free opinion

 

[gungatim]

↑ what he said, a properly made cap looks like this: https://www.ebay.com/i/231905899966?chn=ps

not saying to order off ebay, like I said, you should have a local fireplace contractor or hvac place that does these all the time for local builders. looks like someone slapped some sheet metal over the original cover and just caulked it.

 

[bczygan]

COOL!

Another fabrication project idea for me to do!!!

Bill

 

[Bretny]

Like the cobbler said. Leak waiting to happen. Theres water staying right on that cawlk.

If your having trouble finding a cap or a place to get one made look up "chimney chase cover". What your talking about is not a chimney cap. A cap is the roud piece over the chimney.

 

[Cougar67]

Leak? It's a chimney cap. Many homes do not have caps at all. I'd treat the rust, bondo the holes if that's what I'm seeing and paint it with Rustoleum. Check back in a year.

 

[tarbellb]

Powder coat?

Or just spray bomb it once every couple of years.

 

[evercl92]

Im having a couple people come out next week for some quites on replacement. First dude wanted $890 to replace. I find that laughable.

 

[DogtownNate]

I get that this is a fabrication thread, but the Mason in me wonders why not replace the concrete cap, or take the chimney below the roof line and just Rin your vent through ?

 

[evercl92]

I get that this is a fabrication thread, but the Mason in me wonders why not replace the concrete cap, or take the chimney below the roof line and just Rin your vent through ?

That sounds more expensive.

 

[gungatim]

I get that this is a fabrication thread, but the Mason in me wonders why not replace the concrete cap, or take the chimney below the roof line and just Rin your vent through ?

the pics show a stick framed fireplace flue for a prefab unit, no masonry involved near as I can tell...

OP, the link I posted was only $168 for SS cap, I would think you could get something fab'd locally for around $200 if you search...of course you need a guy to get up there and measure, then tear off and install, so maybe $890 isn't all that far out of line...