Chimney chase rebuilds and repairs in University
Every layer of the enclosure, from studs to siding, rebuilt so water stays out of your University chase.
- Family owned and operated
- Same-day service available
- No hidden fees
- Workmanship warranty
Contents
Our Services
What a Lasting Chimney Chase Repair Involves
A split board or a full rebuild, our pros repair only what your chase actually needs.
Signs of chase rot you can see from the yard
A rotting chase often announces itself quietly. Paint that bubbles or peels on one face, siding that bows or feels soft at the bottom, trim that has pulled away at the corners, dark streaks under the cover or a stain on a ceiling inside near the chimney are all worth a call. Rust stains running down the siding point to metal failing above.
Please look from the ground and leave the ladder in the garage. Our team probes the suspect areas and measures moisture in the wood where that helps, then tells you what the readings do and do not show. A moisture reading says the wood is wet, and it cannot tell you how strong a stud is, so soft or dark wood gets opened and judged by eye.
Stucco on a framed chase
Stucco over a wood chase is a system made of sheathing, a weather barrier, lath and the stucco coats, with weep or flashing details where water can leave. International Masonry Institute guidance separates stucco on framing from stucco applied directly to masonry, because the framed version depends on those hidden layers to stay dry. Cracks, hollow-sounding patches and stains at the base can all mean water is behind it.
Patching the surface over wet sheathing hides the problem for a season. Our specialists open the stucco where it has failed, repair the framing and barrier and rebuild the coats to meet the existing finish. Color and texture are matched as closely as the old surface allows, and we tell you honestly where a repaired area may still show.
Where the chase meets the roof
The joint between the chase and the roof takes water from the whole slope above it. Section R703.4 of the Florida residential code calls for corrosion-resistant flashing at wall and roof intersections, applied shingle-fashion so water is turned out. On a chase that means step flashing woven into the shingles and turned up the wall, with the barrier and siding lapped over it.
A missing piece, lifted shingles or siding that sits down on the roofing can let water run straight into the framing. Our pros check the flashing on every side of the chase and repair it along with the siding, so the roof joint and the wall close together. If the roof itself needs more than the chase area, you hear that too.
Why paint and caulk cannot fix a rotted chase
Fresh paint and a bead of caulk make a stained chase look fine from the street for a while. They cannot restore wood that has already softened, and caulk laid over a gap that moves will split again. A new coat can even hold moisture in wood that is already wet.
Once the structure is repaired, paint and sealant do real work. They protect new siding, close trim joints and keep end grain dry. Our pros prime and seal the new materials as part of the repair and tell you what upkeep keeps them that way, such as a look at the caulk joints each year.
On any service we offer
A few boards or a full rebuild, 10% off if booked within 72 hours of the visit.
Free Inspection
What Our Pros Check Before Quoting a Chase Repair
- Sheathing and framing probed for rot
- Firestops and shields the chimney manual lists
- Earlier patches opened and checked
- Temporary securing of loose siding if needed
Our Services
More Help for Your University Fireplace
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More about chimney chase repairEverything we do in University
Have the Chase Looked At for Free
The leak found, the rot replaced and the chase closed in layers.
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