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Chimney Cap Installation in Seattle
Open flue with no cap? We measure, fit and fasten a new chimney cap in one visit. Free quote, price match plus 10-25% off, same-day often available.
- Free 2nd-opinion quotes
- Price match + 10–25% discount
- Same-day service often available
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Plenty of chimneys around Seattle, Tacoma and Everett have never had a cap. The flue tile just stops at the crown, open to the sky, the way it was built. Others lost a cap years ago and nobody noticed. Either way, an uncapped flue lets rain fall straight down to the smoke shelf and damper, invites birds and raccoons into a warm, dark pipe, and gives wind a direct shot at your draft. Chimney cap installation fixes all three at once, and it is one of the least expensive jobs we do.
This page covers first-time installation: putting a cap on a flue that has none. If you already have a cap that is rusted through or blown off, see chimney cap replacement. If your cap is basically sound but bent or loose, chimney cap repair is cheaper. And if you are not sure which you have, call 206-453-2045 and describe what you see from the ground; we can usually tell you.
We install caps on clay-tile flues, stainless liners and factory-built pipe throughout King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, with a free quote and our price match plus 10-25% off.
Symptoms
Signs you need chimney cap installation
- You can see straight into the flue tile from the yard; nothing sits on top of it
- Rain noise or dripping in the firebox during a storm with no other leak source
- Birds or squirrels have gotten into the flue, or you find twigs and feathers on the smoke shelf
- Downdrafts push cold air and a smoky smell into the room on windy days
- A home inspector or our inspection report noted an open, uncapped flue
- You just had a new liner or crown installed and the flue still has no cap
Common causes
- Older masonry chimneys were often built without a cap and never had one added
- A cap was removed during roofing, a crown rebuild or liner work and never put back
- A light galvanized cap blew off in a wind storm and was not replaced
- New construction or a chimney rebuild finished without the cap in the scope
- A prefab chimney was installed without the manufacturer's termination cap
How It Works
Our chimney cap installation process
Before we install anything, we look at what the cap has to sit on. We measure the outside of the flue tile or the diameter of the pipe, count the flues, note how far the tile projects above the crown, and check the crown for cracks that would keep a cap from seating. We also look down the flue for nests or debris. If the flue has been open for years there is often something in it, and we would rather clear it than cap it in. You get a short written summary with the free quote.
Measure the flue
We measure the flue tile or pipe and the projection above the crown so the cap fits snugly instead of perched on top. Multi-flue chimneys get measured across the whole crown.
Pick the right cap
Based on the measurements and your fuel type, we recommend a single-flue, multi-flue or top-mount cap in stainless steel, with mesh sized for wood or gas. You approve the option and the price before we order or install.
Clear the opening
Any nest, leaves or loose mortar at the top of the flue comes out first. If the flue needs a full <a href="/services/chimney-sweep/">sweep</a>, we tell you rather than sealing the buildup in.
Fasten it properly
Single-flue caps are clamped or bolted to the tile with stainless hardware. Top-mount caps are anchored into the crown. Prefab caps use the listed twist-lock or fastener for that pipe brand. We never rely on sealant alone.
Check and photograph
We confirm the cap sits level, the mesh has clearance for draft, and the crown and flashing around it look sound. You get photos of the finished top.
Options
Repair and service options
For a first-time installation the decision is mostly about how many flues you have and how much of the crown you want covered.
- Single-flue stainless cap is the standard choice for one clay tile or one liner. It clamps to the tile, sheds rain, and the mesh keeps animals and embers where they belong.
- Multi-flue cap covers two or three flues under one hood and bolts to the crown. It also keeps rain off the crown itself, which helps older concrete last longer.
- Top-mount or full-coverage cap covers the entire crown edge to edge. It is the right answer for odd flue spacing, wide crowns, or homeowners who want the cap to be a design feature. See custom-made chimney caps.
- Prefab termination cap for factory-built chimneys must match the pipe brand and size. We install the listed cap, not a generic one forced over the pipe.
- Copper is available for visible chimneys on older homes at a higher price; it is a finish choice, not a performance one.
Galvanized caps are the cheapest and the ones we spend the most time replacing later. We will install one if you ask, but in this climate we recommend stainless the first time.
Pricing
What affects the price
- Single-flue, multi-flue or full top-mount cap
- Flue tile size and how far it projects above the crown
- Stainless steel versus copper versus galvanized
- Prefab pipe brand and diameter (listed caps cost more than generic)
- Nesting material or debris that has to come out before the cap goes on
- Crown condition; a badly cracked crown may need repair before a top-mount cap
- Roof pitch and chimney height, which set how we access the top
Every chimney is different, so you get a written quote after we look at the system. Ask about our price match and free second-opinion quote.
Safety & Seattle Conditions
Safety considerations
Do not go up on the roof to measure the flue or try setting a cap yourself. Wet, mossy shingles and a chimney top are not a place to learn on. We bring the ladder, the fall protection and the right cap, and the measuring is part of the free quote.
If you hear scratching or chirping in the flue, do not light a fire to push animals out. We handle animal and nest removal first, then cap the flue so it does not happen again.
Seattle & Puget Sound conditions
Sea-Tac's 1991-2020 normal is 40.34 inches of precipitation a year, spread over roughly 150 to 156 days with measurable rain. About 73% of that falls between October and March, and November alone averages 6.31 inches. An open flue takes all of it straight down onto the damper and smoke shelf, where it mixes with soot and keeps the masonry wet for months.
That wet masonry then meets Seattle's roughly 60 days a year that touch 32F, and the Brick Industry Association ties freeze-thaw of saturated brick to cracking and spalling. A cap stops the water that comes in from the top.
Our Work
Chimney Cap Installation in action
Get a free chimney cap installation quote
Call 206-453-2045. Free quote, free second opinion, price match plus 10-25% off, and if you're not happy, we're not done.
☎ 206-453-2045 Request a QuoteQuestions
Chimney Cap Installation FAQ
Do I really need a chimney cap if I have never had one?
We think so, and it is the cheapest chimney improvement most homeowners can make. Without a cap the flue is open to about 40 inches of rain a year, to nesting birds and raccoons, and to wind that can reverse your draft. NFPA 211 recommends a cap with a screen on solid-fuel flues. Call for a free quote and we will tell you what size you need.
How do you know what size cap my chimney needs?
We measure it. A single-flue cap is sized to the outside of the clay tile or the diameter of the liner or pipe, and it has to clamp on firmly enough to survive Puget Sound wind. Guessing from the ground is how caps end up in the yard after the first storm. Measuring is part of the free quote.
Does a chimney cap need a permit in Seattle?
A cap on an existing chimney does not usually involve a permit, but if the cap is part of a larger job such as a liner, a crown rebuild or new construction, the project may need one. We will tell you up front if anything in the scope triggers a permit and handle the paperwork where we can.
Will a cap hurt my draft?
A correctly sized cap with the right mesh improves draft in wind and does not restrict it otherwise. Problems come from mesh that is too fine for a wood fire, which plugs with creosote, or from a cap set too low over the tile. We size the mesh to your fuel and set the hood at the proper height.
Can you install a cap on a prefab or factory-built chimney?
Yes. Factory-built chimneys need the termination cap listed for that brand and pipe size, because the cap is part of the tested system. We identify the pipe, source the matching cap and install it with the listed fastener. If the chase cover under it is rusting, we will show you; that is a separate fix on our chase cover page.
How long does chimney cap installation take?
For a standard single-flue cap with the size on the truck, about an hour once we are on site, and same-day service is often available in Seattle, Renton, Tacoma and Everett. Multi-flue and prefab caps may need a short wait for the right part. We give you the timeline with the free quote.
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