Chimney Caps and Chase Covers for Denver Homes

A cap is the small roof over the top of the flue. It keeps snow and rain out, keeps birds and squirrels from nesting, and has mesh that stops embers from landing on the roof. On the boxed metal chimneys common on newer homes, the whole top of the chase is a sheet-metal pan called a chase cover, with the cap sitting on top of it.

Denver is hard on both. NOAA's severe-weather lab says the area where Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming meet averages seven to nine hail days a year. Hail dents and punctures thin steel, and a dented chase cover holds water that rusts through and stains the siding. Highlands Ranch, Parker, Lone Tree, Broomfield and Thornton, with median build years of 1997 to 2004, have many of these chases.

Signs you need this

• No cap on top of the flue, or a cap leaning after a storm
• Dents or holes in the chase cover after hail
• Rust streaks running down siding or stucco from the chimney top
• Birds, squirrels or leaves in the fireplace
• Water dripping in the firebox after rain or snowmelt

How we do it

1. Measure and photographAt the free inspection we measure every flue, check the crown or chase, and photograph any hail damage so you have it for your adjuster.
2. Choose the metalFor Denver we recommend stainless steel for caps and chase covers. Heavier stainless resists hail dents and does not rust the way galvanized steel does.
3. Fabricate to fitChase covers are made to the exact size of your chase with a sloped or crossbroken top so water runs off instead of pooling.
4. Install and sealWe fasten the new cap or cover, seal it to the chase or crown, and check that the cap's mesh is clear and sized for the appliance below.

Does insurance pay for a hail-damaged chase cover?

That depends on your policy and your adjuster, so we never promise it. What we do is photograph the dents, punctures and rust with a measuring tape in frame and write up what we found, so you have clear evidence to submit. Colorado ranked fourth in State Farm's 2024 hail losses at $521 million in claims, so adjusters here see a lot of these.

Galvanized or stainless?

Many builders installed thin galvanized chase covers with a flat top. Once hail dents them, water sits in the dents and the coating wears through. A stainless cover with a sloped top sheds water and holds up better to hail. It costs more up front, but it is the cover we recommend in this market.

Can a cap cause problems?

A cap with fine mesh on a wood-burning flue can clog with soot and slow the draft, and a cap that is too small for the flue can starve it. We size the cap to the flue and the appliance, and we check the mesh during each inspection.