How to Remove a Chimney Cap
A chimney cap keeps water, small animals and debris from entering your house through your chimney. Manufacturers construct chimney caps out of heavy wire mesh screening with a solid metal top. Chimney caps fasten to the chimney with screw clamps. Some do-it-yourselfers and masons build their own chimney caps by mortaring bricks to the corners of the chimney to build posts and mortaring a flat slab of stone over the top. Removal of the chimney cap is necessary if damage occurs or you need access to the flue. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Masonry Chimney Cap
-
1
Position a masonry cold chisel on the mortar line just under the slab cap.
-
2
Tap the cold chisel on the mortar joint with a hammer to break and loosen the mortar bond. Move to the top of the next brick post, position the chisel on the mortar line, and tap with a hammer. Repeat for each post.
-
-
3
Lift the masonry slab off the brick or stone posts.
-
4
Remove the metal screen cage by lifting it off the top of the chimney. Most cages have twisted wire securing the cage to form a cube and only rest on the top of the chimney. The brick or stone posts along with the masonry cap keep them in place.
Metal Chimney Cap
-
5
Locate the screw clamps holding the cap to the flue.
-
6
Insert a screwdriver in the slot on the head of the screw, and turn the screw to loosen. Spray rusted screws with penetrating oil and allow the oil to sink onto the threads for five to 10 minutes, and then loosen. If rust covers the screw clamps and penetrating oil does not work, cut the screw clamps off with bolt cutters. Repeat for each screw clamp.
-
7
Lift the cap and metal screening off the top of the chimney.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Inspect masonry posts for damage before replacing with a new slab.
Replace a corroded metal cap with a new cap.
Wear a safety harness when working on a roof.
Do not work on roofs covered in snow, ice or rain.
