Installation Instructions for Chimney Caps

Chimney caps are structures that fit onto the top of a chimney. They keep small animals and rain from falling into the chimney. A crown-mounted cap is one of the most common types of chimney caps in cases where the flue does not extend past the chimney's top.

1. Ensure your chimney cap complies with your local building codes. These codes can vary greatly depending on your jurisdiction. Each type of chimney cap may its own set of building codes.


2. 
   
   Remove any rust from the top of the flue with a wire brush or steel wool. Severe rust on the flue may require a chimney sweep.
   
   


3. Place the chimney cap on top of the chimney and bend the flanges on the cap so they are flush with the chimney. This temporarily secures the chimney cap to the chimney.


4. Trace around the flanges of the chimney cap with a pencil to mark the position of the cap. Remove the chimney cap from the chimney.


5. Select the adhesive that came with your chimney cap kit. Use a standard all-weather adhesive if your chimney cap kit did not include adhesive.


6. Apply a liberal amount of adhesive to the bottom of the flanges on the chimney cap, using a zig-zag pattern to maximize the amount adhesive on the flange. Place the chimney cap back onto the chimney using the traces you made in step three as a guide.


7. Install masonry screws according to the installation instructions for the chimney cap. This generally involves drilling pilot holes through the flanges of the chimney cap and the chimney with a masonry drill bit.


8. Drill pilot holes for the masonry screws at 1-foot intervals around the chimney cap. Ensure you don't existing holes as pilot holes for the masonry screws.


9. Fasten the masonry screws into the pilot holes with the appropriate screwdriver drill bit.