Chimney Chase Repair in Fort Myers Beach, FL

Many homes on Fort Myers Beach — particularly those built or rebuilt in the past few decades — have prefabricated fireplace systems with a wood-framed chimney chase rather than a traditional all-masonry chimney. The chase is the exterior enclosure that houses the metal flue, and in a coastal barrier-island environment it faces some aggressive conditions: humidity, salt air, storm-force wind, and UV exposure that works on the exterior cladding year-round.

Chimney Chase Repair: What the Work Looks Like

The kind of chimney chase repair work we handle for Fort Myers Beach homeowners — swipe to see more.

Why Fort Myers Beach Homes Need Chimney Chase Repair

Chase problems here tend to center on two things. First, the chase top — the metal cover that protects the framed structure from rainfall — rusts and fails more quickly in salt air than it does inland. A rusted or failed chase top lets water into the framed cavity, where it can stay for weeks before showing as a stain on an interior wall or ceiling. Second, the exterior cladding — whether stucco, fiber cement, vinyl, or wood — gets hammered by storm seasons and eventually develops gaps or cracks that allow salt-laden moisture behind it.

Our chase repair work starts with identifying how water is getting in, which sometimes means removing sections of cladding to see what's happened to the framing and the moisture barrier beneath. We replace rusted chase tops with stainless steel units that won't corrode out in a coastal environment, reframe or sister deteriorated framing members as needed, and reclad the exterior to match the home's existing finish. Where the metal flue pipe inside has been affected by water infiltration, we inspect it for corrosion or connection issues as part of the same visit.

If you've got a prefabricated fireplace on Fort Myers Beach and you've noticed any discoloration on the wall or ceiling near the chimney chase — or if you can smell mustiness near the fireplace — it's worth calling us before the next storm season. Chases that have been slowly taking on water are often much closer to a major repair than they look from outside.

Signs You Need Chimney Chase Repair

• Rust streaks running down the sides of a metal-topped chimney chase
• Water pooling on top of the chase cover instead of draining off
• Leaks or stains showing up near a prefab (factory-built) fireplace
• Damaged, soft, or rotting siding on the chase structure

How It Works