Black Chimney Caps

Premium Chimney Black Caps: The Smart Choice for Homeowners

Chimney black caps offer the perfect combination of protection and aesthetics for your home. Our high-quality chimney black caps are powder-coated for a sleek look and made from durable steel for extended rust protection and longevity.

Why Choose Chimney Black Caps?

Protection Features:

• Keep rain from entering your chimney and causing costly repairs
• Screen design prevents birds, debris, and animals from nesting
• Spark arrestor design prevents embers from landing on your roof
• Easy installation with bolts that tighten around terracotta flue tiles

Quality Assurance:

• USA-made since 1997 – superior to inferior Chinese alternatives
• Powder-coated finish for durability and weather resistance
• High-quality steel construction for maximum protection

Protect Your Home While Enhancing Its Look

We’ve been manufacturing chimney black caps since 1997, and one thing we’ve noticed – homeowners tend to overlook their chimneys until problems arise. A quality chimney black cap isn’t just an accessory; it’s essential protection that also happens to look great.

Our chimney black caps have become bestsellers because they solve real problems: they keep rain from destroying your mortar, prevent squirrels from nesting in your flue, and add a finished look to your roofline. Unlike glossy stainless steel caps that stick out, chimney black caps blend seamlessly with most roof designs.

Got questions about which chimney black caps fit your chimney? You’re not alone. Read on for everything you need to know before making this smart home investment.

Why Your Chimney Deserves a Black Cap

After 25+ years in this business, we’ve seen the damage an unprotected chimney can suffer. During heavy rains last year, we received dozens of calls from homeowners with water leaking into their living rooms. The culprit? Uncapped chimneys.

Your chimney is basically a hole in your roof – one that needs proper covering. Chimney black caps serve as your first defense by:

• Stopping water from entering and damaging your chimney’s interior
• Blocking animals looking for a cozy home (removing a raccoon nest costs about $300-500!)
• Preventing leaves and debris from creating dangerous blockages
• Reducing downdrafts that push smoke back into your home

We recently helped a customer in Portland whose uncapped chimney had developed severe mortar damage from just three years of rain exposure. The repair cost: $1,800. His new $230 chimney black cap would have prevented the entire problem.

What Makes Chimney Black Caps Special

“Will chimney black caps match my house?” At least 5 customers ask us this every week. Quick answer: yep, pretty much always. After selling chimney black caps since ’97, we’ve noticed patterns in what sells and why:

Aesthetic Benefits of Chimney Black Caps: These caps disappear against your roofline. While copper caps can be beautiful (and pricey), they draw attention. Our matte black finish simply blends with your roof, letting other architectural elements take center stage.

Durability of Black Coating: The powder-coating isn’t just for appearance. We learned this lesson back in ’08 when we tried selling plain steel caps in Maine – total disaster! By month six, customers were calling about rust spots. Now we bake that black coating on thick. It shields against rain and blocks moisture from seeping in.

Performance Advantages: Something we discovered by accident – up in Minnesota and Wisconsin, folks with chimney black caps report better drafting in winter. Makes sense physically – dark surfaces absorb more solar heat. This extra warmth can improve your draft, reducing the likelihood of smoke backing up into your home.

Finding Your Perfect Chimney Black Cap Style

We organize our chimney black caps into three main categories to make selection easier:

Single-Flue Chimney Black Caps work for most homes with one chimney flue. They’re straightforward, effective, and our most economical option. Our most popular sizes are 9″x13″ and 13″x13″, but we stock unusual sizes too.

Outside Mount Black Caps cover your entire chimney crown, not just the flue. These are ideal if you have multiple flues or if your chimney crown is starting to show wear. They extend down the sides for maximum protection against moisture.

Custom Hip and Ridge Models bring architectural flair along with function. Got one of those houses with character? Dan in our design shop loves a challenge. Last month he built a cap for an 1890s Victorian in Charleston – added little flourishes that matched the iron fence below.

Not sure which type of chimney black caps your chimney needs? Send us a quick photo through our website, and we’ll recommend the right solution.

Measuring for the Perfect Fit

Getting the wrong size is the #1 mistake homeowners make when ordering chimney black caps. Here’s our simple 3-step measurement guide:

1. Climb up (safely!) and measure the OUTSIDE dimensions of your terracotta flue tile
2. Add 3-4 inches to both measurements to ensure proper overhang
3. Double-check by measuring in two places, as flues aren’t always perfectly square

If you’re not comfortable on the roof, snap a photo with a tape measure visible next to your flue, and email it to us. We can usually determine the proper size from a clear photo.

For multi-flue chimneys, measure the entire outside perimeter where you want the cap to sit. These almost always require custom sizing, which we handle at no extra charge.

DIY Installation Made Simple

About 75% of our customers install their own chimney black caps. Most tell us it took under 30 minutes, using tools they already had. You’ll need:

• A ladder tall enough to safely reach your roof
• A socket wrench
• Possibly a screwdriver (depending on your model)
• A second person to help steady the ladder (recommended)

Safety first: If you’re not comfortable with heights or don’t have proper equipment, hire a professional. The $100-200 installation fee is worth your safety.

The actual installation process is straightforward:

1. Clear any debris from your flue
2. Center the cap over your flue tile
3. Tighten the mounting bolts until snug – but don’t overtighten, which can crack terra cotta

Pro tip: Apply a small amount of silicone caulk around the flue before installing your cap for an extra weather-tight seal in extremely rainy areas.

Keeping Your Caps in Top Shape

Once installed, our chimney black caps need very little maintenance, but these simple checks will extend your cap’s life considerably:

• After major storms or high winds, check that your cap is still properly secured
• During your annual chimney cleaning, ask your sweep to check the mesh screens for creosote buildup or debris
• For coastal homes, where salt air is particularly harsh, rinse your caps with fresh water twice a year to remove salt buildup

Most of our chimney black caps last 10-15 years with minimal care. The pitch-black finish eventually lightens up a bit, mostly in Arizona and Florida after about 5 years of intense sunshine. It just turns slightly grayish but works exactly the same – purely cosmetic.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Our customer service team reports these frequent issues that are easily avoided:

• Wrong measurements: Always measure the outside dimensions of your flue, not the inside. When in doubt, call us before ordering chimney black caps.
• Ignoring multi-flue configurations: If you have more than one flue, an outside mount model is almost always the better option
• Forgetting about height clearance: Your cap needs to extend at least 5 inches above the flue for proper draft
• Skipping the chimney inspection: If your chimney hasn’t been inspected recently, do this before installing new caps

Is the Investment Worth It?

Quality chimney black caps typically run between $230-$350 depending on size and style. Custom designs can go higher. When customers ask if it’s worth it, we point to these facts:

• The average water damage repair to chimney masonry starts at $1,000
• Animal removal services typically charge $200-$500, plus the cost of repairs
• Most homeowner insurance policies don’t cover damage from neglected maintenance
• Our products are manufactured in Portland using heavy-gauge stainless steel with proper welding techniques

We’ve seen imported caps rust through in under two years, while our chimney black caps typically last a decade or more.

The Bottom Line on Chimney Black Caps

After selling thousands of chimney black caps over 25+ years, we’ve learned that they hit the sweet spot of protection, appearance, and value. Chimney black caps are the unsung heroes of home maintenance – not flashy, but quietly saving you money and headaches year after year.

Whether you’re replacing an old cap or finally adding chimney black caps to an unprotected chimney, going with black is a choice you won’t regret. Have more questions about chimney black caps? Pick up the phone and ask for Mike or Brenda – they’ve been fitting caps longer than my kids have been alive. 503-300-1926.