Around 90% to 95% of chimneys out there use a standard-sized chimney cap. For the select few whose chimney or flue don’t fall within the standard size ranges, though, finding a cap can be daunting. You may not know which options are available to you, or even which manufacturers offer custom covers.
Having made thousands of custom caps over the years, we’re no stranger to dealing with non-standard chimney dimensions at HY-C. We work with customers all the time to handcraft a precise cap to match the specific dimensions of their chimney.
So whether you’re looking for a single-flue cap, a multi-flue cap, a stainless steel style, or an elegant copper cover, in this guide, we’ll outline the types of custom chimney caps we offer. You’ll understand the styles we have available, the materials they come in, and how to measure for your own custom cap. When you’re done, you’ll be well-equipped to make an educated buying decision and to find the right custom-made chimney cap for your home.
HY-C’s Custom Chimney Cap Styles
We manufacture two different kinds of custom chimney caps at HY-C: custom brand-around caps, and custom skirt-type caps. The custom band-around cap is available in stainless steel only, and the skirt-type caps are available in copper or stainless steel. The style of a custom-skirt cap will differ depending on which metal you choose.
Custom Band-Around Stainless Steel
Our band-around (or band-around-brick) gets its name from the metal band on the bottom of the cap. This band wraps around the top row of chimney brick and clamps down via the bolts on the corners of the cap. This installation method means you don’t have to drill any holes directly into your masonry; the clamping force of the band holds the cap in place.
These custom-made band-around-brick chimney caps are made completely from 304 stainless steel. The maximum base size for these caps is 48” x 96” (or four feet by eight feet). Their large range of available sizes should fit just about any chimney size with no problem.
How to Measure for a Custom Band-Around Chimney Cap
When measuring for a custom band-around-brick chimney cap, there are two measurements you need to take: the dimensions of the top row of chimney brick, and the height of your chimney flue.
The measurement of the top row of chimney brick will determine the lengths of the base, mesh, and hood of your custom band-around cap. In the example above, the dimensions of the top row of chimney bricks are 36.5” x 24.5” x 36” x 23”.
The second measurement, the height of your chimney flue, determines the height of the mesh and braces of your cap (braces are the lengths of metal inside the cap that hold the entire apparatus together). From the example above:
- A flue of 3.5” in height or less will use 9” braces and mesh
- A flue between 3.5” and 6” in height will use 12” braces and mesh
- A flue between 6” and 9” in height will use 15” braces and mesh
- A flue between 9” and 12” in height will use 18” braces and mesh
Providing these measurements will allow us to know precisely how to build your custom cap to fit the exact dimensions of your chimney.
Custom Skirt-Type (Stainless Steel)
A custom skirt-type chimney cap differs from a band-around-brick cap in that it bolts directly into the chimney’s top row of brick. The addition of the metal skirt provides the best possible protection against rain, snow, sleet, hail, wind, and other elemental forces that degrade a chimney over time.
Like the band-around-brick cap, this skirt-type chimney cap is also made of 100% 304 stainless steel, and its maximum base dimensions (like the band-around-brick style) are 48” x 96”.
How to Measure for a Custom Skirt-Type Stainless Steel Chimney Cap
Like the band-around-brick custom chimney cap, you’ll need two sets of dimensions when measuring for a custom skirt-type stainless steel chimney cap: the dimensions of the top row of chimney brick, and the height of your chimney flue.
The lengths and widths of the top row of chimney brick will determine the length and width of your custom band-around cap. In the example above, these dimensions are 36.5” x 24.5” x 36” x 23”.
The measurement of the height of your chimney flue will determine the height of the braces and the mesh on your custom skirt-type cap. As you can see in the example above:
- A flue of 5” in height or less will use 8” braces and mesh
- A flue between 5” and 8” in height will use 12” braces and mesh
- A flue between 8” and 11” in height will use 15” braces and mesh
- A flue between 11” and 14” in height will use 18” braces and mesh
There should be at least 6” of space between the top of your flue and the hood of the chimney cap to allow smoke to vent out properly. Knowing the flue height will help us know what the height of the cap should be to allow for this ventilation.
Custom Skirt-Type (Copper)
Copper is the pinnacle of luxury and style in the world of chimney caps. The elegant, eye-catching metal is a bit softer than stainless steel, but it still provides adequate weather and animal protection.
Copper also acquires a natural patina over time as it’s exposed to the elements — a much sought-after aesthetic feature of a copper chimney cover. Bear in mind that copper chimney caps carry a much higher price than stainless or galvanized steel.
Like its stainless steel counterpart, a custom skirt-type copper cap is bolted directly into your chimney brick for maximum security. Unlike its stainless steel counterpart, though, a copper custom skirt-type cap does not come with braces; it’s held together solely by its mesh.
You’re a little more limited in the size department with this style of chimney cap, too — the maximum possible base size for our copper custom skirts is 38” x 88” (as opposed to the stainless steel styles’ 48” x 96”).
How to Measure for a Custom Skirt-Type Copper Chimney Cap
Again, you need two all-important measurements when sizing up your custom copper skirt-type cap: the dimensions of the top row of chimney brick, and the height of your chimney flue. In the above example, these dimensions clock in at 36.5” x 24.5” x 36” x 23”.
These copper caps are a bit more limited with regards to flue height, as well. From the example, you can see that:
- A flue of 5” in height or less will use 9” mesh
- A flue between 5” and 8” in height will use 12” mesh
- A flue between 8” and 10” in height will use 14” mesh
The same stainless steel custom-skirt chimney caps can accommodate a maximum flue height of 14”, but the copper cap can only fit flues up to 10” high. This is because the biggest standard size for copper mesh is 14” (as opposed to stainless steel’s maximum height of 18”).
Which Custom Chimney Cap Should You Get?
The world of custom chimney caps is overwhelming. You may have come to this article wondering if you even need a custom chimney cap, what your options are, which size to choose, or which material is right for you.
Now, you know the two types of custom chimney caps we make, which materials we make them in, how those materials may affect the possible size of the cap, and what kind of measurements you need for your custom cap.
If you’re ready to pull the trigger on a custom chimney cap, our customer service team is ready to help. All you’ll have to do is mention which type you want, your preferred material (if you’re after a skirt-type cap), and the dimensions of your chimney brick and flue. From there, we'll work with you to find an installer who can purchase and install your custom cap.
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