Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
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AfterTrusted Chimney Cap & Crown for Passaic Homeowners
A chimney cap and crown do one job: keep water out of your flue and off your brickwork. When they fail, water gets in, and water is what turns a $300 repair into a $3,000 rebuild. We’ve been fixing caps and crowns in Passaic since 1999, long enough to know which houses on Gregory Avenue and Lafayette Avenue have crowns that were poured too thin back in the 1980s. Wendell Pike started Top Hat Chimney as a one-truck operation, and he still climbs onto Passaic roofs himself more days than not. If your cap is rusted through or your crown is cracked and spalling, call (551) 368-8859. We’ll give you a straight answer, a written price before any work starts, and a 90-Day Done Right Promise on every job.
What Our Chimney Cap & Crown Service Includes
Cap Installation
A chimney cap sits on top of the flue and keeps rain, snow, birds, squirrels, and leaves out of the flue. In Passaic, where winter brings freeze-thaw cycles and summer brings downpours, an uncapped flue takes on water and deteriorates fast. We install stainless steel and copper caps sized to your exact flue dimensions, not a universal box from a big-box shelf. Wendell measures the flue opening himself, orders the cap to fit, and secures it with a mechanical fastener so it does not blow off in a nor’easter. The cap also keeps embers from landing on your roof, which matters in Passaic’s tight roof lines where houses sit close together.
Cap Replacement
Caps rust or loosen over time, especially the galvanized steel caps installed on many older Passaic chimneys. A rusted cap is not just ugly; it eventually develops holes that let water stream straight down the flue. We remove the old cap, inspect the flue tile for damage it may have allowed, and install a replacement sized to your flue. When the old cap was installed without a proper base or mounting system, we correct that too. Wendell’s rule is simple: a new cap should outlast the roof it sits above, so we do not reinstall hardware that will fail in five years.
Crown Repair
The crown is the concrete or mortar slab that covers the top of the chimney and sheds water away from the flue. Passaic crowns crack for three reasons: they were poured too thin originally, they were mixed with too much water, or decades of freeze-thaw have worked the material loose. We rebuild crowns with a proper overhang and a drip edge so water falls away from the brick instead of running down the face of the chimney. Small cracks can sometimes be sealed; larger damage means a full re-pour. Wendell will show you camera footage either way, so you know exactly what the crown looks like and why the repair is warranted.
Crown Coating
A crown that is still structurally sound but has hairline cracks or surface porosity can often be protected with a crown coating. We apply an elastomeric coating that flexes with temperature changes, which is what Passaic brick needs given our freeze-thaw cycle. The coating creates a waterproof membrane over the crown without the cost of a full rebuild. Wendell recommends coating in cases where the crown is splitting but not crumbling, and he will tell you plainly when coating is not enough and a full crown replacement is the only honest fix.
Multi-Flue Cap
Passaic homes with multiple flues need a cap that covers the entire chimney top, not just one flue opening. A multi-flue cap spans the full crown and keeps every flue protected, whether a fireplace, a furnace, or a water heater vents through the chimney. We measure the full exterior dimension of your chimney top and fabricate a cap that fits over the entire crown, with proper clearance for draft. Multi-flue caps also extend the life of the crown by shielding it from direct rainfall.
Custom Cap
Not every Passaic chimney is a standard rectangle, and not every homeowner wants an off-the-shelf cap. We fabricate custom caps in stainless steel or copper for odd flue configurations, decorative brickwork, or specific draft problems. Wendell has built custom caps for everything from Victorian-era chimneys on Howe Avenue to newer construction in the city’s redeveloped blocks. A custom cap is also the right answer when wind patterns create downdraft issues or when a homeowner wants a cap that matches existing copper gutters. Call us at (551) 368-8859 and we’ll measure, quote, and build it.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service for Chimney Cap & Crown
We install and service Gelco chimney caps, and we have been working with their product line for over twenty years. Gelco caps are made in the USA and hold up well in Passaic’s climate, but only when they are installed on a solid crown with the correct mounting system. When we install a Gelco cap, we check the flue tile height, the crown condition, and the fastener pattern before the cap goes on. If you already have a Gelco cap that is loose or damaged, we can often repair the mounting without replacing the cap itself.
Olympia Chimney is another brand we trust, particularly for stainless steel caps and chase covers that resist the salt-spray air that drifts inland on storms. Wendell keeps Olympia components in the truck for common Passaic flue sizes, which means a simple cap replacement can often happen in one visit. Famco and Copperfield caps also come through our shop, especially for homeowners who want copper for the look or the longer lifespan. Whether you have one of these brands or something else entirely on top of your chimney, we can service it. We don’t push our favorites when repair is the smarter path.
Signs You Need Chimney Cap & Crown Right Now
- Water stains on the ceiling near the chimney. Water traveling down the flue or behind the brick shows up as brown rings on the ceiling, often weeks after the rain fell. The water may be entering through a failed crown rather than through the roof flashing, so a chimney inspection is the first call, not a roofer.
- White staining or flaking brick near the top of the chimney. Efflorescence, that white chalky film, means water is soaking into the masonry and carrying out salts. In Passaic, it often signals a crown that has stopped doing its job. The brick face will eventually spall and crumble.
- A cap that is loose, rusted through, or missing entirely. Missing caps are common on homes sold as-is, especially in Passaic’s older housing stock where decades of owners have patched things piecemeal. If you can see daylight through rust holes or the cap rocks when pushed, water and animals are already getting in.
- You hear birds, squirrels, or scratching sounds from the chimney. The animals in Passaic’s oaks and maples are not nesting outside. They are nesting inside your flue, on top of the smoke shelf. A proper cap with the right screening ends that problem permanently.
- A cracked crown with visible fissures or missing chunks. Crown cracks wider than a credit card edge are structural. Water follows the crack down into the chimney, freezes, and widens it further each winter. By spring loading season, the damage is worse, and a repair that was simple in October becomes a rebuild in April.
Our Chimney Cap & Crown Process - Step by Step
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You call and talk to a person. Our phones are answered by a live person at (551) 368-8859, any hour, any day. You’ll tell us what you see, what you are worried about, and what part of Passaic you’re in. We’ll book a window that works for you, and the number we quote over the phone is the number on the invoice if the job is straightforward.
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We inspect the chimney top with a camera, not a guess. Wendell or one of his crew members goes onto the roof in person and runs a camera up and down the flue. You’ll see what we see, in real time or on the footage we show you after. There is no recommendation made without plain evidence in front of you.
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You get a written price before any tool comes off the truck. After the inspection, we quote the repair or replacement in writing. You’ll know whether the crown can be coated or needs rebuilding, whether the cap is salvageable, and what each line item costs. If you say no, we leave. No pressure, no same-day discount games.
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We do the work the way Wendell would do it on his own chimney. The old cap comes off, the crown is prepped properly, the new cap goes on with mechanical fasteners rated for Passaic wind. We don’t caulk atop rotted material, and we don’t leave debris on your lawn. Work is backed by the 90-Day Done Right Promise, in writing.
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We walk you through what we found and what we did. After the job, you get a plain-English explanation of what was there, what we changed, and what to watch for next year. Every Passaic homeowner gets the same treatment: names, license number for Wendell’s business, and a phone number that reaches a person, not an automated queue.
How Much Does Chimney Cap & Crown Cost in Passaic?
The main factors that change the price are roof pitch and accessibility, the number of flues, and how much damage has already been done to the underlying masonry. The biggest mistake Passaic homeowners make is waiting until the crown has failed so thoroughly that the top courses of brick need rebuilding too. That’s when a $400 cap job turns into a $3,000 masonry repair. Every estimate we write includes the equipment, materials, labor, and cleanup. We also take $40 off any repair over $200, and seniors and veterans always get 10% off. Call (551) 368-8859 for a free estimate, and if you have a written quote from another company, bring it by. We’ll give you a free second opinion.
Chimney Cap & Crown Near Passaic - Our Service Area
Top Hat Chimney works throughout Passaic and the neighboring communities, including Clifton, Bloomfield, Belleville, Garfield, Nutley, Lyndhurst, Elmwood Park, Rutherford, North Arlington, East Rutherford, and Glen Ridge. If you’re inside the county, there is no trip charge, ever. Most cap and crown jobs in Passaic can be scheduled within a week unless burning season has backed us up. For the full list of services we provide, including more cap and crown work, give us a call and we’ll sort out what you need.
Serving Passaic, NJ - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Passaic area and know this community well - check out our Passaic Chimney Cap & Crown services. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Chimney Cap & Crown in Passaic
What is a chimney cap and crown?
The crown is the concrete or mortar slab that seals the top of the chimney around the flue, and the cap is the metal cover that sits above the flue opening itself. They work together: the crown sheds water away from the brickwork, and the cap keeps rain, animals, and debris out of the flue. When either one fails, water gets in and damage follows. Call (551) 368-8859 to have Wendell inspect both.
How long does chimney cap and crown work take?
A standard cap replacement takes about an hour on the roof, often less. Crown repair can take half a day, depending on how much material needs to be removed and whether new mortar needs to cure. A full crown rebuild is usually a one-day job, including setup and cleanup. We’ll tell you your timeframe after the inspection, and we stick to it.
How much does a chimney cap and crown cost in Passaic?
Cap installation runs $180 to $420, crown repair $350 to $700, a full crown rebuild $900 to $1,600, and coating $250 to $500. Access, flue count, and the condition of the surrounding brick all affect the final number. We give a written quote after the camera inspection, before any work starts, and nobody on our crew will upsell you something your chimney does not need. Call (551) 368-8859 for a free estimate.
Do you service Olympia Chimney and Gelco caps?
Yes. We install and repair Gelco and Olympia Chimney products regularly, and we keep their common components in our trucks. We also work with Famco and Copperfield caps. If you have another brand or an older cap no longer in production, we can usually measure and fabricate a replacement that fits your flue exactly.
Can you come out in an emergency?
If your cap has blown off in a storm or your crown is cracked and actively letting water into the house, call (551) 368-8859. We answer the phone around the clock, every day. We’ll triage your situation, tell you whether it can wait or needs temporary protection now, and get to you as fast as the schedule allows with a live person on the other end, not a voicemail.
Is the work guaranteed?
Every job is backed by the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing. If something is not right within 90 days of the work being done, one call brings Wendell back at no additional cost to you. We’re a local Passaic business with a published address and license number, not a national chain that makes itself hard to find after the check clears. Wendell runs into his customers at ShopRite and church, and he wants that encounter to be friendly.
How should I prepare for a chimney cap and crown appointment?
You do not need to do much. Clear any valuables from directly in front of the fireplace inside, and make sure the roof access is not blocked by a locked gate or a dog. If you have a home warranty or prior inspection report, have it ready, but it is not required. Wendell brings the camera, the ladder, and everything else the job needs.
Schedule Your Chimney Cap & Crown Service in Passaic Today
A cap and crown repair is the cheapest chimney work you can do that prevents the most expensive chimney work you will ever need. If your crown is cracked or your cap is rusted, call Top Hat Chimney at (551) 368-8859. We’ll schedule your free inspection, show you what we find on camera, and give you a written price before any work starts. No trip charge inside Passaic County, no surprises at the door, and the 90-Day Done Right Promise on every job we complete.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner at Top Hat Chimney, serving Passaic since 1999.