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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Before
AfterTrusted Chimney Cap & Crown for Washington Homeowners
A cracked chimney crown or a missing cap does two things in Washington: it lets water into your masonry freeze-thaw cycle after freeze-thaw cycle, and it gives rain, squirrels, and birds a clear path into your flue. The fix is usually straightforward, and that’s exactly what we do. Level Two Chimney Washington has inspected and cleaned more than 38,000 chimneys since 2009, every one documented with camera footage and a written price before work starts. If your cap is rusted through or your crown is spalling, call (240) 621-1264 and we’ll put a number on it in writing, not over the phone after the fact.
Corrine Halstead, who leads our Washington team, has built the business around one rule: show the homeowner the evidence. When we look at your cap and crown, you see the photos. When we quote a replacement, you get the price, the scope, and the warranty in writing before anyone touches a ladder. That’s how we’ve operated since 2009, and it’s why our home service page starts with the same promise we make on every job.
What Our Chimney Cap & Crown Service Includes
Cap Installation
A chimney cap is the metal lid that sits above the flue opening and keeps rain, debris, and animals from dropping into your chimney. In Washington’s row-house and older single-family stock, a surprising number of chimneys never had one installed, or have a cap that was sized wrong for the flue tile. We install new caps to fit your exact flue dimensions, using materials from Famco and Copperfield, and we document the installation with before-and-after photos as standard under Haven Standard Clause 4.
Cap Replacement
Washington weather is hard on caps. Freeze-thaw cycles, acid rain, and the occasional squall off the Potomac all take their toll, and we regularly replace caps on chimneys in Georgetown and Capitol Hill that are rusted through or lifted off their mount by wind. If the mesh is torn, the lid is warped, or the mounting screws have backed out, a replacement is usually a one-hour job. We confirm the damage on camera first, then show you the new cap and the written price before we install it.
Crown Repair
The crown is the concrete or mortar slab that seals the top of the chimney around the flue liner. When it cracks, water gets into the chimney chase and inside the brickwork itself, and in Washington that water freezes every winter, widening the damage year after year. We repair crowns by cleaning out the failed mortar, filling it with a proper crown mix, and sometimes full-overlaying with a waterproof crown coat. The repair comes with photos of the damage and the finished surface, so you can see exactly what was done.
Crown Coating
A crown that is still structurally sound but slightly porous needs a waterproof crown coat, not a rebuild. We apply a brushable or sprayable crown coating that seals the surface against water intrusion without changing the chimney’s look. In Washington’s climate, where the difference between a sealed crown and a bare one is a leak that shows up in the attic three winters later, this is one of the cheapest preventive fixes we recommend. The coating job includes a Level 2 camera scan of the flue below the crown before we seal the top, just to be certain there isn’t already a problem further down.
Multi-Flue Cap
A chimney with two or more flues needs a multi-flue cap, which covers the entire top of the chimney rather than each flue individually. If you have a fireplace flue and a furnace flue sharing one chimney, this is the type we typically recommend because it also seals the gap between flues, a spot where single caps leave the chimney exposed. We measure the full top dimension, order the cap to those measurements, and install it with a wind-rated mounting system. The cap is documented on camera after installation as part of the standard record.
Custom Cap
Some Washington chimneys, especially those on older Federal-style rowhouses or custom masonry work, have shapes and dimensions that no stock cap fits. In those cases, we fabricate a custom cap to match the flue configuration and the roofline. We work with Olympia Chimney and the Haven buying network to get the cap built and shipped quickly, usually inside a week. The custom cap is installed with the same written price and photo record as every other job, so you’re never guessing what you paid for.
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
Famco is the cap brand we install most often in Washington, because their mesh sizing and stainless steel hold up well in the Mid-Atlantic’s wet winters. We stock their common sizes in the van and can often install a Famco cap the same visit we inspect the chimney, especially on standard single-flue chimneys in Capitol Hill, Brookland, and the Palisades.
Copperfield is the go-to when a homeowner wants something more finished, often a copper cap that will patina naturally over time. We’ve installed Copperfield caps on custom builds in Chevy Chase and McLean where the look matters as much as the function, and we work directly with their sizing system to avoid the fit problems that come with generic caps.
Whether you have Famco, Copperfield, or any other make on the chimney now, our Chimney Cap & Crown in Washington service covers the assessment, the fix, and the written record.
BeforeAfterSigns You Need Chimney Cap & Crown Right Now
- Standing water or damp brick at the chimney base after rain. Water traveling down the outside of the flue often starts at a cracked crown, then saturates brickwork below. In Washington’s clay masonry, this turns into spalling within a few seasons if the crown isn’t sealed.
- You hear birds, scratching, or flapping from inside the chimney. Nesting birds are a sign the cap mesh is missing or torn. Beyond the noise, nests block draft and can accelerate a flue fire when they ignite in a dirty chimney.
- The cap is visibly rusted, missing bolts, or sitting at an angle. A loose cap moves in the wind, and a rusted one lets rain through. Both are cheap fixes when caught early, and expensive water repairs when ignored.
- You notice efflorescence, a white chalky deposit, on the chimney exterior. This is salt leaching out of the masonry, evidence that water is moving through brick that should be dry. The source is almost always above the leak, in the crown, the cap, or the wash.
- Water stains on the ceiling near the chimney, no roof leak found. We see this all over Washington, from Takoma Park to Palisades: the attic is dry over the bedroom, wet only where the chimney comes through. A failed crown or a missing cap is the usual answer.
Our Chimney Cap & Crown Process - Step by Step
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We schedule the visit and name your technician. When you call (240) 621-1264, a live person answers. You’ll get a text when our uniformed, background-checked technician is on the way, with the license number on file and the name of who is coming.
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We inspect from the roof and with the camera. On the roof, we look at the crown for cracks, measure the cap or flue opening, and record everything on a Level 2 camera system, which means we scan the interior flue as well, per NFPA 211. You see the photos before anyone quotes a repair.
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We give you the written price and scope. The price you get is in writing before work starts. Haven Standard Clause 1 requires it. If you want a second opinion, bring us a competitor’s written estimate and we’ll do it free.
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We do the cap or crown work on a fixed scope. Cap replacement, crown coating, multi-flue caps, custom work, it’s all done to the written scope with no add-on surprises. Materials come from Famco, Copperfield, Olympia Chimney, or other brands through the Haven buying network to keep prices honest.
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We document the finished job and hand you the record. You leave with photos of the finished crown or cap, a recap of what was done, and the written warranty. If anything isn’t done right, the 365-Day Done Right Promise means we make it right.
How Much Does Chimney Cap & Crown Cost in Washington?
What moves the price in Washington is the roof access. A chimney in the middle of a steep roof in Cleveland Park or Glover Park costs more than a simple rear cap in Brookland, simply because of ladder setup and safety. A multi-flue cap costs more than a single cap because the unit is larger. Custom caps cost more than stock because they are fabricated to spec.
Here’s how to avoid overpaying: get the price in writing before work starts, ask to see the damage on camera, and don’t pay for a full crown rebuild when a crown coating will do. A free estimate from Level Two Chimney Washington includes the roof assessment, the camera record, and a written price with a written scope. No “call for a quote” games. The number is on the page before you pick up the phone.
Chimney Cap & Crown Near Washington - Our Service Area
We serve Washington, DC and the surrounding counties, including Chimney Cap & Crown in Arlington, Alexandria, Bethesda, Falls Church, McLean, Rockville, Fairfax, Reston, Gaithersburg, Waldorf, and Chimney Cap & Crown in Silver Spring. Most cap and crown jobs in Washington proper are scheduled within the week, and we dispatch from a local base so the drive time doesn’t inflate the bill. If you are near the district line, we are usually able to schedule a roof visit within a few business days.
Serving Washington, DC - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Washington area and know this community well. 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 Washington
What is a chimney cap and crown?
A chimney cap is the metal cover that sits over the flue opening to keep out water, animals, and debris, while the crown is the concrete or mortar slab that seals the masonry around the flue. In Washington, both fail from freeze-thaw cycles and acid rain, and both are much cheaper to fix than the masonry repairs that follow a leak. Call (240) 621-1264 for a camera-documented assessment.
How long does a chimney cap or crown repair take?
A standard cap installation or replacement is a one-hour job once the technician is on site. Crown repair or coating takes two to three hours because the surface has to be cleaned and prepped before the material is applied. A full crown rebuild can take a half day, including the curing phase. We’ll give you a written time estimate as part of the written scope before any work starts.
How much does a chimney cap and crown cost in Washington?
Cap installation and replacement in Washington typically run $180 to $420, crown repair $350 to $800, and a complete crown rebuild $900 to $1,800. Roof access, flue size, and whether a custom cap is needed are the main variables. Every Level Two Chimney Washington estimate is in writing before work begins, and the price doesn’t change after the tech is on the roof.
Do you service Famco and Copperfield chimney caps?
Yes, we install and replace Famco caps more than any other brand in Washington, and we stock their common single-flue sizes in the van. We also install Copperfield caps for homeowners who want copper that patinas over time, and we can service most other makes that are already on the roof. Bring us your cap brand or a photo and we’ll tell you what you are working with.
Can you handle a chimney cap or crown emergency?
If a cap has blown off or a crown crack is letting water into the house during a storm, call (240) 621-1264. We answer live, 24/7, and we’ll get someone to the roof as soon as the weather allows. The same written price and camera record apply to emergency calls as to scheduled work, under the same Haven Standard.
What warranty comes with a new cap or crown repair?
Every cap installation, replacement, crown repair, and coating includes the 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it’s not done right, we make it right. Your written warranty details what’s covered, and the documented photo record gives you a clear before-and-after. We don’t leave a job without handing you the written warranty and the photo record.
How should I prepare for a chimney cap or crown appointment?
You don’t need to do much. Clear any furniture or planters near the chimney in the backyard or on the side of the house so the ladder has a clean landing zone. Try to keep pets inside during the roof work. We’ll text you when the technician is on the way, and the work is all exterior, so you don’t need to be inside for most of the visit.
Schedule Your Chimney Cap & Crown Service in Washington Today
If your chimney’s cap is rusted or the crown is cracked, get a price you can trust before the next freeze-thaw cycle does more damage. Call (240) 621-1264 for a free, no-obligation estimate, and get everything in writing: the price, the scope, the photo record, and the warranty. Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner at Level Two Chimney Washington, serving Washington since 2009.