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.
Before
After
Before
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Before
AfterFamco Chimney Cap Installation: The Brooklyn Owner’s Guide
Famco chimney cap installation in Brooklyn typically runs $340 to $620 installed, depending on the cap size, flue configuration, and whether the old cap left behind corroded fasteners. We keep the most common Famco cap sizes and mounting hardware on the truck, so the job is usually done in a single visit. Most owners discover the problem the hard way: a cap that rattles on windy nights, rust staining down the masonry, or water dripping into the firebox after a Nor’easter. By the time you see the damage, the cap has usually been failing silently for a season or two.
Key takeaways:
- Famco caps are well-built, but the mounting hardware fails before the cap body does
- Replacement is almost always cheaper than repairing a corroded cap
- We stock the three most common Famco single-flue sizes on the truck
- Installation includes new stainless hardware and a leak check
Which Famco Models This Applies To
We install and replace Famco caps across their standard single-flue and multi-flue lines, including the Famco SF series, the Famco SC smoke-and-debris guards, and the taller draft-enhancing models. The practical gotcha in Brooklyn: older brownstones and row houses on the Park Slope and Bay Ridge blocks often have non-standard flue tile dimensions, and a Famco cap sized for a “standard” 8×8 or 8×13 flue won’t seat properly if the tile has spalled or was laid slightly off-square. We measure the outer flue tile dimensions before ordering or pulling a cap off the truck, and we carry adapter flanges for out-of-round or beat-up tiles.
On OEM versus aftermarket: for Famco caps specifically, we tend to stay with Famco parts when the existing cap is Famco. The mounting bracket pitch and the cap skirt are matched to their own base plates, and mixing an aftermarket cap onto a Famco base usually creates a gap that leaks and whistles. That said, if the base plate is solid and only the lid has rusted through, a compatible stainless lid from one of our other stocked lines – DuraFlex, HeatShield, or Gelco – can save you a hundred dollars without sacrificing fit. We will show you the side-by-side on the truck before we bolt anything down.
Signs Your Famco Chimney Cap Installation Is Failing
- Rust streaks on the chimney crown or brick. The galvanized mounting hardware has started shedding its zinc coating. This means the bolts and brackets are close to structural failure. The cap body may look fine while the hardware turns to dust underneath it.
- Water in the firebox or a musty smell after rain. The cap skirt has lifted or the base seal has cracked, letting water run straight down the flue. In Brooklyn, the freeze-thaw cycles from November through March accelerate this once the seal is compromised.
- A metallic rattle when the wind picks up. The cap has loosened on its mounting legs. Each gust works those bolts a little more, and eventually a strong storm off the harbor will send the cap into the neighbor’s yard or down onto your roof.
- The cap is missing entirely. More common than you would think. We pull up to brownstones in Crown Heights and Ditmas Park all the time where the cap is just gone – blown off years ago, and the open flue has been taking on water, leaves, and pigeon nesting ever since.
- Birds or squirrels in the chimney. If the Famco screen has torn or pulled away from the frame, animals will find it. In Brooklyn, the pigeons are relentless, and a chimney without a functioning spark-arrestor screen is a standing invitation.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
For most Brooklyn single-family homes and brownstone flues, a Famco cap replacement with installation runs between $340 and $620. The range is driven by three things: flue size (larger or custom multi-flue caps cost more), the condition of the existing crown and tile, and whether we need to fabricate an adapter for a non-standard opening.
We quote parts and labor separately, on paper, before anything is ordered or bolted on. Every cap job includes new stainless mounting hardware, removal and disposal of the old cap, a close-up inspection of the flue tile and crown while we’re up there, and a smoke test to confirm the cap is drawing correctly before we leave. The installation itself is covered by our 90-Day Done Right Promise: if it leaks, rattles, or isn’t seated right, one call brings Wendell back at no charge. We do not sell a cap without first confirming it’s the right size and the flue is worth capping.
DIY or Call Us?
If you can safely access your roof and are comfortable up there, you can inspect the cap and take photos of the label and measurements. That is genuinely useful, and it lets us quote an exact price before we roll the truck. What you should not do is attempt to remove or remount a Famco cap on a Brooklyn roof without a harness, a spotter, and the right drill bits – especially on older brownstones with slate or clay tile roofs that get slick and brittle, or on any roof with a significant pitch. A fall from even a two-story row house roof is life-changing, and we have pulled enough failed DIY brackets off flues to know how quickly a loose cap becomes a problem.
We are an independent chimney service. We are not affiliated with Famco, but we have installed and serviced their caps for years, and we know what holds up on Brooklyn rooftops and what doesn’t. If you are not sure whether the cap is actually the problem, call (516) 289-9316. Wendell will be the one to talk you through it. If it doesn’t need doing, we’ll tell you that too.
FAQs
In Brooklyn’s weather, a Famco stainless cap body typically lasts 12 to 18 years, but the galvanized mounting hardware often gives out in half that time. Salt air near the waterfront, freeze-thaw cycles, and pigeon droppings all shorten the practical lifespan, which is why we replace hardware on every job regardless of how the old cap looks. Call (516) 289-9316 and we’ll tell you honestly whether yours is repairable or ready for replacement.
Sometimes the lid or screen can be replaced while the base plate stays, but once the base plate or mounting legs are heavily rusted, repair is false economy. A patched base will leak or pull loose within a season or two. We won’t sell you a repair that buys you twelve months when a replacement buys you fifteen years. Call (516) 289-9316 and we’ll assess yours on camera and show you what we’re seeing.
Most Famco cap installations on standard single-flue chimneys take under an hour once we’re on the roof, and we don’t charge extra for hauling away the old cap. If the flue tile is damaged or the crown needs patching first, we’ll say so before we start and give you a complete quote. Call (516) 289-9316 and Wendell will give you a straight arrival window.
Yes, we carry the most common Famco single-flue sizes and the matching stainless hardware on our truck, and we can typically source multi-flue and custom sizes within three to five business days. If we don’t have your exact size, we’ll tell you the lead time up front and book the install around it. Call (516) 289-9316 and we’ll check our truck inventory while you’re on the phone.
If the cap has failed, don’t wait for the next storm to find the opening. Call Top Hat Chimney at (516) 289-9316 for a free estimate and an honest read on what’s actually going on up there. Wendell has been on Brooklyn rooftops for the better part of two decades, from the old brownstones off Flatbush Avenue to the row houses on the quieter blocks of Carroll Gardens, and he’ll tell you straight whether you need a cap, a cleaning, or nothing at all.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner, Top Hat Chimney at Top Hat Chimney, serving Brooklyn and nearby areas.