Custom Stainless Steel Chimney Cap with Spark Arrestor Mesh Installation

Our chimney's masonry flue has stood without a proper cap for years, and every storm sends rain and debris straight down into the firebox, while last spring a family of starlings tried to nest inside the flue tile before we blocked it temporarily with mesh wire. We need a qualified contractor to design and install a custom-fit chimney cap with an integrated spark arrestor screen.

Scope of work: first, measure the exact outer dimensions of the flue crown and the clay liner opening, since our chimney is an older single-flue masonry stack with a slightly irregular crown that a stock big-box cap will not seal properly. The cap itself should be fabricated from stainless steel or copper — no painted galvanized steel, since we are on the coast and ordinary steel corrodes within two or three seasons here. The mesh screen openings need to be sized to keep out squirrels, raccoons, and birds while still passing enough exhaust volume that the fireplace does not smoke back into the room; too fine a mesh clogs with creosote and restricts draft.

Mounting must be mechanically secure to the flue crown or tile — screw-set clamps or a storm collar bolted into masonry anchors, not just a friction-fit cap that a strong gust could dislodge. After installation, please perform a draft airflow test with the fireplace lit to confirm smoke draws properly up and out through the new screen, and photograph the sealed clearances around the crown.

We would like the whole job — measurement visit, fabrication or sourcing of the cap, installation, and draft test — completed within about a week from the day work starts. Please include your experience with multi-flue and single-flue masonry chimneys, the material and gauge of steel you use, and whether you carry liability insurance for roof work.