The framed chase around a factory-built flue absorbs the worst of every storm season. We repair rot, stucco, siding, and flashing before water reaches the framing inside.
On homes with factory-built fireplace systems, the chimney you see from the street is usually a chase — a wood-framed shell, dressed in stucco or siding, with the metal flue running inside. Pinecrest has plenty of them, especially among the newer Mediterranean-style homes and remodeled ranches. The chase itself is ordinary building construction, which means it fails the way walls fail: hairline cracks open in stucco, siding joints separate, flashing at the roofline lifts, and wind-driven rain locates every one of those openings. Once water is inside, the sheathing and studs stay damp and rot moves quickly.
Hurricane season is the stress test. From June through November, storms push rain sideways into surfaces that stay dry through the calmer months, and our humidity means wet framing almost never dries on its own. We open the damaged sections, cut out rot, replace sheathing and framing where needed, install a proper moisture barrier, and refinish the stucco or siding so it blends with the home. Flashing at the base and roofline gets rebuilt rather than smeared with sealant. Each chase repair opens with a no-cost written estimate and ends with a workmanship warranty.
Damaged studs and sheathing inside the chase are cut out and replaced, not covered over, so the structure is sound before finishes go back on.
Cracked stucco and failed siding are repaired and blended to match the rest of the house.
Base and roofline flashing is reworked so runoff is directed away from the chase instead of behind it.
New weather barrier and sealed penetrations keep storm-driven rain away from the framing when the next season arrives.
We locate the water's true entry — often several feet away from the interior stain that announced it.
Rotten framing and sheathing are replaced and a proper weather barrier is installed.
Stucco or siding is restored to match, and flashing and seals are finished so the chase sheds water again.
Free written estimates · Upfront pricing · Same-day service available
It's the framed and finished enclosure built around a factory-made metal flue — essentially a tall, narrow section of wall that stands above your roof. Because it takes weather from all four sides and gets no shade from the roof itself, it often deteriorates faster than any other exterior surface on the house.
Usually, yes. If the damage is caught while it's confined to sheathing and a few framing members, we cut out and replace only what has failed. When rot has spread through most of the structure, rebuilding is the honest recommendation, and you see the evidence yourself before any decision is made.
If the metal cover on top is rusted or pooling water, absolutely — it's often the original source of the leak. We evaluate the cover on every chase repair and can fabricate a replacement during the same appointment.
Part of our Chimney Repair work in Pinecrest and across south Miami-Dade County.