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
AfterFamco Chimney Cap Installation: The Paterson Owner’s Guide
We stock and install Famco-compatible chimney caps in Paterson for a typical installed price of $340-$620, and the job itself takes about an hour once we’re on the roof. Most Paterson homeowners don’t discover the cap failed until water starts streaking the brick below the flue or a draft smell backs into the living room after rain. You’ve got the Famco cap, maybe the model number scribbled in a manual somewhere, and a flue that’s currently open to whatever New Jersey weather wants to drop into it. Here’s what the replacement actually involves, what it costs here, and what to check before you call.
Which Famco Models This Applies To
Famco makes three chimney cap lines that show up on Paterson roofs: the FC series (standard single-flue, mesh sides), the RC series (round, for exposed round flue tiles), and the EFC series (extended base for multi-flue or odd-sized clay tile). The fastest way to identify what you have is to look at the underside of the cap where the mounting brackets sit. Famco stamps the model number there, and if the stamp is rusted out, measure the flue tile opening: FC caps fit 8″x8″ through 13″x13″, RC caps fit diameters from 6″ to 12″, and EFC caps are ordered by the full outside crown dimension.
On the OEM-versus-aftermarket question: an actual Famco replacement runs 10-20% more than a quality aftermarket equivalent, but the steel gauge is consistent across both, and the mounting brackets are interchangeable in most cases. We carry aftermarket caps that match Famco’s 24-gauge galvanized and stainless specs, and we’re straightforward about it: if you want the exact Famco stamp, we’ll order it. If you want the same metal, same fit, and a better price, we’ve got it on the truck. Level Two Chimney Paterson is an independent service provider, not affiliated with Famco, and we also stock parts for DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco systems.
Signs Your Famco Chimney Cap Installation Is Failing
- Rust streaks running down the chimney crown. A galvanized cap that’s reached the end of its zinc coating will rust from the mesh inward. In Paterson’s freeze-thaw cycles, that rust accelerates fast once it starts.
- Water staining on the ceiling near the fireplace. The cap’s mesh still looks fine from the ground, but the mounting brackets have loosened and rain is sneaking past the cap edge into the flue.
- Draft smell after rain. A failed cap lets water pool in the smoke chamber, and that wet creosote smell backs into the room every time the furnace or water heater draws air past it.
- Mesh detaching from the cap body. The spot welds on the Famco mesh are usually the first thing to fail. One section of mesh hangs off, and a squirrel in the Great Falls area has already found it.
- Loud chimney chamber noise in wind. That’s not the cap doing its job. That’s a loose cap rattling against the flue tile, and it’s slowly cracking the clay underneath.
BeforeAfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
In Paterson, a Famco-compatible cap installation runs $340-$620 installed. That’s the cap itself, stainless or galvanized mounting bracket hardware, a full inspection of the flue tile top edge, re-securing or replacing the mounting bands, and sealing the crown contact points. What drives the range: single-flue caps sit at the low end; multi-flue EFC caps at the high end; and if the flue tile has already spalled, we need to address that before the cap can seat properly. You’ll see the written price before we pick up a tool. The cap carries its own manufacturer warranty, and our work is covered by the 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it’s not done right, we make it right.
DIY or Call Us?
From the ground, you can check for visible rust, a missing cap, or mesh sections hanging off. That’s worth doing twice a year. Getting on a Paterson roof with a new cap and a drill is a different calculation: the flue tile is often brittle, a bad chimney crown means any cap you mount will fail in two seasons, and a fall from a wet ladder on a rowhouse roof ends every argument. We’ve replaced caps near the Great Falls Historic District on original clay tile that crumbled the moment a bracket touched it. If that’s what’s under your Famco cap, we’d rather see it on camera before anyone commits to hardware. Camera first, quote second, work third - in that order, every time. Call (862) 356-5229 and we’ll take a look.
FAQs
A galvanized Famco cap lasts 5-8 years in Paterson’s weather, while the stainless version typically runs 12-15 years. The mesh welds fail first, not the metal itself, and that’s the part we see rusted through most often on Paterson rowhouses. If yours has passed year eight on galvanized, a replacement is likely the right call this season. Call (862) 356-5229 and we’ll confirm what you’re working with before quoting a dollar amount.
The mesh and spot welds can’t be field-repaired to hold up another season, but the mounting brackets often can be reused if they’re not rusted through. In most cases, replacement is the only option we’d sign a warranty on. Corrine Halstead has rejected enough patch jobs over eighteen years to know that a repaired cap on a cracked flue tile is just a postponement.
From ladder up to tool down, the replacement takes about an hour for a standard single-flue cap, and up to two hours if we’re working on a multi-flue EFC or dealing with spalled flue tile. You’ll have a written scope and written price before we start, plus a photo record when it’s done, per Clause 4 of the Haven Standard.
We stock the most common single-flue and round sizes on the truck, including aftermarket equivalents that match Famco’s steel gauge and mounting specs. If you need the exact Famco stamp or an odd size, we’ll order it and have it ready before we set the appointment. Estimates are free, and the price on the page is the price you’ll see in writing.
If your Famco cap is failing, don’t wait through another wet season. Call Level Two Chimney Paterson at (862) 356-5229 for a free estimate. Written price, written scope, photo record when we’re done. That’s how we’ve done it since 2009.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Paterson at Level Two Chimney Paterson, serving Paterson and nearby areas.