There is a point where patching a rotted chase stops being honest work. When water has been in the framing long enough, new siding over old rot just hides the problem until it fails again. We will tell you which side of that line you are on, and rebuild it properly if that is the answer.
Most chase problems are repairable. Split siding, failed caulking, a few rotted boards, all of that is chase repair and it is the cheaper, better answer. This page is about the cases where it is not.
The line is the framing. Siding is a skin, and skin can be replaced in sections. The framing underneath is what holds the chase up, keeps it square, and carries the cover and cap. Once water has been sitting in that structure long enough for multiple members to soften, patching around it means building on wood that is still failing. The repair looks finished and comes apart from the inside.
We are straight about which side of that line you are on, because there is real money between the two answers. If a repair will genuinely hold, we will say so and quote the repair. If it will not, we will show you photographs of why.
Want the honest read on yours? Call (214) 225-8874.
A rebuild takes the chase back to structure and builds it again. It is a bigger job than a repair and priced accordingly, so it is worth understanding exactly what you get:
Every chase rebuild we perform includes:
Any two of these together usually means rebuild rather than repair. Get it assessed properly, call (214) 225-8874.
A rebuild is a multi-day project on most homes, and knowing the sequence makes it far less disruptive. Here is how our DFW crews work through it:
We probe the framing rather than judging by appearance, establishing how far rot has actually travelled.
You get the honest answer with photographs. If a repair will hold, we quote the repair instead.
An itemised quote covering teardown, framing, siding, finishing, and new cover and cap, with a realistic timeline.
Roof access, landscaping and the surrounding exterior protected before anything comes apart.
Siding, trim and failed framing removed. Nothing compromised gets built over.
New framing squared and secured, sheathing and siding fitted, every seam sealed, paint matched.
New chase cover and cap fitted, flue checked while accessible, site cleaned, work guaranteed in writing.
Find out whether you need a repair or a rebuild, honest assessments across DFW, 7 days a week.
(214) 225-8874The questions that come up once a rebuild is on the table:
The test is how much framing is affected. Isolated rot is a repair. Multiple soft members, a chase out of square, or wood that will not hold a fastener means rebuild. We show you photographs of the framing rather than asking you to trust the recommendation.
Considerably more than a repair, because it includes teardown, new framing, new siding, finishing, and new cover and cap. The exact figure depends on chase size, height and access. We quote after inspecting. Request your Free Online Quote.
Most rebuilds run a few days rather than a single visit, weather permitting. We give you a realistic schedule at the quote stage, including what the chase looks like between teardown and finish.
Not while the chase is open. We plan the sequence to minimise that window, and we will tell you exactly how long it will be before we start.
That is the standard we work to, siding profile matched where available and paint matched to your exterior. On homes with discontinued siding we tell you upfront what the realistic match looks like. Start here.
A rebuild is the bigger ticket, which is exactly why we do not lead with it. If your framing is sound enough for chase repair, that is what we quote, and we will say so plainly.
The shortcut on a rebuild is leaving marginal framing in place because it is still standing. We remove what the water reached, because the whole point of rebuilding is not doing this again in five years.
Rebuilding the structure and refitting the old chase cover that let water in makes no sense. New cover and new cap are part of the job, not extras.
Every rebuild is backed by our written guarantee. If something we built fails, we come back and correct it at no charge.
Chases stripped to bare framing and rebuilt complete, new siding, caulking, paint match, cover and cap, browse real before-and-after photos from projects across Dallas Fort Worth.
View the Before & After GalleryBy the time a chase needs rebuilding, the damage has usually spread past the structure itself:
We assess all of it before quoting, because a rebuild that ignores what the water already reached is only half the job. See the full picture on our chimney repair page or start with a chimney inspection.
From our home base in Plano, our rebuild crews cover 98 cities throughout the DFW metroplex, including:
+ 78 more DFW cities! See our full service area list, or call (214) 225-8874, chances are we serve your neighborhood.
"Very pleased with the professionalism and promptness of service. The chimney sweep was done quickly and efficiently at significantly less cost than the first quote I got from another company. Happy to recommend Lowes Chimney Sweep to anyone in Plano!"
"Outstanding chimney sweep service from start to finish. They were punctual, courteous, and left our chimney spotless with no mess in our home. I won't use anyone else for chimney services in Dallas TX!"
More reviews from homeowners across the metroplex are on our reviews section, or learn more about our team before you book.
The deciding factor is the framing. Isolated rot in one or two boards is a repair. Multiple soft members, a chase that is out of square, or wood that will no longer hold a fastener means rebuild. We photograph the framing so the recommendation is something you can see.
Considerably more than a repair, because it includes teardown, new framing, new siding, finishing, and a new cover and cap. The figure depends on chase size, height and access. We inspect before quoting. Request your Free Online Quote.
Most run a few days rather than a single visit, weather permitting. We give you a realistic schedule at the quote stage, including how long the chase will be open.
Not while the chase is open. We sequence the work to keep that window as short as possible and tell you the timeline before starting.
Yes. Rebuilding the structure and refitting the hardware that let water in would defeat the purpose, so a new cover and cap are part of the job rather than add-ons. See chase cover replacement.
That is the standard we work to. Siding profile matched where the material is still available, paint colour matched to your exterior. On homes with discontinued siding we tell you upfront what the match will realistically look like.
Water, almost always entering through failed caulking or a failed cover, then sitting in the framing. Hail damage and wind-driven rain accelerate it. By the time rot is widespread it has usually been developing for years out of sight.
Rebuilding the chase is substantially cheaper. A masonry chimney needs a foundation capable of carrying the weight, which most homes with a framed chase do not have. For masonry work see chimney rebuild.
Yes. Every rebuild is backed by our written guarantee. If something we built fails, we return and correct it at no charge.
Usually same or next day across all 98 DFW cities. Visible structural movement or an active leak gets priority. Call (214) 225-8874.
A rebuild touches everything the failed chase was protecting:
Background reading: chimney caps versus chase covers, why chimneys leak, and warning signs your chimney needs repair. You can also browse the before-and-after gallery, see every DFW city we serve, or request your Free Online Quote.
Free online quotes · Same day service · We work Sundays · 5-star rated across DFW
(214) 225-8874📍 1008 Ridgefield Dr, Plano TX 75075 | 🕗 Open 7 days · 8AM-8PM
Wood wicks water along the grain, so a wet spot at a seam travels down studs and across plates. What shows as one soft board at the surface is often several members deep by the time anyone opens it up.
The expensive version of this job is paying for a repair, watching it fail, then paying for the rebuild anyway. That is why we are direct about which one your chase needs rather than quoting the cheaper answer to win the job.
Homeowners sometimes assume a failed chase should become a brick chimney. It rarely should. Masonry needs a foundation designed to carry it, which homes built with framed chases do not have. Rebuilding the chase is both cheaper and structurally correct.
A rebuilt chase with the old cover back on top is a rebuild with the original failure point still installed. New cover and cap are standard on every rebuild we do.
A rebuild is the only time the interior of the chase is genuinely accessible. We inspect the flue while it is open, because doing it later means opening it again.
A rebuilt chase that does not match reads as damage from the street even after it is finished. Profile and paint matching are how the job ends, not an upsell at the end of it.
