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.
Olympia Chimney Chimney Cap Installation: The Staten Island Owner’s Guide
We install Olympia Chimney-compatible chimney caps across Staten Island, with most jobs running $285 to $495 installed depending on flue size and whether your crown needs sealing work. Our trucks carry the common Olympia stainless and galvanized cap sizes, so we can often measure, match, and install in a single visit. Homeowners usually notice the problem after a hard rain: water staining on the firebox floor, a rust trail down the flue tile, or the cap itself sitting crooked after a nor’easter.
Which Olympia Chimney Models This Applies To
Olympia Chimney caps fit their own factory-built stainless flue systems and can be adapted to most masonry chimneys with matching flue dimensions. The critical match is your flue’s outside diameter, not the chimney’s overall width. Olympia’s standard round caps cover 8″, 10″, and 12″ flues; their oval series handles the 8″×12″ and 10″×14″ combinations common in 1960s-1980s Staten Island construction, especially in neighborhoods like New Dorp and Great Kills where we see a lot of mid-century brick colonials.
To identify your cap series, check the stamp on the existing cap’s skirt or measure the flue tile protruding above your crown. Olympia OEM caps carry the stamped logo and use a specific 3-point set-screw mounting pattern. We also stock quality aftermarket equivalents from Gelco and Famco that match Olympia specs exactly, often at a lower parts cost, with the same 304 stainless construction and same warranty. We carry both on the truck and will show you the difference. Hearthstone Chimney Co. is an independent service provider, not affiliated with Olympia Chimney.
Signs Your Olympia Chimney Chimney Cap Installation Is Failing
- Water pooling on the firebox floor after rain. The cap’s mesh screen or lid has separated from the base skirt, or the set-screws have backed out, letting direct rainfall enter the flue. In Staten Island’s freeze-thaw cycles, this accelerates flue tile cracking.
- Rust streaks on the exterior brick below the crown. Galvanized caps eventually lose their zinc coating, especially where salt air from the Arthur Kill and Raritan Bay hits exposed metal. Once rust starts, the cap is shedding water onto the crown instead of away from it.
- The cap is visibly tilted, loose, or missing entirely. High winds off the water, particularly in neighborhoods like Tottenville and South Beach, can torque a poorly secured cap until the mounting screws strip or the flue tile lip cracks.
- Birds or squirrels nesting in the flue. A cap with damaged or missing mesh sides, or a cap sized wrong for the flue, creates an entry point. We’ve pulled nests from Olympia systems where the original 1/2″ mesh had corroded to gaps large enough for starlings.
- Downdraft smoke or cold drafts even with the damper closed. The cap’s lid may be dented or improperly pitched, disrupting the pressure differential that draws smoke upward. This is common after caps take a hit from falling branches during Staten Island’s late-summer storms.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
| Service | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Olympia-compatible cap, standard stainless, installed | $285 - $375 |
| Olympia-compatible cap, heavy-gauge or custom fit | $350 - $495 |
| Crown seal / minor masonry prep if needed | $75 - $150 |
| Flue tile repair or rebuild (if cracked) | $200 - $450 additional |
The range depends on three things: cap material grade, whether your flue tile needs repair before the new cap seats properly, and accessibility. A straightforward swap on a single-story ranch in Westerleigh takes less time than a steep-pitch roof in Lighthouse Hill. We price upfront before any work starts. The number on the estimate is the number on the invoice. Every cap installation carries our 90-Day Done Right Promise, in writing, no arguing.
DIY or Call Us?
You can safely check whether your cap is loose by sight from the ground with binoculars, or note water entry points inside. Do not climb the roof to tighten or remove a cap yourself. The combination of steep pitches, coastal wind gusts, and the fact that you’re working at height above hard surfaces makes this a poor candidate for homeowner repair. We’ve been called after DIY attempts stripped flue tile lips or dropped tools down the flue, turning a $300 cap job into a $700 liner retrieval.
If the chimney’s sound, we’ll say so. If it isn’t, you’ll hear that too. For an honest assessment and same-day installation when possible, call (516) 613-3035. Estimates are free, and a live person answers.
FAQs
A quality stainless cap typically lasts 15 to 20 years, but galvanized versions in salt-air exposure may show rust in 7 to 10. Call (516) 613-3035 and we’ll inspect yours at no charge.
Minor mesh damage can sometimes be patched, but a rusted base or bent lid is not worth repairing. The cap’s job is to shed water and block animals, and patched caps fail again within a season or two. Call (516) 613-3035 for a straight answer on yours.
Most Olympia-compatible cap replacements take 45 minutes to 90 minutes from ladder set to cleanup, assuming the flue tile is intact. If we find hidden crown damage during our camera inspection, we’ll show you the photo and explain before doing any additional work.
We carry the common stainless sizes and mounting hardware for Olympia, Gelco, and Famco systems. For rare or discontinued Olympia sizes, we can typically source next-day. Call (516) 613-3035 with your flue measurement and we’ll confirm before we roll.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner, Hearthstone Chimney Co. at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Staten Island and nearby areas.





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