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.
Famco Chimney Cap & Crown in Brentwood: What to Know First
We install, repair, and replace Famco chimney caps and crowns throughout Brentwood, NY, and most jobs are done in a single visit once parts are in hand. A straightforward Famco cap replacement typically falls between $285 and $520 in this area, depending on flue size and roof access. Crown work runs $225 to $420 for coating and repair, more if we’re rebuilding from scratch.
This page is for Brentwood homeowners who own a Famco cap or crown and want someone who actually knows the brand, not a generalist who shrugs and says “a cap’s a cap.” It isn’t. Call (934) 935-3847 and we’ll tell you straight whether it’s a quick fix or time to swap the whole unit.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco Storm Collar Corrosion on Multi-Flue Caps: The galvanized storm collars on older Famco RC series multi-flue caps corrode first at the seam where the collar meets the cap body. We see this constantly in Brentwood because of salt air drift from the South Shore and the freeze-thaw cycles that work those seams every winter. The cap itself is usually fine; the collar is what’s letting water run down the flue. We replace the collar with a stainless unit and re-seal, which costs a fraction of a full cap replacement.
- Famco SC Series Single-Flue Cap Screen Clogging: The 3/4-inch mesh on Famco SC caps does its job keeping birds and debris out, but on oil-burning Brentwood homes, that mesh loads up fast with oily soot and restricts draft. Homeowners notice the fireplace getting smoky or the oil burner running rough. Most don’t connect it to the cap. The fix is usually a deep cleaning of the mesh and a conversation about burn habits, not a new cap. If the mesh is rusted through, we swap the cap.
- Cracked Crowns Under Famco Caps: Famco caps sit on top of the chimney crown, and if that crown has hairline cracks, water gets under the cap and works into the masonry. By the time a Brentwood homeowner sees rust stains on the cap base or efflorescence on the brick below, the crown has been failing for years. We grind out the cracks, apply a flexible crown coating, and reset the cap properly with a water-tight bead. A new cap won’t fix a cracked crown; we always check both.
- Famco Adjustable Cap Fit Problems on Older Flues: Famco’s adjustable caps work on a range of flue tile sizes, but Brentwood homes built in the 1950s and 60s often have flue tiles that are slightly out of square. The adjustment brackets don’t seat evenly, and the cap works loose within a year or two. We shim and re-anchor with stainless hardware, and in most cases that’s the end of it. It’s a fiddly job that bigger outfits skip because it takes an extra twenty minutes on the roof.
- Discontinued Famco Models and Parts: Famco has changed manufacturing over the years, and some older cap models aren’t made anymore. If you’ve got a Famco RC-12 or an early FC-series custom cap that’s beyond repair, we’ll match the dimensions and function with a current Famco model or a quality equivalent rather than leaving you with a mystery cap that doesn’t fit right. As an independent Famco service provider, we’re not tied to any single parts pipeline, so we can tell you honestly when a repair makes sense and when replacement is the better long-term call.
Our Famco Chimney Cap & Crown Process
- 1
The call: You reach Wendell or a live person at (934) 935-3847 and describe what you’re seeing; rust drips, a rattling cap, water in the firebox. We quote a price range before anyone gets in a truck.
- 2
The roof inspection: Wendell or one of his crew goes up and photographs everything: the cap, the crown, the flue tile, the mortar bed. You get to see what he sees.
- 3
The plain-English verdict: If the cap just needs cleaning and re-anchoring, he’ll say so. If the crown is cracked and that’s the real issue, he’ll say that too. No drama, no upsell.
- 4
The parts decision: We order genuine Famco parts when they’re available and priced reasonably. When they’re not, we use quality stainless aftermarket pieces that match the original specs. We tell you which way we’re going and why.
- 5
The work: Old cap off, crown inspected and repaired or coated as needed, new cap set square and anchored, seams sealed. We don’t rush this on a two-story Brentwood colonial with a pitched roof; we take the time it needs.
- 6
The test and the guarantee: We check draft, check the seal, and walk you through what was done. Every Famco job carries the 90-Day Done Right Promise in writing.
What Famco Chimney Cap & Crown Costs in Brentwood
- Famco single-flue cap replacement: $285 to $420 (stainless cap, standard flue)
- Famco multi-flue cap replacement: $450 to $780 (depends on flue span)
- Crown crack repair and coating: $225 to $420 (grind, seal, flexible coating)
- Full crown rebuild: $600 to $1,100 (demo, form, pour, cure)
- Collar or mesh repair on existing Famco cap: $90 to $180
What moves the price? Roof pitch and chimney height, flue size and count, whether we need a lift or can work from ladders, and how much crown damage we find once the cap is off. We don’t bump the number after the fact; the price we give you on the phone is the price on the invoice. Call (934) 935-3847 for an exact quote. Estimates are free, and if you’re inside our service county, there’s no trip charge.
Why Brentwood Homeowners Call Top Hat Chimney for Famco Work
Wendell Pike has been on rooftops in Brentwood since 1999, and he’s probably worked on more Famco caps in this town than anyone else still carrying a ladder. The 90-Day Done Right Promise means if something isn’t right after we leave, one call brings the crew back. No arguing, no re-invoicing. We also service DuraFlex liners, HeatShield systems, and Gelco products, so when a Brentwood home has multiple chimney issues, you’re not juggling three different companies with three different stories. You get one name, one crew, one guarantee.
And the reviews hold up. Ask anyone on your street.
FAQs
Replacing a failed Famco cap with a genuine Famco replacement doesn’t void anything, and as an independent provider we follow Famco’s installation specs carefully. If the cap is still under warranty, we’ll help you document everything you need to file a claim. Most Famco caps we see in Brentwood are 10 to 20 years old and well past any warranty window anyway.
Most standard Famco caps and parts are in our hands within 3 to 5 business days, and we’ll schedule your install as soon as they arrive. If it’s an emergency, a loose cap in a storm, for instance, we can usually get you temporarily covered while parts come in.
If the screens are clogged or the collar is separated from the cap body, repair usually makes sense. If the cap is rusted through at the base or the mounting brackets are snapped off, replacement is the better financial call; those repairs don’t last in Brentwood’s weather.
Once a year, burn or no burn. Chimneys break in the off-season, too. We check the cap, the crown, the flue, and the mortar all in the same visit.
Water keeps getting in, and it doesn’t announce itself. It works down through the crown, into the flue, and eventually into your ceiling, attic, or chimney breast. By the time you see a stain inside the house, the repair bill is a lot bigger than a crown coating. Call (934) 935-3847 and we’ll take a look before it gets there.
Written by Wendell Pike, Owner, Top Hat Chimney at Top Hat Chimney, serving Brentwood and nearby areas.





Before
After
Before
After
Before
After