Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 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 Marietta Owner’s Guide
We stock and install Olympia Chimney-compatible caps, and in Marietta a full replacement with installation typically runs $285 to $480 depending on cap size, material, and roof access. Most homes we service can be completed the same day once we confirm the right part on site. The most common way homeowners discover a cap problem is either seeing rust streaks on the chimney chase, hearing birds or bats inside the flue, or a neighbor mentioning that rain water is hitting the masonry crown. If any of those sound familiar, the cap has likely been doing its job longer than the manufacturer expected.
Key takeaways:
- Typical installed price in Marietta: $285 to $480, including parts, labor, and the written guarantee.
- We match Olympia Chimney caps by outside flue tile dimensions, not by old cap markings (more on that below).
- Symptoms of a failed cap include rust, animal entry, moisture damage to the crown, and odor infiltration.
- This is an up-on-the-roof job that requires a ladder, working at height, and proper anchoring. Call us if you’re not comfortable with any of that.
Which Olympia Chimney Models This Applies To
Olympia Chimney supplies caps across several lines, but the ones we replace most often in Marietta homes are the secure-fit caps made for masonry flues with standard rectangular or square liners, the standard round caps sized to fit 6-inch through 12-inch round liners, and the stainless-steel multi-flue caps designed for chimneys with multiple clay tile liners side by side. The reason you can’t just order by the old cap’s part number is that flue dimensions are what actually dictate fit. A cap purchased for an 8×8-inch flue will not seal properly on a 7×8, and that gap is exactly where rain and embers get through.
To identify the right Olympia Chimney-compatible cap for your chimney, we measure the outside dimensions of the existing clay flue tile or the metal liner top, then match that measurement to the cap. If you still have the old cap, we check for the model stamp, but that stamp alone is not reliable because caps get corroded and the lettering often becomes unreadable after a few Georgia summers. As an independent service provider, we are not affiliated with Olympia Chimney, but we carry and install their caps alongside DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco because they are dependable trade materials. OEM Olympia caps are ideal if you want an exact brand match, but there are aftermarket equivalents in stainless steel that can be just as reliable for less money. We’ll show you both options with prices before any work starts.
Styles & brands we work with
Signs Your Olympia Chimney Chimney Cap Installation Is Failing
- Rust or corrosion on the cap itself. Olympia caps are typically made of stainless steel or galvanized steel. Galvanized caps have a shorter life in Marietta because our humid summers and frequent rain accelerate zinc coating breakdown. Once you see rust streaks, moisture has started to compromise the cap’s ability to shield the flue.
- Animal sounds coming from the chimney. Bats, chimney swifts, and squirrels enter through gaps where the cap mesh has pulled away from the frame or where the cap has shifted out of position. This is the most common way Marietta homeowners find out the cap no longer seals.
- Water staining inside the firebox. If you see water or brown stains in the firebox after heavy rain, the cap may have become loose at the flue tile or developed holes along the top. Rainwater that enters the flue goes straight down and pools at the smoke shelf or firebox floor.
- A chimney odor that gets worse on humid days. Moisture trapped in the flue mixes with soot and creosote to produce a smell that pulls down into the house. It’s not a fireplace problem; it’s a moisture management problem. The cap’s job was to keep that moisture out.
- Visible gaps or a tilted cap when viewed from ground level. A cap that has shifted means the fasteners have loosened or the flue tile itself has started to spall. This one needs attention quickly, because a tilted cap catches wind and creates a draft restriction that can push smoke back into the house.
Replacement Cost & What’s Included
A standard single-flue Olympia or Olympia-compatible stainless steel cap installed by us in Marietta runs $285 to $340. Multi-flue caps that cover two or more flues run $380 to $480 installed. What drives the difference is the flue measurement, the material (standard stainless vs. heavier-gauge marine-grade), and roof access. A steep-pitch roof or a chimney that requires a taller extension ladder will add to the labor line.
Every cap replacement includes the full written price before we begin, the old cap removal, cleaning of the existing flue tile edges, a proper mechanical attachment, and a written guarantee on the installation. If something we install fails during the coverage period, we’ll come back at no charge. That’s the 365-Day Done Right Promise, and it applies every time, including chimney cap work.
See the difference
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After
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After
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AfterDIY or Call Us?
What an owner can safely do from the ground is inspect the cap with binoculars and look for visible rust, missing mesh, or a cap that’s out of level. That helps us quote more accurately over the phone when you call (229) 350-8952. What should not be attempted is the removal and reinstallation. A chimney cap is secured at roof level, often from a ladder on a sloped surface. The anchor points need to be correctly sized and drilled into the flue tile or masonry crown without cracking the clay. We see more cracked crown repairs in Marietta from DIY cap installs than from any weather cause. If the idea of working at chimney height on a ladder makes sense to you as a weekend project, you can absolutely do the investigative part. For the install itself, call us and let Ruben Castellano and our crew handle it safely.
FAQs
A stainless steel Olympia or Olympia-compatible cap typically lasts 8 to 12 years in Marietta before the mesh or welds show meaningful wear. Galvanized steel caps average 4 to 7 years in our climate, and once rust starts, replacement is more cost-effective than repair. Call (229) 350-8952 and we’ll tell you what you’re working with based on the cap’s age and current condition.
Minor mesh tears can sometimes be patched, but the most common failures we see in Marietta are structural: separated screen frames, corroded mounting brackets, and bent top plates. Those are replacement jobs, not repair jobs. We’ll show you exactly what we’re looking at before recommending any work, and in many cases, the cost difference between repairing and replacing is small enough that replacement is the smarter long-term investment.
A standard single-flue cap swap usually takes 45 minutes to an hour once the right part is confirmed on site. Multi-flue caps run a little longer because the anchoring surface has to be prepared to a larger footprint. We complete the entire job in one visit, including old cap removal, flue tile inspection, and installation.
We carry the most common single-flue and multi-flue cap sizes on our service trucks so most jobs can be completed the same day. For unusual flue dimensions or specific Olympia Chimney models we don’t have in inventory, we source the part through our trade suppliers and typically schedule installation within a few days. Call (229) 350-8952 with your flue measurements and we’ll tell you if the cap you need is likely on the truck or needs to be ordered.
Contact Alcott Chimney Marietta for Olympia Chimney Cap Installation
A failed chimney cap is a small part with outsized consequences. It’s the difference between a dry flue and a firebox that develops a water stain every time it rains, between a quiet chimney and one that has bats in it, between a stove that draws cleanly and one that pushes odors into your living room. We’ve been handling cap replacements for Marietta homeowners since 2002, and we always start with a written price before anything is touched. You’ll know exactly who is coming, what it costs, and what the guarantee covers. Call (229) 350-8952 for a free estimate, and tell us what you’re seeing. We’ll tell you exactly what it means, no guesswork and no upsell.
Written by Ruben Castellano, Owner, Alcott Chimney Marietta at Alcott Chimney Marietta, serving Marietta and nearby areas.