Chimney chase cover and stucco repair in Towaco, NJ
The top and the roofline are where stucco chimneys leak.
A stucco chimney in Towaco, worked on while the roof was off. Three repairs, all aimed at the two places water gets in.
FlueRite installs metal chimney covers, repairs chimney flashing and repairs stucco on chimneys in Towaco. On this job the roof was open for replacement, so we installed a new metal cover on top of the chimney, redid the flashing where it meets the roof, and repaired the stucco around it.
- Location
- Towaco (Montville Township), NJ 07082
- Work done
- New metal chimney cover, flashing, stucco repair
- Chimney
- Stucco finish
- Timing
- Done while the roof was open for replacement
- Completed
- Fall 2026
Towaco, close to home
Towaco is the northern part of Montville Township, our home base, with homes spread across wooded hillsides and larger lots. Plenty of them have tall stucco chimneys like this one, finished to match the house. Shade and tree cover keep roofs and chimneys damp for days after a storm, which is exactly the condition that finds the weak spots in a chimney.
Why the top of a stucco chimney matters most
Water that gets into the top of a stucco chimney does not stay at the top. It runs down behind the stucco the full height of the chimney, where it cannot dry out, and shows up as staining, cracking or soft spots far below where it got in.
That is why the cover on top is the first line of defense. If the top sheds water properly, most of what can go wrong with a stucco chimney never starts.
What a metal chimney cover does
A metal cover closes the entire top of the chimney. On a framed chimney it is called a chase cover. On masonry it does the same job a concrete crown would. Either way, it needs to cover the full top, extend past the walls, and turn down over the edge so water drips clear of the stucco instead of running down it.
The flue passes up through the cover, and the cap sits over the flue. A cover that is flat, too short, or rusting through holds water on top of the chimney instead of shedding it, and that water ends up inside the walls.
Flashing and stucco at the roofline
The second place water gets in is where the chimney meets the roof. Notice the angled section of roof behind this chimney in the photos. That is a cricket, a small peaked roof built behind a wide chimney so water and snow are split around it instead of piling up against it. The flashing along the cricket and the sides of the chimney has to be continuous, because that is where the most water runs.
On a stucco chimney the flashing also has to work with the stucco. When it is only pressed against the surface and caulked, water gets behind it, and the stucco just above the roofline is the first to crack and stain. Repairing that stucco without fixing the flashing behind it would just mean repairing it again.
Why we did it during the re-roof
Chimney flashing is woven into the shingles, so the best time to replace it is when the shingles are already off. With the roof open, new flashing goes in properly instead of being worked in around existing shingles, and the stucco at the base can be repaired down to where it meets the new flashing.
If your roof is being replaced, tell your roofer you want the chimney looked at before the new shingles go on. It is the one time the whole joint is exposed.
Questions from Towaco homeowners
What is a chimney chase cover?
It is the metal cover across the top of a chimney. The flue passes up through it and the cap sits above it. Its job is to keep rain and snow from getting into the top of the chimney and down inside the walls. On a masonry chimney it serves the same purpose as a concrete crown.
Why coordinate chimney work with a roof replacement?
Because the flashing at the chimney is woven into the shingles. When the roof is off, the flashing can be replaced properly and the base of the chimney repaired without disturbing a new roof later. Doing it afterward means cutting into brand new shingles.
What is the small peaked roof behind my chimney?
That is a cricket, sometimes called a saddle. It is built behind wider chimneys so water and snow are diverted around the chimney instead of collecting against it. The flashing along the cricket is one of the most common leak points on a roof.
Why is my stucco cracking right where the chimney meets the roof?
Usually because water is getting behind the stucco at the flashing. It freezes in winter, pushes the stucco away from the wall, and cracks it. Fixing the flashing is what stops it from happening again.
How long does a metal chimney cover last?
It depends on the metal and how it is built. A cover that is properly sized, turned down over the edges and made from a metal that resists rust should last for decades. Thin painted steel can rust through in a fraction of that time.
Is Towaco part of Montville?
Yes. Towaco is a section of Montville Township, which is where FlueRite is based. Towaco, Pine Brook and Montville are all minutes from us.
Replacing your roof?
Call before the new shingles go on. We look at the chimney top, the flashing and the stucco while the roof is open, show you what we find, and fix what needs it in the same window.
Stucco chimney in Towaco?
We check the top, the flashing and the stucco, and show you the photos before anything is quoted. Towaco and the rest of Montville Township.
CSIA Certified · NJ HIC #13VH14202300 · Based in Montville