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.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterFamco Chimney Cap & Crown in Gaithersburg: What to Know First
Famco chimney caps and crowns in Gaithersburg run $180-$425 for cap replacement and $850-$1,800 for full crown rebuild, installed. We’re an independent Famco service provider, not a manufacturer affiliate, and most jobs are completed in a single visit once parts are confirmed. If your Famco cap is rusting through or your crown is spalling, this page tells you what’s actually wrong, what it costs to fix, and what you should ask any contractor before they touch it. Call (240) 220-9395 and we’ll walk you through a written estimate before anything is scheduled.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco SF Series (standard galvanized): We see pinhole rust on the expanded mesh within 4-6 years on Gaithersburg homes. It’s not the steel’s fault. It’s the zinc coating wearing thin from acid rain cycles common to Montgomery County winters. Fix is usually replacing the mesh insert, not the whole cap, saving owners $120-$180 vs full replacement.
- Famco SC Series (stainless): The cap body holds up, but the set screws on the mounting bracket loosen from wind load on exposed chimney tops in neighborhoods like Washingtonian Woods and Kentlands. If the cap rattles on a windy night, that’s the cause. We replace them with torque-set stainless fasteners rather than OEM zinc screws, which are the weak point.
- Multi-flue Famco caps: The center railing flexes where the flue tiles crown unevenly. This is a measurement problem, not a material one. We level the mounting surface before installing, which an off-the-shelf purchase can’t compensate for.
- Crown failure under Famco caps (not the cap’s fault): A crown with hairline cracks lets water behind the cap bracket. Every spring after the freeze-thaw cycle, those cracks widen. We identify whether the crown can be sealed or must be rebuilt before installing any new cap.
- Famco OEM vs aftermarket trade-off: Famco parts are solid for standard sizes, but our techs stock aftermarket stainless options from Olympia when a custom size or gauge is needed. The advantage is fit, not cost. A 2-inch variance on a multi-flue setting means a bespoke edge, not a caulked gap.
Our Famco Chimney Cap & Crown Process
- 1
You call (240) 220-9395. We ask what you’re seeing: rust staining on the crown, cap wind noise, water in the firebox, or visible flue-tile wear.
- 2
We schedule a visit and send a tech with a camera inspection rig. Every Famco job starts with a Level 2 camera scan, because guessing at a crown crack wastes your money.
- 3
The tech documents: cap condition, flue tile alignment, crown surface photos, and measurements of the flue interior. If you have an existing estimate from another company, we’ll review it on site at no charge.
- 4
We present a written scope with line-item pricing: cap replacement, crown patch or recoat, or full rebuild. You approve before any work starts.
- 5
Work proceeds with the materials specified in the scope. Famco caps are installed with stainless hardware, not the factory zinc screws, unless you request OEM exactly.
- 6
After installation, we run a second camera verification and hand you a photo record of every repair, plus the written warranty. If it’s not done right, the 365-Day Done Right Promise applies.
BeforeAfterWhat Famco Chimney Cap & Crown Costs in Gaithersburg
| Service | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Famco cap mesh insert replacement | $120-$180 |
| Standard Famco cap replacement (installed) | $180-$425 |
| Multi-flue custom cap | $650-$1,200 |
| Crown recoat / seal | $300-$650 |
| Full crown rebuild | $850-$1,800 |
What moves the price: flue access (steep roof or high pitch), chimney height, whether the crown needs grinding before coating, and whether you want OEM Famco parts or an aftermarket equivalent. We write every price before work begins, not after the tech is up on your roof. Call (240) 220-9395 for a free estimate. Corrine Halstead will tell you what the camera shows, and what it costs to fix, without pressure.
Why Gaithersburg Homeowners Call Level Two Chimney Gaithersburg for Famco Work
Because we show you the damage before we ask for a check. Every Famco job includes a camera scan and a written photo record, so you see the cracked crown or failing mesh for yourself. The Haven Standard Clause 4 has required photo documentation on every visit since 2009. The 365-Day Done Right Promise means if a cap leaks or a crown fails within a year, we return and make it right. We’re an independent company, not a Famco franchise, and when a job calls for another brand we stock what’s appropriate: DuraFlex for liner work, HeatShield for resurfacing, Gelco for specialty coatings. If a competitor’s written estimate says you need more than we recommend, bring it to us for a free second opinion.
FAQs
The Famco warranty typically covers manufacturer defects only, not normal wear, rust, or damage caused by an existing crown crack. That’s why we identify the failure cause before replacement. If your crown is the problem, a new cap won’t last until the crown is fixed. Call (240) 220-9395 and we’ll tell you what the camera shows before you spend any money.
Standard cap replacements are usually done within 7-10 days from the estimate. The variable is part availability: OEM Famco parts take a few days longer than our stocked stainless aftermarket options. We’ll give you both choices in the written scope. Call (240) 220-9395 if you need an exact timeline.
If the crown has surface cracking but the concrete slab is sound, a recoat with Gelco or an equivalent flexible crown coat runs $300-$650. If the slab has actually separated from the flue tile or is spalling, a patch will fail within a season and a rebuild is the only honest fix. We show you the camera photo and let you decide with the evidence in hand. Call (240) 220-9395 for a free estimate.
Yes, Famco makes multi-flue caps, but they sit on a rail system that requires almost perfectly level flue tiles. In older Gaithersburg homes, flue tiles shift. We level the mounting plane first. A custom cap fitted to your actual measurements works better than a factory multi-flue unit if your chimney is uneven. Call (240) 220-9395 to find out what your chimney actually needs.
A cracked crown lets water into the masonry, which freezes and expands through Gaithersburg winters. Over three to five years, that turns surface cracks into broken flue tiles and liner damage. The water also works down to the smoke chamber and can cause musty odors in humid months. The camera doesn’t guess. Neither do we. Call (240) 220-9395 and we’ll show you exactly what’s happening up there.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Level Two Chimney Gaithersburg at Level Two Chimney Gaithersburg, serving Gaithersburg and nearby areas.