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 Sherman Oaks Owner’s Guide
Olympia Chimney chimney cap installation in Sherman Oaks typically runs $280-$520 for most single-flue applications, including the cap, custom fitting, and weather-sealing. We stock Olympia Chimney-compatible caps in common 8″×13″, 13″×13″, and 13″×17″ flue sizes on our Sherman Oaks trucks, and most installs are completed in under two hours once the flue condition is verified. You’ll usually discover the cap has failed when water spots appear on the firebox floor after the first winter rain, or when a neighbor mentions birds nesting in your flue.
Which Olympia Chimney Models This Applies To
Olympia Chimney manufactures three cap-relevant series: the traditional terracotta flue systems common in 1980s-2000s Sherman Oaks construction, the Insul-Tek insulated stainless liner systems, and the Pro-Flex relining kits. The critical compatibility gotcha is flue shape. Olympia’s original terracotta flues are often square or rectangular, while their liner retrofits terminate in round collars. A cap sized for a 13″×13″ terracotta flue will not seat on a 6″ or 8″ round Insul-Tek termination without an adapter plate, and we’ve seen homeowners buy the wrong cap twice before calling us.
To identify your part, look for the Olympia Chimney stamp on the flue tile or liner collar, then measure the outside dimensions at the top course of brick or crown surface, not the flue opening itself. We carry both OEM Olympia Chimney caps and Gelco equivalents through our Haven buying network. For most Sherman Oaks applications, the Gelco stainless cap matches Olympia’s specs at a lower parts cost, though we default to OEM when the existing cap is part of a warranted liner system. Corrine Halstead keeps a cross-reference sheet in every truck; she’s matched caps to Olympia systems the catalog doesn’t list by measuring the crown overhang and flue reveal in person.
Signs Your Olympia Chimney Chimney Cap Installation Is Failing

- Water staining on the firebox floor or smoke chamber walls. The cap’s mesh screen or lid has corroded through, or the mounting brackets have pulled away from the flue, letting rain run straight down the flue during Sherman Oaks’ brief but intense winter storms. We see this most often on west-facing caps where afternoon sun accelerates stainless fatigue.
- Birds, squirrels, or debris visible in the flue during a routine fire. The cap’s mesh sides have torn or the animal guard has detached. Olympia Chimney caps use 5/8″ mesh by default; if you see nesting material, the mesh has failed or was never the correct wildlife-rated specification for your area.
- Rust streaks running down the exterior brick below the flue. The cap’s base ring or mounting hardware has corroded, and runoff is carrying iron oxide onto the masonry. This is common with galvanized hardware in coastal-influenced Sherman Oaks air, where salt moisture accelerates rust even miles inland.
- The cap is visibly tilted, shifted, or missing entirely after wind events. Santa Ana gusts in late fall can dislodge poorly mounted caps. Olympia Chimney’s standard strap-mount system requires stainless steel tension bands; if a previous installer used aluminum or generic hardware, the cap walks off the flue.
- Downdraft smoke spillage into the room on windy days. The cap’s lid has deformed or the baffle design is wrong for your flue height and surrounding roofline. Some Olympia Chimney caps include a wind-directional cowl that seizes with creosote buildup; when stuck, it turns into a scoop instead of a shield.
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AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
| Component | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Olympia Chimney-compatible cap (parts) | $95-$220 |
| Gelco equivalent cap (parts) | $75-$165 |
| Custom adapter plate (if needed) | $45-$85 |
| Labor: removal, fitting, seal, photo documentation | $140-$215 |
| Total installed | $280-$520 |
What drives the range: flue accessibility (steep roof pitch adds time), whether the crown needs resurfacing where the old cap sat, and if we find damaged flue tile that must be addressed before mounting. Every quote is written before work starts, per Haven Standard Clause 1. The cap carries the manufacturer’s warranty; our labor is covered by the 365-Day Done Right Promise. You’ll receive a photo record of the mounted cap and flue condition under Haven Standard Clause 4, same as our 38,000-plus jobs since 2009.
DIY or Call Us?

You can safely check whether your cap is present, straight, and whether the mesh is intact from ground level with binoculars. You can also measure your flue opening from the firebox side if you’re comfortable on a step stool.
What you should not do: climb the roof to remove or install a chimney cap. The combination of height, steep composite shingle pitches common in Sherman Oaks’ hillside neighborhoods, and the need to properly tension stainless mounting bands makes this a genuine fall and laceration risk. A cap that isn’t sealed correctly also channels water into the flue, where it damages liners and masonry you can’t see until the repair costs multiply. The camera doesn’t lie, and neither does the written quote. We bring the inspection camera up after installation to confirm the cap doesn’t obstruct draft, documented under Clause 4. Call (424) 414-6048 for a written price before anyone picks up a tool.
FAQs
A quality stainless cap typically lasts 15-20 years in Sherman Oaks’ climate, though west- and south-facing caps may show mesh fatigue closer to 12 years due to UV and thermal cycling. Coastal air even 10 miles inland accelerates galvanized hardware corrosion, which is why we specify 304 or 316 stainless on every install. Call (424) 414-6048 if you’re unsure of your cap’s age or material - estimates are free.
Mesh can sometimes be rewired and minor lid dents corrected, but cracked bases, stripped mounting points, or corroded tension bands mean replacement. We don’t quote repairs that won’t last two full seasons; it’s cheaper to do it once correctly. Call (424) 414-6048 and we’ll show you the camera footage so you can decide from evidence, not a sales pitch.
Most Olympia Chimney cap replacements take 45 minutes to 90 minutes on site, assuming the flue and crown are sound. If we need to fabricate an adapter for an Insul-Tek round termination or resurface crown damage, plan on two to two-and-a-half hours. We book by the job, not the clock, so the written price doesn’t change if it runs long.
We stock the three most common sizes - 8″×13″, 13″×13″, and 13″×17″ - in both Olympia Chimney-compatible and Gelco equivalents. Odd sizes and custom wind-directional models are sourced same-day through our Haven buying network. If you have your flue dimensions or a photo of the existing cap, text them to (424) 414-6048 and we’ll confirm stock before we dispatch.
Emberly Chimney Cleaners Sherman Oaks is an independent service provider; we are not affiliated with Olympia Chimney. We source parts through our Haven buying network to keep customer prices honest, and we back every install with the Haven Standard’s written price, written scope, and documented photo record.
Written by Corrine Halstead, Owner, Emberly Chimney Cleaners Sherman Oaks at Emberly Chimney Cleaners Sherman Oaks, serving Sherman Oaks and nearby areas.





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