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 Sherman Oaks: What to Know First
We provide independent Famco chimney cap and crown service in Sherman Oaks, with most cap replacements and crown repairs completed in a single visit after our NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection. A written price, written scope, and written warranty are delivered before any work starts - no exceptions, no surprises. Most Famco caps we encounter in Sherman Oaks are the galvanized or stainless multi-flue models installed between 2010 and 2020, and their failure patterns are specific enough that we stock common sizes and mounting hardware to avoid delays.
This page is for Famco owners in Sherman Oaks who need a cap that actually fits, a crown that sheds water, and a technician who can explain why the last one failed without selling them a full rebuild they don’t need. Call (424) 414-6048 for a free estimate.
How Famco Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- Famco 13×13 and 17×17 galvanized single-flue caps - the mesh on these corrodes from the inside out where creosote condenses against the underside, especially in Sherman Oaks homes that burn Duraflame logs or soft pine. The mesh looks fine from the ground but is paper-thin at the crown interface. We replace with 304 stainless mesh and a heavier-gauge lid, or upgrade to a Famco stainless model if the flue size permits.
- Famco wind-directional caps (the “rotating” series) - the bearing housing seizes after 3-5 years of Santa Ana dust and the occasional ash bath. Once frozen, the cap becomes a sail that stresses the flue tile or crown edge. We remove the seized assembly, inspect the flue top for cracking, and install a fixed stainless cap with proper overhang if the rotating feature isn’t critical to draft performance.
- Famco multi-flue caps with integrated spark arrestor - the cross-bracing welds fail at the crown legs first, usually because the cap was shimmed to fit an oversize chimney rather than ordered to dimension. The legs work loose, the cap tilts, and rainwater runs directly onto the crown center. We measure the chimney precisely, fabricate legs to actual dimension, and bed the new cap in a polymer-modified crown seal.
- Famco chimney crowns on pre-fab metal chimneys - the factory crown is a stamped steel collar with a bead of sealant, not a poured concrete crown. After 8-10 years the sealant hardens and the collar lifts, creating a gap that funnels water down the chase cover. We remove the collar, treat the chase cover for rust, and install a proper chase cover with welded drip edge and cross-break - or pour a concrete crown if the chase structure allows it.
- Famco “universal fit” caps with tension screws - the screw points dig into clay flue tile and create stress fractures, particularly on the 9×13 and 13×18 sizes common in Sherman Oaks bungalows built in the 1940s-50s. We find hairline cracks running vertically from the screw marks on roughly one in three inspections. Our fix: remove the tension cap, assess the flue tile with a camera scan, and install a properly sized cap with exterior mounting brackets that bear on the crown, not the flue.
Our Famco Chimney Cap & Crown Process

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Call and schedule. A live person answers. We book an NFPA 211 Level 2 inspection with camera scan. You’ll get a text when your tech is en route.
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Inspection and documentation. We run the camera down the flue, photograph the cap, crown, and flue top from the roof, and record any deterioration. You see the images on the tablet before we leave the roof.
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Parts decision. If your Famco cap is a current model, we quote OEM replacement. If it’s discontinued or the OEM price is out of line, we quote a quality aftermarket equivalent from our buying network - Gelco or Olympia Chimney for stainless, DuraFlex for chase covers. The written quote lists both options when both exist.
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Written price, written scope, written warranty. Clause 1 of the Haven Standard: have it in writing. The quote specifies materials, labor, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise. You approve before we unload tools.
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Repair and test. We install, bed, or pour; verify clearances and draft; and run a final camera check to confirm no debris dropped into the flue.
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Documentation and cleanup. Clause 4 of the Haven Standard requires a photo record on every job. You get dated before-and-after photos, a written completion summary, and warranty terms by email before we pull out of your driveway.
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AfterWhat Famco Chimney Cap & Crown Costs in Sherman Oaks
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Famco cap replacement (standard stainless single-flue) | $340 - $580 | Flue size, roof pitch, need for leg extensions |
| Famco multi-flue cap replacement | $620 - $1,100 | Chimney dimensions, mesh gauge, spark arrestor requirement |
| Crown repair (polymer-modified coating) | $480 - $780 | Crown size, crack depth, number of flues |
| Crown rebuild (poured concrete) | $1,400 - $2,400 | Chimney footprint, access difficulty, forming complexity |
| Chase cover replacement (prefab metal chimney) | $890 - $1,600 | Material (galvanized vs. stainless vs. copper), welded features |
These are Sherman Oaks market ranges based on jobs we’ve completed in the neighborhood, including the wood-framed homes along Ventura Boulevard where roof access can be tight. The camera doesn’t lie, and neither does the written quote - your exact price comes after inspection, not before, and estimates are always free. Call (424) 414-6048.
Why Sherman Oaks Homeowners Call Emberly Chimney Cleaners Sherman Oaks for Famco Work

We’re an independent Famco service provider - not affiliated with or authorized by Famco - which means we source parts through our Haven buying network specifically to keep customer prices honest. Corrine Halstead and her crew have been working chimneys across Sherman Oaks for years, and we keep common Famco cap sizes, leg hardware, and crown sealants on the truck to avoid second visits.
Every job carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise, documented under the Haven Standard. If it’s not done right, we make it right. Our technicians are background-checked and uniformed, with license information displayed on every page. And because we also stock DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco materials, we’re not stuck when a Famco part is backordered or discontinued - we have options that other single-brand shops don’t.
FAQs
Famco’s limited warranty covers manufacturing defects on original equipment, not subsequent modifications - so replacing a worn cap with a quality aftermarket unit doesn’t “void” anything that was already expired by age. We document the original part condition with photos before removal, and if your cap failed within any remaining coverage window, we’ll flag that for your claim. Call (424) 414-6048 and we’ll check the install date against Famco’s terms.
Most standard single-flue replacements take 90 minutes to two hours from ladder set to final photo, assuming the flue tile and crown are sound. Multi-flue caps or jobs requiring crown repair first run longer - typically a half day. We don’t rush the camera scan or the bedding detail, because a cap that leaks in six months helps nobody. Call (424) 414-6048 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
A poured concrete crown with surface cracking and intact structural thickness can be coated and sealed. We use a polymer-modified, breathable crown seal rated for thermal cycling. If the crown is spalling more than 3/8 inch deep, sloped toward the flue (ponding water), or separated from the brick bond course, we recommend a full rebuild - and we show you the camera footage and depth measurements so you can see why. Call (424) 414-6048 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
We stock the common Famco stainless cap sizes (13×13, 13×18, 17×17, multi-flue up to 32×18) and standard leg hardware. Discontinued or unusual sizes we fabricate to fit through our Olympia Chimney and Gelco suppliers, typically with a 3-5 business day turnaround. We’ll tell you at inspection whether your job is same-visit or needs a return trip - no surprises. Call (424) 414-6048 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Water stains on the firebox walls or rust on the damper usually mean the cap is leaking or missing; crown leaks tend to show as efflorescence (white powder) on the exterior brick or soft mortar below the roofline. But both conditions often coexist, and the cap can hide crown damage from ground view. Our inspection separates the two: we water-test the cap seam, probe the crown surface, and show you which layer is failing before quoting either repair. Call (424) 414-6048 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
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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