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.
HeatShield Chimney Cap Installation: The Marietta Owner’s Guide
HeatShield chimney cap installation in Marietta typically runs $325 – $675 installed, depending on flue dimensions and whether the mounting collar needs replacement. We stock HeatShield-series compatible caps and collars on the truck, and most jobs are completed in one visit. Usually, Marietta homeowners discover their cap has failed when they spot rust streaks running down the chimney chase, hear a loose metal rattle during storms, or find water staining on the ceiling near the fireplace after a heavy Georgia downpour. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already noticed one of these.
Which HeatShield Models This Applies To
The HeatShield cap line spans several flue sizes, and the biggest compatibility gotcha we see in Marietta is a cap ordered for the wrong inner diameter. HeatShield caps are sized to match the flue tile inside diameter, not the outer chimney dimension. Common sizes run 6″, 7″, 8″, 10″, and 13″ round, plus rectangular and oval profiles for multi-flue installations. If you’re replacing a cap on a chimney that’s already been treated with HeatShield ceramic repair compound, the crew also checks the crown seal where the cap base sits. HeatShield’s resurfaced crowns can shift slightly as they cure, and a cap that was installed before the resurfacing sometimes loosens.
On the OEM question: HeatShield-branded caps are solid, but they’re not magic. We carry the genuine HeatShield line because Hadley is set up to match warranty-covered repairs cleanly. That said, for older chimneys where the warranty has lapsed, a Copperfield or Gelco stainless cap with the same flue dimensions performs identically and can save $40 – $80. Cory Mitchell will show you both options with the photo before anyone writes up the work. We’re an independent service provider, not affiliated with HeatShield, so our recommendation is based on what fits and lasts, not on a brand agreement.
Styles & brands we work with





Signs Your HeatShield Chimney Cap Installation Is Failing
- Water pooling inside the firebox after rain. The cap’s screened sides may have pulled away from the crown, or the mounting collar has loosened. Either way, rainwater is following the flue liner down instead of being deflected away. We see this most often after Marietta’s quick thunderstorm cycles in late spring.
- Rust bleeding down the chase or crown. The cap body or its mounting bolts have started corroding. Once surface rust catches, Georgia’s humidity speeds it up fast. Stainless caps shouldn’t rust, so if you’re seeing orange streaks, the cap is likely a galvanized aftermarket piece from a past install.
- A rattling or banging sound during high winds. The tension clamp on the cap base has weakened, or the cap was never sized to sit snugly on the flue tile. High wind gusts off Kennesaw Mountain make this symptom noticeable quickly in north Marietta neighborhoods.
- Birds or bats getting into the chimney. The cap’s mesh screen has a gap or tear, or the cap has lifted enough for animals to crawl beneath the base. A HeatShield cap with intact ¾” mesh won’t admit birds, but a dented or warped screen will.
- The cap is visibly tilted or shifted on the flue. Heat expansion, high winds, and a cracked crown anchor point can all knock the assembly off level. A tilted cap lets water into the flue around the base seal, which is how a $400 cap replacement turns into a $3,000 liner job if it’s ignored.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
In the Marietta market, expect to pay $325 – $675 for a HeatShield-compatible chimney cap installation. The range mostly comes down to three things: the flue size (6″ round is the cheapest, 13″ or multi-flue rectangular runs the most), roof access (steep pitches near some east Cobb properties add a small access charge), and whether the mounting collar or chase cover needs replacement along with the cap. We give a written price before any work starts, and that price covers the part, the labor, the install hardware, and a photo report of the finished cap from the roof. The work carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the cap install fails within a year, the second visit is free, and the guarantee is written, not verbal.
DIY or Call Us?
Here’s the honest answer: if you can safely inspect the cap from the ground with binoculars, do it. Check the mesh, the mounting band, and whether the cap sits level. That’s useful information for the phone call. But actually swapping a chimney cap means getting on the roof, which we wouldn’t recommend to anyone without fall protection gear and experience on steep Atlanta-area roof pitches. A wobble on a wet asphalt shingle near a two-story chimney isn’t worth saving $150. We bring the right cap, the right collar, and the photo proof that the cap is seated correctly. Call (762) 249-4619 and we’ll tell you over the phone whether it sounds like a straightforward swap or something that needs eyes on the roof first.
FAQs
In Marietta’s climate, a stainless HeatShield cap typically lasts 12 – 20 years before the mounting hardware or screen needs attention. Galvanized caps fail faster, sometimes in 5 – 7 years, because summer humidity and winter freeze-thaw cycles accelerate corrosion at the seam where the cap connects to the flue. If you’re replacing a cap that was installed within the last decade and it’s already failing, it was probably galvanized. Call (762) 249-4619 and mention the age of the install; we’ll bring both cap options if you want to compare.
Sometimes, but rarely for the cost difference. A bent mesh screen can occasionally be replaced if the cap body is sound, but the part cost for HeatShield cap components is often 60 – 70% of a full cap anyway. Once the mounting collar is compromised or the cap is visibly warped, replacement is the better call. We’ll shoot you a photo of the actual damage before you decide anything. Call (762) 249-4619 for a straight answer.
A standard HeatShield cap installation takes 45 – 90 minutes from setup to cleanup, assuming the flue tile is intact and the old cap comes off without issue. We book a flexible arrival window, send live tracking when the tech is en route, and the tech documents the finished install with before-and-after photos. If the flue or crown needs repair work before the cap can seat properly, that’s an additional visit and is priced separately before anything is scheduled. Call (762) 249-4619 and we’ll give you a realistic time frame.
We stock the most common HeatShield-compatible cap sizes on the truck: 6″, 7″, 8″, and 10″ round, plus a couple of rectangular profiles. If your flue is an odd size, we can typically have the right cap in hand within 2 – 3 business days. We also carry DuraFlex liner components and Gelco caps for chimneys that need more than just a cap swap. Call (762) 249-4619 with your flue measurements (or let us measure from the roof) and we’ll confirm what’s available.
If your HeatShield cap has failed, don’t let another Marietta rain season run water through your flue. Call (762) 249-4619 for a free estimate, a written price, and a photo report of the finished job. We’ll send you the photo first, then we’ll talk about what it means.
Written by Cory Mitchell, Owner, Hadley Chimney Marietta at Hadley Chimney Marietta, serving Marietta and nearby areas.