Expert: James Ball - 10/25/2010

Question
QUESTION: My prefab fireplace (30yrs old) has a galvanized crown and
rust is running down onto the vinyl siding.
The crown was inspected and it is very rusted but no holes
yet and it is holding water due to indentation.
The chimney sweep guy (25 yrs experience)says not to remove
the existing crown. It needs to be cleaned of rust, coated
with a rust inhibitor and left on. A custom made aluminum
crown will be placed on top of the galvanized crown. He says
removing the old crown can weaken the top of the perimeter
of the chimney and leaving it on would help strengthen the
whole job.
Clean up the black aluminum cap, not replace it.
$375.
Is it appropriate to place a new aluminum crown on top of
the existing galvanized crown?

ANSWER: Hello Rob, I only do Stainless Steel or Copper chase pan covers, but yes I just go over the old with a new, and the price sounds good (get a price for SS it will last a life time and pay a little more now, aluminum will rot out too over time)
James

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: An important caveat I forgot to include. He was against
using stainless steel for the pan cover saying that
stainless steel was imported from China and the quality was
very poor due to its low content of stainless steel. I can
not remember what it was being degraded with. Is it true
that the stainless steel the U.S. gets is of poor quality
from China? Can I get him to get it from someplace else of
better quality?
Thank you,
Rob

Answer
Welcome back Rob, I just installed one a few weeks back (SS) not sure where the SS came from and I have not heard that before, ask him to do it in Stainless he can get them made custom from Olympia Chimney 800-569-1425, Aluminum will rot out in a few years don't waste your time or money, find a new sweep if he wont do it in SS at (CSIA.org)
James