A lot of our customers ask us to install their standard chimney cap. These are mass-produced options that try to cover the basic needs of a chimney cap. They are made with cheap and light materials like aluminum, and they have to be adjusted in the field by the installer to fit your specific chimney.
They never cover the crown, only the flue. Standard chimney caps are simply a cover and a screen. They’ll keep animals out, stop big sparks from escaping, and stop debris, snow, and rain from coming in.
The thing that we have to look out for is whether or not the standard cap works for your chimney. Standard caps have different fasteners that only work with certain chimneys, so you have to be careful when you select and purchase one.
Some customers order caps that are not compatible with their chimney, and there’s very little we can do after the fact. The best thing to do is get us involved in the decision-making process before you purchase a cap.