what type of chimne...
 

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what type of chimney cap should i buy?

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bit of a kitchen/diner project planned, itll need plastering afterwards, and we thought whilst the plasterers in we'll ask them to board and plaster our fireplace as its only a small space.  make a feature of it rather than the dated fireplace and electric fire we've got there at present which we never use.

i pulled it out to have a look and its full of sh1te at the back thats been dropped down the chimney over the years.  luckily there were no dead birds.

so...... am i ok to buy a proper cap?  or do i need something with some ventilation, a mesh or suchlike, altho i cant think of a reason why.  but you know......rules and regs etc etc....

thanks

 


 
Posted : 04/06/2025 5:42 am
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Can’t advise on a specific cap, but you do need ventilation, both at the top and the bottom if you’re boxing it off, as chimneys get quite damp.


 
Posted : 04/06/2025 6:06 am
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Can’t advise on a specific cap, but you do need ventilation, both at the top and the bottom if you’re boxing it off, as chimneys get quite damp.

ah thats worth knowing then.  so you cant just plasterboard, skim and stick a few pretty candles or flowers in then, you need a vent somewhere.

i'll have to look into this further then.  its a cold house anyway, so dont particularly want any more cold air coming into the room.

cheers


 
Posted : 04/06/2025 6:13 am
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If there is an existing chimney pot use a pepperpot chimney pot insert to cap it off, if there is no pot just bed in a curved ridge tile onto the top of the chimney, then small vent with insect mesh at the fireplace end.


 
Posted : 04/06/2025 6:42 am
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You'll want an elephant's foot chimney cap. Widely available at builders merchants. You'll need the correct diameter to fit in the chimney pot so you'll need to measure the opening at the top


 
Posted : 04/06/2025 7:16 am
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Just googled them both, look like they're the same thing then yes?

Thanks 


 
Posted : 04/06/2025 7:47 am
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Yes, same thing. 

 


 
Posted : 04/06/2025 7:55 am
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Sweep it first, excess "stuff" will hold damp

Simplest is a ventilated cap like this as ^^ https://www.travisperkins.co.uk/chimney-pots-and-cowls/hepworth-terracotta-ventilation-terminal-flue-vent-red-180mm/p/861625

Even builders' merchants are embarrassed at the retail price and you should be able to get one for around £60

An alternative is to cap the chimney with a slab and add a vent brick into the external stack, but either way you'll need a vent grill in the fireplace opening. Rough cut some polystyrene and wedge it up there, don't be too precise with the fit so that ventilation still happens while cutting down on draughts

Expensive but cheap in the long run option: Just take the lot down to ground level and make the kitchen layout a bit easier

 


 
Posted : 04/06/2025 7:58 am

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