A custom chase cover in Boston costs $800 to $1,500. The cover is a one-piece metal pan made to your chimney chase, so its price follows the size of the chase and how many pipes come through it. Every job starts with a $49 inspection credited toward approved work. See our chase cover replacement guide for what the job involves.
- A custom chase cover costs $800 to $1,500 in Greater Boston.
- The price follows the size of the chase and the number of flue pipes that pass through the metal.
- Rotted wood or framing under the old cover is a separate item, quoted in writing after inspection.
- A rusted cover that pools water costs less to replace than the framing it eventually rots.
What a chase cover costs, in one table
A chase cover is made to order rather than bought off a shelf, so it has one published range instead of several tiers. The table shows where the figure sits and what stays outside it.
| Item | Boston price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Inspection | $49, credited if you approve the work | Measurements, photos and a written scope |
| Custom chase cover | $800 to $1,500 | Made to the chase, with openings for each flue |
| Framing or siding repair under the cover | Quoted in writing after inspection | Only if the technician finds damage |
The cover is a made-to-measure item, so the quote is based on measurements from your chase, not on a catalog size. Expect a written price before any metal is cut.
What is inside the $800 to $1,500 price
The range pays for a fabricated metal pan sized to the top of your chase, with a raised slope so water runs off, formed edges that overhang the siding, and an opening cut for each flue pipe. It also covers the work of removing the old cover and fitting the new one.
It is a custom item because chases are not standard. They vary in width and depth, and the flue pipes rise through them in different places. A cover cut from one measurement set does not fit the next house. That is why a ready-made cover bought online and a custom one are not comparable in price.
The quote should state the overall dimensions, the metal, and the number of openings, so you can see that the price is built from your chase and not a flat guess.
What moves a chase cover price within the range
Four things set where a job lands between $800 and $1,500.
Size of the chase
A small chase serving one fireplace needs far less metal than a wide chase on a larger home. The material cost climbs with the area of the pan.
Number of openings
Each flue pipe or vent that passes through the cover needs its own opening and sealing detail. A single pipe is the baseline, and each added one adds fabrication time.
Choice of metal
Stainless steel costs more than lighter metals, and it resists rust better. Rust streaks on your siding are the usual sign that the old cover was a metal that did not hold up. Ask the quote to name the metal.
Height and access
A chase on the side of a two-story house, or on a steep roofline, takes more time to reach and to work around than one at a low level. That feeds into the labor part of the price.
What sits outside the cover price
The cover is the metal. What lies under it is a separate question, and the answer is not known until the old cover is off.
Water that has been collecting on a flat or rusted cover often gets into the chase. If the wood at the top of the framing is soft or stained, that damage has to be dealt with before a new cover goes on. Those repairs are quoted in writing after the inspection, and you approve them separately from the cover.
The same goes for siding that has been stained or damaged by water running down the chase. You can ask the technician to point to it in the photos so you see what is cosmetic and what is structural.
If the chase turns out to be sound, the cover price is the total. If it is not, you hear that before work starts, not afterward.
What a written chase cover quote should list
Because the cover is custom, the quote carries more detail than most. Look for each of these.
- Overall width and depth of the cover, taken from your chase.
- The number and size of openings for flue pipes.
- The metal, named plainly.
- Whether the old cover is removed as part of the price.
- Any storm collars or sealing around the pipes.
- A written statement of what is excluded, such as framing repair.
- The total, agreed in writing before work begins.
You also receive photos of what the technician finds on the chase. If the quote says the framing is sound or damaged, the photos are there to back it up.
How to compare two chase cover quotes
Chase covers are where quotes diverge most, because the products differ a great deal. Before you judge on price, check whether the quotes describe the same thing.
One may be a made-to-measure pan with formed edges and a raised slope, and the other a flat sheet laid over the chase. The second is cheaper and tends to pool water, which is the problem you are paying to fix. Ask each company how water drains off the cover.
Check the metal as well. A thin metal that costs less will rust and stain the siding again. Check the openings, since a quote that covers the pan but leaves the flue pipe seals to you has not fully priced the job.
Finally, ask whether the price assumes the framing is good. A quote that excludes framing repair is not wrong, but it is not the full cost either. A second opinion is free when you bring a written report from a reputable local chimney company, so a competing quote does not have to cost you extra.
Questions worth asking before you approve
A few plain questions protect you from a vague quote, and each one should have a short written answer.
- Is this cover made from my measurements, or a stock size?
- Does it slope so rain runs off, and do the edges hang past the siding?
- What metal is it, and how does that compare with the cheaper option?
- Is the framing under the old cover included in this price, or excluded?
- What is the total, and when will I see it in writing?
If a company cannot answer these before work begins, you are being asked to approve a number without its scope. Our process is a written price before work, with photos of what the technician finds, so you can answer each of these yourself from the paperwork.
What waiting costs on a chase cover
A chase cover works quietly until it fails, and then the damage appears inside the walls. Rust streaks on the siding, water stains around the fireplace, and a ceiling that darkens after wind-driven rain are all signs that the cover is no longer shedding water.
The cover itself is $800 to $1,500. The framing and siding it protects are not priced from a fixed table, which is why they carry an inspection-based quote. Soft framing can turn a cover job into a larger one, and a leak into the house can reach wallboard and insulation before you see it.
If you have a leak and are not sure where it starts, the chimney leak repair page explains how to trace it. Leak repair is priced at $400 to $3,000, which shows how wide the cost of a hidden source can get. A cover that is replaced while the framing is still sound is the cheaper route. If the stain sits near where the chase meets the roof, the flashing repair cost page shows what that roof joint can run.
Chase covers on Boston homes and what that does to the price
Framed chimney chases are common on newer additions, on homes where a fireplace was added later, and on houses with a factory-built fireplace on an outside wall. They show up less on the older all-brick stacks found in rowhouses and brownstones, which are capped instead.
Weather matters for the cost story. Winter in Greater Boston brings snow load, freeze-thaw cycles and nor-easters, and a flat metal pan collects all of it. A cover that was installed without a raised slope holds standing water, rusts from the top down, and then drips behind the siding. By the time rust shows on the outside, the cover is usually past repair and replacement is the sensible route.
Wide chases on larger homes sit toward the top of the range because the pan is bigger and the metal costs more. A small chase serving one fireplace and one pipe sits toward the bottom. Your quote should tell you which you are, using the measurements taken at the inspection.
The $49 inspection credit and next steps
The $49 inspection is credited when you approve repairs. Approve the chase cover and that amount comes off the bill. Pass on it, and you still hold the measurements, photos and written scope from the visit.
If your chimney is a masonry stack with a cap on top instead of a framed chase, the chimney cap cost page covers that part. A cap is a smaller piece than a cover over a whole chase, and the standard cap tier there starts well below the chase cover figure.
To get a price for your chase, call (617) 404-9587 or book on the contact page. A call ahead and a 3-hour arrival window come with the booking.
Questions homeowners ask
Why is a chase cover more than a chimney cap?
A cap covers the top of one flue. A chase cover is a custom metal pan that covers the whole top of a framed chase and has openings for each pipe. It is bigger and made to measure, which is why it is priced from $800 to $1,500.
Does the $800 to $1,500 price include repairing rotted wood?
No. The price is for the cover. Framing or siding repair is quoted separately in writing after the inspection, only if the technician finds damage.
Can I buy a ready-made chase cover to save money?
A stock cover rarely matches the chase measurements or the pipe locations. A poor fit leaves gaps and pooling water, which brings back the leak. A cover made from your own measurements is the reason for the price.
What is the sign that my chase cover needs replacing?
Rust streaks down the siding, water standing on the metal, opened seams at the corners, and stains inside the house after wind-driven rain. A technician can confirm it and show you photos.
How do I know the quote is complete?
It should list the cover dimensions, number of openings, metal, whether old cover removal is included, and what is excluded. It should also give a total price in writing before work starts.
Is the $49 inspection credited if I replace the cover?
Yes. The $49 is credited toward approved repair work, so if you approve the chase cover the inspection comes off the total.
Related Boston chimney guides
- Chimney Cap Installation Cost in Boston (2026)
- Wood-to-Gas Fireplace Conversion Cost in Boston, 2026
- Crumbling Chimney Mortar in Boston: Causes and Fixes
Review Chase Cover Replacement Options Book the $49 Inspection