How to Make a Homemade Chimney Cap

A chimney cap is a protective accessory that you can place on the top of your chimney to keep rain, wind, debris, or animals from traveling down the chimney and into your home. In addition, a chimney cap can help keep sparks your fireplace produces from being carried away by wind to trees or other flammable surfaces.

Unfortunately, chimney caps can cost upward of $300, depending on the type and design you choose. Luckily, you can build your own chimney cap for less money. Follow the simple steps below to make your own homemade chimney cap for cheap.

Warning: When using the tools in this project, take safety measures. Exercise caution when climbing on top of a roof, and always have a partner hold your ladder. Wear the proper safety gear, such as safety goggles and gloves, when using a ban saw or welding tools. In addition, make sure there are no children or pets in your working environment.

Step 1 – Measure Your Chimney

First, climb up on the roof to measure the part of the chimney that extends beyond your roof. Then, measure the height, width, and length of the chimney with your measuring tape. Take note of the dimensions with a pencil and piece of paper.

Step 2 – Acquire the Materials

Next, purchase the necessary materials to build your homemade cap from the local hardware store. Bring your measurement notes, so that you know how much material to buy. Purchase some metal sheeting and some strong wire netting. While aluminum is a popular metal option because it’s sleek and cheap, copper offers benefits of its own and is particularly attractive.

Step 3 – Cut the Materials

Measure out your materials, using the chimney measurements that you acquired earlier, to create your homemade chimney cap. Using a ban saw, cut the materials to the approximate chimney dimensions. Use the sheet metal to form the roof of the cap, and then use the wire netting to form the walls of the cap.

Step 4 – Weld the Metal to the Wire Netting

Next, weld the pieces of wire netting to the metal sheet to create a cube that can fit around your chimney. The metal sheet will form the roof, and the wire netting will form four walls.

Step 5 – Attach the Chimney Cap to the Chimney

Once you’ve made your chimney cap, you can again use your ladder, with a friend holding it, to go back up to the roof. To install the homemade cap, hammer the wire netting into place around the chimney with nails.

Finally, you’re ready to enjoy cozy fires in your home without having to worry about anything. If you want to, you can also paint your chimney cap to match your roof.