Level 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
DuraFlex Chimney Cap & Crown in Hicksville: What to Know First
We provide independent DuraFlex chimney cap and crown service in Hicksville, with most inspections booked within a few days and repairs typically completed in a single visit. A standard DuraFlex cap replacement runs $340-$620 depending on flue count and access, while crown repair or coating starts around $280. We do not quote over the phone for work we haven’t seen, and we never recommend a replacement when a repair will hold.
This page is for Hicksville homeowners who already have a DuraFlex liner, cap, or crown and need work done by someone who knows the difference between a DuraFlex Pro and a DuraFlex SW - and won’t treat either like generic sheet metal. If your cap is rattling in a nor’easter, your crown has hairline cracks from freeze-thaw, or you’re not sure which you’ve got, call us at (516) 259-3797. A live person answers, 24 hours a day.
How DuraFlex Products Fail - and How We Fix Them
- DuraFlex Pro multi-flue caps: The 304-grade stainless mesh on these caps can sag after 8-12 years in Hicksville’s coastal air, especially on south-facing exposures where salt spray accelerates corrosion. We see this regularly in homes near the LIRR corridor. Our fix: measure the flue spacing precisely, source a Pro-series replacement cap with 316-grade mesh if the homeowner plans to stay long-term, or weld-patch the frame if the budget calls for it. The chimney doesn’t care what you hoped it was - it shows you what it is.
- DuraFlex SW (smooth-wall) liner top connections: The SW’s factory top plate uses a compression seal that hardens in cold weather. After a few Hicksville winters, the seal gaps and water runs down between liner and flue tile, destroying the crown from underneath. We pull the top plate, inspect the liner for acid corrosion at the shoulder, and reinstall with a fresh silicone compression seal plus a proper storm collar. Skipping the collar is how the last guy set you up for a $1,800 crown rebuild.
- DuraFlex Pro factory-built crown wash: DuraFlex’s proprietary crown coating looks good at five years and terrible at fifteen, especially where Hicksville’s clay-heavy soil causes slight chimney settlement. The coating cracks in a spiderweb pattern that traps water. We grind back to sound concrete, apply a bonded CrownSeal or HeatShield repair depending on depth of spall, and never just paint over it.
- DuraFlex single-flue caps with internal draft inducers: The inducer housing on older Pro-series caps can seize when creosote bakes onto the bearing. Homeowners smell smoke on startup or hear the motor whine. We disassemble, clean the housing with rotary tools, and replace the inducer motor with an OEM part or a compatible Gelco unit if DuraFlex backorders are running long. We’ve learned to check amp draw before we leave - a seized inducer often means a partially blocked flue upstream.
- DuraFlex Pro multi-flue cap mounting brackets: The stainless J-bolts DuraFlex specs for masonry attachment corrode at the thread interface when crown wash fails and water pools in the bolt recess. We’ve extracted bolts sheared flush with the crown in Levittown-style ranches all over Hicksville. We drill and tap new anchor points, switch to 316-grade wedge anchors with proper standoff, and document the crown condition with photos the homeowner can see.
Our DuraFlex Chimney Cap & Crown Process
- 1
Call and schedule: A live person answers, day or night. We ask for the DuraFlex model if you know it, the age of the installation, and what’s failing. We book a Level-2 camera inspection, not a guess.
- 2
Inspection and documentation: Our technician arrives in uniform, background-checked, with a camera rig and ladder. We photograph the cap, crown, and flue top from inside and out. You see the photos on a tablet before we write the estimate.
- 3
Parts decision: If your DuraFlex Pro cap is discontinued or on backorder, we source quality aftermarket from Gelco or Famco with matching specs - never builder-grade - and explain the trade-off in writing. For warranty considerations, we note whether OEM is required.
- 4
The repair: Most cap replacements and crown coatings complete in one visit. We protect the roof and landscaping, remove the failed component, address any hidden water damage we find, and install to manufacturer spec or better.
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Testing and sign-off: We run a draft test, verify cap clearance, and check for leaks with a water spray. You get photos of the finished work, a plain-English verdict, and the invoice matching the estimate.
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The guarantee: Every job carries our 90-Day Done Right Promise - in writing, no arguing. If it’s not right, we come back.
What DuraFlex Chimney Cap & Crown Costs in Hicksville
These are real ranges for DuraFlex-specific work we’ve completed in Hicksville and nearby Nassau County homes over the past three seasons:
| Service | Typical Range | What Moves the Price |
|---|---|---|
| Single-flue DuraFlex cap replacement | $340-$480 | Flue diameter, mesh grade (304 vs. 316), access height |
| Multi-flue DuraFlex Pro cap replacement | $520-$780 | Flue count, custom width, inducer motor if equipped |
| Crown repair with bonded coating | $280-$450 | Crown size, depth of spalling, need for structural rebuild |
| Crown rebuild plus new cap | $1,200-$2,400 | Chimney dimensions, liner access, scaffolding requirements |
| DuraFlex SW top plate reseal with storm collar | $180-$320 | Liner condition at shoulder, corrosion extent |
We do not charge for the estimate, and we do not upsell. If your crown has three good years left, we’ll tell you. Call (516) 259-3797 for an exact quote - estimates are free.
Why Hicksville Homeowners Call Hearthstone Chimney Co. for DuraFlex Work
We’ve been on roofs in Hicksville since the mid-1980s, back when the Broadway Mall was still Mid-Island Plaza. Russell Haines and our crew know the local housing stock - Levittown ranches with shallow-pitch roofs, split-levels with center chimneys that bake in summer sun, the occasional 1920s colonial with a flue that’s been patched three times before we got there.
We document every inspection with photos and a plain-English verdict. Our 90-Day Done Right Promise means if it’s not right, we make it right - in writing, no arguing. Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and carry DuraFlex, HeatShield, and Gelco parts so most jobs finish in one visit. No-hassle upfront pricing: the number on the estimate is the number on the invoice. We’ll be there when we say.
FAQs
DuraFlex warranties the product, not the installation, and coverage typically requires proof of professional installation and annual inspection. As an independent DuraFlex service provider, we can assess whether your component qualifies and document its condition for any claim you choose to file. Call (516) 259-3797 and we’ll walk you through what’s needed.
We source both. DuraFlex Pro-series caps and top plates are usually available through our distributors with a 3-5 day lead time. When backorders run long - common on discontinued SW hardware - we spec equivalent 316-grade aftermarket from Gelco or Famco that matches or exceeds OEM thickness. We explain the choice and note any warranty implications before you approve the work.
Hairline surface cracks with sound concrete underneath get a bonded coating. Deep spalling, exposed rebar, or a crown that’s separated from the flue tile needs rebuild. We determine this with a hammer test and probe during inspection, show you the photos, and quote both options when it’s borderline. No work proceeds without camera evidence you can see for yourself.
Every 12 months, ideally before burning season. Hicksville’s freeze-thaw cycles and coastal air accelerate corrosion and concrete fatigue. An annual Level-2 inspection catches cap mesh sag, crown cracking, and liner top seal degradation before water enters the system. The $89 Seasonal Tune-Up includes this check, or it’s folded into any repair estimate at no extra charge.
Water enters the flue, attacks the liner from the outside, destroys the smoke chamber, and can rot adjacent framing before you smell anything wrong. A failed crown also lets carbon monoxide leak through masonry gaps under certain draft conditions. The repair cost multiplies fast - a $400 cap replacement ignored becomes a $2,000 liner and rebuild job. Call (516) 259-3797 for a free estimate and honest timeline on what can wait and what can’t.
Written by Russell Haines, Owner & Master Sweep, Hearthstone Chimney Co. at Hearthstone Chimney Co., serving Hicksville and nearby areas.





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