Caps for pipes (chimneys, weather vanes). Chimney cap - a modern architectural element Metal caps for brick ventilation pipes
Good afternoon, dear reader! To remove the mixture of gas and fuel combustion products to the street, stoves, fireplaces and boilers must be equipped with chimney channels. Their head is covered with a special visor or umbrella. At first glance, these products seem to be only decorative elements. But in fact, the cap on the chimney pipe performs a very important function in the chimney system. It can significantly increase the energy efficiency of the heating system as a whole, as well as eliminate any risk of smoke in the home.
The cap is a metal structure that looks like an open umbrella, canopy or visor, which is installed on the head of the chimney channel to protect it from precipitation, debris and birds.
Cap device
The classic cap model is assembled from several parts:
- - in the form of a pyramid, cone, fungus, hemisphere or other, more complex configuration. It performs the function of protecting the pipe from moisture and foreign objects;
- apron - drip. This part of the cap serves to protect the head of the chimney from drops flying off the umbrella. It helps to increase the life of the chimney, prevents the destruction of brickwork, corrosion of metal parts, the appearance of dampness and fungal deposits on the surface of pipes;
- brackets - metal plates used to connect the visor to the apron. Their number is selected depending on the size of the chimney and the weight of the umbrella. Welding is used to fasten products.
Principle of operation
Installing a cap on the chimney will not only protect against water and debris from entering the chimney pipe, but also allows you to optimize the draft in the heater. It happens like this:
- the air flow rests against the wall of the upper cylinder and is forced to go around it from all sides;
- sliding on the surface of the cylinder, the air stream turns up, at this time the smoke coming out of the channel is sucked;
- the movement of air inside the chimney becomes more intense, a zone with reduced pressure is created at the top of the pipe, where smoke from the combustion chamber rushes;
- if the wind jets are directed vertically or at an angle, they penetrate into the upper cylinder through the gap and suck the gaseous products of combustion into the pipe.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantage of installing a cap on the chimney is:
- more aesthetic appearance of the chimney channel;
- protection of the internal space of pipes from the ingress of foreign objects and various debris;
- protection of the chimney material from the effects of precipitation;
- the chimney covers part of the mouth, preventing the wind flow from overturning the draft.
There are not so many cons from installing an umbrella on the chimney, but they are quite significant:
- the product is installed on the exit path of combustion products and serves as some obstacle to their free outflow. An incorrectly selected and mounted model can reduce draft and lead to smoke in the room;
- the water vapor formed during the combustion of fuel, goes out along with the smoke through the pipe to the street and condenses, in contact with the cold metal of the cap, and then freezes when the temperature drops below 0º. As a result, icicles freeze on the chimney, which block the passage opening of the pipe and prevent the process of smoke removal.
Types and designs of caps
A variety of shapes and types of flue ducts makes manufacturers develop caps of any size, configuration, appearance. In specialized stores you can buy a chimney of the following forms:
- gable;
- hip;
- tent;
- spire-shaped;
- with flat lid.
Photo of different types of caps on the chimney:
For the manufacture of caps use one of the following materials:
- stainless steel;
- copper alloy;
- roofing galvanized sheet;
- powder coated galvanized steel;
- alloy of titanium and zinc.
The design of the chimney may have:
- opening cover, which greatly simplifies the maintenance of the chimney;
- a vent that provides free exit for combustion products;
- spark arrestor - designed for solid fuel stoves that heat houses with roofing made of combustible materials.
Often chimneys are equipped with weather vanes in the form of heraldic symbols or stylized as images of animals, birds, heroes of fairy tales, myths, decorated with forging and carving.
Make your own or buy
A standard weather vane, which looks like a house with a hipped roof, can be made independently from galvanized steel. It can be easily cut and bent with simple tools.
If there are no skills and tools for the manufacture of such metal structures, then you can buy a ready-made device that is in harmony in style with the general appearance of the roof.
The approximate price of the simplest cap model starts from 1100 rubles. The cost of deflectors of TsAGI, Volpert - Grigorovich or Khanzhenkov from galvanization does not exceed 3500 rubles.
A rotary model made of stainless steel will cost much more - from 8,000 rubles. Well, the most expensive are exclusive forged products.
When choosing a hood design, one should take into account what material the chimney is made of and the type of fuel used to operate the heater.
This is due to the different temperature of the flue gases and the efficiency of the heater:
- for a brick oven with a square or rectangular chimney, also made of brick, a special cap is suitable - a deflector. A feature of chimneys of this shape is the risk of turbulence, which worsens draft. In addition, more soot, soot and dust are deposited on the rough surfaces of the brickwork, narrowing the pipe clearance, which can greatly impair traction, up to a complete stop. The deflector will protect the walls of the chimney from excessive moisture, which will reduce the sticking of combustion products and act as a draft booster. It will create a vacuum in the upper part of the channel and facilitate the outflow of air from the furnace;
- solid fuel boilers are usually equipped with ceramic pipes or chimneys from "sandwich" - pipes with a double wall. They have a smoother surface than brick structures, are equipped with a condensate collector, where condensate and precipitation drain, so they have much less soot deposits on the inner walls. The thrust stability of such boilers depends on the height of the chimney. If you do not organize forced draft, then you need to install a very high pipe (up to 8 m). When installing a deflector, the height of the chimney can be reduced by 15-25%, while the stability and traction force will remain at the same level, and the installation of a reduced pipe structure will be less difficult. In the presence of a boiler, the operation of which is based on the principle of pyrolysis, it is better to install a cap with an open nozzle on the chimney. It will be able to protect the channel from debris and precipitation, but will not become an obstacle to the exit of low-temperature smoke;
- for gas and diesel boilers, it is also recommended to use a hood with an open nozzle. In them, the draft is carried out forcibly, therefore, with the help of a chimney - a deflector is not necessary.
Making and installing a do-it-yourself cap
When assembling a simple cap model at home, you can do without special rolling machines, simple tools and fixtures are enough.
Necessary tools and materials
A set of necessary tools for the manufacture and installation of a wind vane should consist of:
- metal ruler;
- marker
- wedge-shaped mallet;
- scissors for metal;
- electric drill;
- special clamp;
- sheet bender;
- mandrels;
- small hammer.
From the materials you will need:
- a sheet of cardboard;
- sheet metal;
- metal plate;
- screws;
- primer for metal;
- dye.
Drawings and diagrams
A simple cap made of galvanized sheet 0.6 - 0.8 mm thick for a square or rectangular brick pipe can be easily made by hand. It has a pyramid-shaped lid and is cut using a pattern from a single sheet of metal.
For chimneys and ventilation shafts of circular cross section, a TsAGI deflector is used. So it is called because it is an invention of the Central Aerodynamic Institute. It can be made from a sheet of thin stainless steel or galvanized.
Size calculation
The chimney must cover all planes from the end of the pipe, and if the head is included in the design, then the cap must also cover its horizontal surfaces.
The future product should be quite easy to put on the pipe, so each of its length and width must be increased by 4-5 mm.
The wings must be of such a size that they cover the horizontal surfaces of the head.
Work progress
The process of assembly and installation of the cap consists of the following steps:
- Making patterns from cardboard according to the calculated dimensions.
- Transferring its contours to a sheet of metal and cutting out an umbrella blank with metal scissors.
- Placing the workpiece on the desktop with the marking up, so that it is more convenient to bend first the lines marked in the drawing with a dotted line to a right angle, and then the lines marked with the letter “d”.
- Rolling a cone. The connection point must be secured with rivets.
- Making a drip. The contours of the details of the apron - drip are drawn according to the pattern on a sheet of metal and cut out. Bends along the edges of the elements are made using a sheet bender. Rivets are also used to connect parts.
- Bracket attachment. They must first be cut from metal plates, and then welded at one end to the apron and umbrella. For the treatment of welding spots, a primer for metal is used.
- Cap trim. All surfaces of the chimney are covered with 2 layers of paint, which will protect the metal from corrosion and give the product a more aesthetic appearance.
- Installation of the cap on the head of the smoke exhaust pipe. The mounting option of the product is selected depending on the type of pipe. In some cases, screws are used or a clamp is additionally placed.
Installation video
Visually, the manufacturing technology of a round umbrella is presented in the video.
The cap on the chimney pipe retains its durability and reliability for a long time, it can be made by hand or purchased ready-made. Choosing the first option, you need to determine which product you need to get. It can be a complex design with a creative design and many additional features, or a simple model.
Choice of shape and material
The chimney cap was invented a long time ago. It solves several practical problems:
- protects the chimney from external factors: rain, snow and wind;
- acts as an additional decoration of the roof.
It is important to provide, first of all, protection from wind and precipitation, otherwise the walls of the chimney will be destroyed under the influence of weather conditions.
To olpak must be selected in accordance with:
- channel type;
- hole diameter.
Based on these indicators, select:
- a cap made of chrome and nickel if the house is heated by gas;
- a removable product if the apartment is heated by a fireplace, solid fuel boiler or wood-burning stove.
The main types are models with a round and square base, stationary or folding, made of tin - chromium-nickel or black. Many modifications are without foundation. They are fixed directly on the chimney channel.
Today there are chimneys made of galvanized or stainless steel, copper. It is also possible to choose modifications so that the shade of the cap matches the color of the roof. The selected option must correspond in functionality to the specific type of pipe. It must also match the style of the building.
architectural form
As for the architectural form of the cap, the multi-pitched weather vane is able to perfectly protect against precipitation and snow. Such a chimney looks very impressive, especially if you install figures of any animals made of metal on top.
Models with a flat surface are more often used. There are caps with an opening lid that are also popular. They are convenient for the prevention and smooth maintenance of the chimney. Significantly improves traction deflector, in the body of which there is a vent.
But the chimney is not always used. The need for it is virtually absent in areas where precipitation is rare and there is practically no wind. But for Russian latitudes, it is a necessity.
Chimney umbrella
A chimney umbrella can be installed for several reasons:
Installing the hood
Here you should focus on safety and practicality. The last thing you need to think about the external attractiveness of the design. It is important to consider the following recommendations:
It is recommended to mount hip or gable caps on chimney blocks made of brick and equipped with side vents. Due to this, the upper part of the masonry will be protected from rain and wind. In this case, contact with the gas outlets on the sides will be excluded.
To protect the brick block, where chimneys and exhaust pipes are open at the top, you can make a box with several through pipes. They, in turn, are inserted into the specified channels. From above, ordinary caps in the form of a fungus are installed on the ventilation outlets, and cone nozzles must be placed on the gas ones.
Making a visor
You can make a cap on the chimney pipe with your own hands. The drawings will help you navigate this, but it is important to comply with all the parameters indicated in it. First of all, it is necessary to determine the external dimensions of the head. An umbrella will be fixed here. Following this, you need to sketch a sketch depicting the future design. To do this correctly, you need to consider the following points:
- the diameter of the product must be 10 cm larger than the dimensions of the pipe so that the edges protrude from all sides up to 50 mm;
- slope angles should vary from 30 to 45 degrees;
- from the chimney cut to the fungus, the minimum height should be 100 mm.
Umbrella is a traditional solution. There are other design options:
- rotating weather vane;
- deflector.
The latter makes it possible to increase traction through wind pressure. Thanks to him, a vacuum is created in the cylindrical body, where the smoke channel passes. In calm weather, this device retains all its positive qualities. At the same time, it reduces the traction force in the pipe, due to which an increased resistance is formed at the exit of combustion products.
A semi-cylindrical weather vane is often called by the people "sycophant", as it turns with the wind. It is mounted on a special bearing and consists of several components. This is one of the best options, but there are doubts about the reliability of the bearing, and the price of such a design is high. It is especially good to put such a model on a round chimney, as it protects the mouth of this device from precipitation and blowing.
To make a chimney to the visor with your own hands, it is better to use painted or galvanized metal, the thickness of which is not less than 0.5 mm.
Making a Simple Round Umbrella
To do this work, you need to prepare tools: a drill, metal shears, a hammer and equipment for installing rivets. Once the dimensions of the fungus are determined, do the work in the following order:
With the help of steel strips, legs for the fungus and a clamp encircling the pipe are created. They take thin sheets that are bent several times. These parts are similarly fixed to the umbrella with rivets.
Gable model
To make a gable wind vane, you need to use a machine called a sheet bender.
Just as in the previous case, first make measurements of the outer surface of the brick chimney. The pattern is calculated and the corresponding scheme is made. Further, the cap is assembled according to a simple algorithm.
It is necessary to cut the metal and bend it, following the dashed lines. The resulting parts must be connected with rivets. The function of rigid racks is performed by ready-made painted metal corners, the thickness of which varies from 0.5 to 0.7 mm.
European cap
This model is more designed to prevent the formation of condensate and has a rounded appearance. This type of chimney can be made independently using a steel sheet and hand-made holders.
How to make a European cap:
It is allowed to use a conventional chimney clamp to mount such a cap on the pipe.
To make a European cap, you only need a piece of sheet metal and a grinder disc.
With spark arrester
Sometimes a standard cap is equipped with a mesh with a spark arrestor. It acts as a bonus to the main functions of the object. Thanks to this component, birds cannot get inside the chimney. This creates a barrier to wind-blown debris. But the mesh must have fairly large holes so that the smoke freely exits the pipe. Caps with a spark arrestor made of copper look especially beautiful.
Installing the deflector
Its effectiveness has been proven by many owners of houses and cottages who have used this model. Despite the fact that the price of such products can reach up to $ 140 for standard designs, the demand for them remains constant.
In order not to overpay you can make the described device yourself. The whole process will take no more than 3 hours. It all depends on the skills of the collector. At the first stage, a drawing is created, after which blanks are made. Next comes the assembly of the device and its installation on the chimney, followed by fixing.
Before drawing the drawings, it is necessary to calculate the diameter of the outlet pipe and the diameter of the cap. It is also important to measure the height of the deflector itself. To avoid mistakes at this point, special formulas will help:
- height=1.6-1.7 x diameter;
- diffuser width=1.2−1.3 x diameter;
- cap width=1.7−1.9 x diameter.
After drawing the contour of the blanks on paper, you can proceed to the creation of blanks from metal. It is better to take stainless or galvanized steel, the thickness of which varies from 0.5 to 1 mm.
After preparing the pattern for metal, you can proceed to the assembly stage of the product. This will require a drill. , riveting or welding. If the latter option is preferred, maximum care must be taken so as not to burn through the deflector section.
The cap is fixed on the base with legs, which are drawn on paper in the same way and subsequently cut out of a stainless steel sheet. When all these stages are completed, only the most crucial moment remains - installation on the chimney.
Drill holes in the pipe to secure the deflector. Rivets are fixed. After that, it is necessary to check whether the installed device has a slope in different directions. Mounting the clamp will be required if the deflector is loose. If the pipe is not made of brick, this option will come in handy. If we are talking about a ceramic pipe, then you will have to use special adapters.
The design of the chimney will be incomplete and inefficient without a special cap, which is an external element. There are different options for caps, differing in a set of features. To ensure the greatest functionality of the chimney, it is important to choose the right design.
Purpose and functions of the cap on the chimney
The cap on the outer part of the chimney pipe is a rather important element that performs several functions at once. A well-chosen part for a pipe well complements the appearance of the building, emphasizing the design style. At the same time, the cap has a compact size, is easy to install and increases the efficiency of the chimney.
The cap on the chimney can become an original decoration of the roof of a residential building
The chimney cap is made of metal, as this material ensures the strength and durability of the product. A simple design performs the following functions:
- protection of the inside of the chimney from moisture, debris and dust;
- increased draft in the pipe for efficient burning of fuel in the furnace;
- aesthetic addition to the design of the building;
- extending the life of the chimney as a result of its protection from precipitation.
A rectangular or square cap is the most common option. Such an element provides effective draft and well complements the design of the chimney, from an aesthetic point of view.
Materials for the chimney
The hood is located outside the chimney and is exposed to climatic factors, ultraviolet rays. Therefore, for the manufacture of the chimney, only high-quality, durable, resistant to various factors materials are used.
Metal - a practical basis for a chimney For the manufacture of the cap, various types of metals are used, each of which has different properties and characteristics. The main options are:
- sheet steel;
- sheet aluminum;
- copper rolled metal;
- stainless steel sheets;
- zinc-titanium alloy.
Depending on the material that served as the basis for the cap, the characteristics of the product also differ. For example, the service life of steel chimneys is about 5 years, and models made of aluminum sheet can be operated for 8 years. Caps made of stainless steel, zinc-titanium alloy and copper are distinguished by the greatest durability, the service life of which reaches 50–100 years.
Design Options
There are many options for chimney caps that differ in appearance. At the same time, the design of all types of products includes a base, an upper roof and vertical racks. Such a cap is simple and well protects the chimney from precipitation. More complex options are deflectors, one of the main functions of which is to increase traction.
Deflectors are varied and can be both simple and more complex. Among the most popular options for chimneys, the following are especially noteworthy:
- cap with opening lid;
- flat chimney for a pipe;
- weather vane cap;
- multi-pitched cap;
- deflector with ventilation holes.
The choice of a particular option is carried out depending on the type of roof, the design of the house, the shape and design of the chimney. For example, for a metal round pipe, metal deflectors are optimal, providing enhanced traction.
Photo gallery: types of chimney caps
A hood with forged twisted elements looks beautiful and complements the design of the house A weather vane on a pointed hood is a practical and beautiful design option A multi-pitched chimney provides good draft Even a large chimney cap can be decorated with forged details the cap of a wide pipe looks beautiful and emphasizes the uniqueness of the building
The choice of cap depending on the chimney
The right choice of cap for the pipe is the key to efficient heating of the premises in the house and the absence of chimney breakdowns. The choice of the type of chimney is carried out depending on the variant of the pipe and the heating system. For example, for the chimney of a gas boiler, only elements in the form of a nozzle with an open top are used. This model makes it possible to exclude ice covering the entire surface of the cap in the winter season.
Products in the form of a pipe are optimal for a gas heating system For brick leads, multi-pitched, rectangular or square elements are often used. Precipitation does not accumulate on the surface of such caps and therefore chimneys are not subjected to significant load. The shape of the deflector is selected depending on personal preferences, the design of the building. Many cap options are easy to complement with a forged weather vane or twisted elements.
Making a cap with your own hands
The most common and versatile option is a rectangular cap with four slopes. Such a product is easy to purchase, but you can make a simpler, but no less effective semicircular version with your own hands.
Semi-circular chimney is simple and easy to use To do this, you need a sheet of galvanized metal with a thickness of 1 mm, rivets, metal shears. The complex of devices complements the marker for marking. Pre-determine the dimensions of the structure and make a full-size drawing on cardboard. You can make a drawing yourself or take a ready-made scheme as a basis and adjust its parameters.
For a semicircular chimney, you can use a drawing of a pitched structure by changing the shape of the lid The complex of works for the manufacture of a chimney involves the following steps: Galvanized steel is easily processed
Metal strips or profiles allow you to make a frame for attaching the cap
The frame can have a stepped shape
Video: making a chimney
It is not difficult to make a cap on a chimney pipe with your own hands, but it is important to accurately determine the parameters of the product. High-quality materials are also the key to creating a durable design.
A cap (chimney, weather vane, cap, umbrella) is an additional protective device for a brick chimney pipe. The design serves as a decorative part and performs the function of protection from weather factors, precipitation and accumulation of debris. The chimney enhances draft in the pipe and the correct removal of combustion products from the chimney. Caps are made of any kind of broom - steel, zinc, copper, aluminum, which serve 8-10 years. Forged umbrellas with different figures on the lid are in great demand.
What is the cap for and how does it work?
Chimney for masonry - a universal device that is attached to the chimney head, provides an aesthetic appearance. The head can have a different design and performs the following functions in the smoker:
- Protection of the chimney pipe from the influence of precipitation. With an abundance of water or snow, condensation accumulates on the inner walls, which can form a plug. The weather vane reduces the chance of precipitation getting inside.
- Maintaining the strength of brickwork. Due to the protective cap, the influence of atmospheric changes on the brick is reduced. The internal material of the channel is less susceptible to weather influences and lasts 2 times longer.
- Filter. Modern weather vanes are made with a special recess and with a protective mesh fastening, which prevents debris, branches, birds and various debris from entering the smoker's channel.
- Strengthening traction. There are many nozzles with a built-in deflector to increase traction, but even an ordinary mushroom shape helps to increase it.
- Preservation of heat in the house. Due to the closed head, the calorific value is retained for quite a long time, and the wandering of the draft in the channel is minimized.
Types of caps
On sale you can find designs of rectangular shape. The design of the chimney is selected according to the size of the chimney pipe. The nozzle differs in shape: round, square and rectangular. The main options are a roof with a flat umbrella, a chimney with a hipped or semicircular roof, a cap with a cone-shaped umbrella, a roof in the form of four tongs, weathercocks with an opening lid. A forged cap is often made with an ornament, a spark arrester and is complemented by various types of figurines.
How to choose the right type?
Caps differ in size, structure, material and depend on the type of branch design. When choosing a cap for a chimney, you need to know the structure of the pipe and dimensions. For a brick smoker with a solid fuel heating system, any design is suitable, but they often stop at choosing a smoker with a hipped roof. The best option is a three-layer structure, because the presence of such a model carefully protects the chimney from precipitation, and moisture is collected in a special collection. A cap with a cone-shaped umbrella is more suitable for a pipe with a round section.
When choosing a weather vane with a built-in weather vane, a special damper is inserted, which in windy weather contributes to the uninterrupted removal of smoke, and also makes it easier to clean the smoker. But it is also advisable to install a protective net under the umbrella, in order to prevent various debris from entering the pipe. Important tips for choosing:
To make the channel blown more efficiently, you can purchase a two-story type product. - Painted chimneys are not suitable for wood stove chimneys due to the rapid fading of the paint.
- Two-story hood models allow you to get the best airflow in the channel.
- A device with a built-in deflector provides the greatest draft in the smoker.
- Double-sealed hoods perfectly tolerate high air temperatures.
- The chimney with a hinged lid makes it easy to clean the chimney.
When choosing a cap, it is necessary to choose the correct dimensions, then the chimney will be correctly installed and will normally perform its functions.
Drains, and caps.
The latter are mounted on chimneys and, like everyone else, perform protective and decorative functions.
The cap is a protective element made of metal that is installed at the top of the chimney.
It performs several functions at once:
- protects the brick pipe from destruction by precipitation;
- prevents rain and debris from entering the pipe;
- protects the chimney from birds;
- increases traction;
- gives the roof a more attractive look.
If there is no cap on the brick pipe, then it will begin to quickly collapse in the upper part under the influence of precipitation. In the same way, brick pillars of fences are protected. Caps with mesh provide maximum protection against getting leaves and other debris into the pipe, and they also reliably protect the pipe from birds.
The cap fixed on the chimney pipe changes the movement of air flows in it, it is due to this that the draft increases. As a result, the fuel in the stove or fireplace burns better and the house warms up faster. The increase in thrust is more noticeable if the pipe channel is tortuous rather than straight.
Chimney cap
Despite the fact that chimney caps were created for purely practical purposes, they also perform an aesthetic function. This exterior element well complements the appearance of the roof and the house in general, giving the building a complete and complete look.
In addition to standard standard designs, there are also many original models of caps on sale, each of which can be called a work of art - manufacturers develop unusual attractive designs, decorate their products with openwork forging, complement them with weather vanes, and so on.
Other names for a chimney cap are,. In addition, the umbrella is called the upper part of this additional roof element, which directly serves to protect the pipe from precipitation, it is also called a cover. In the lower part there is a dripper, which serves to drain the water flowing from the pipe.
Types of caps for the chimney
The shape of the chimney must correspond to the cross section of the pipe. 
Thus, chimney caps can be:
- round;
- square;
- rectangular.
The main options for chimney designs:
- cap-house with a hipped roof;
- house with a gable roof;
- chimney with a semicircular roof;
- a cap with a cone-shaped umbrella;
- with a flat umbrella.
Chimneys can be equipped with additional elements:
- spark arrester;
- forged ornament;
- weathervane and so on.
If the spark arrestor is a purely functional element, then openwork forging is necessary to give the cap an original and attractive look. It also serves as a protection against debris and birds, but a regular grill will cope with these tasks. The weather vane not only shows the direction of the wind and acts as a decoration - due to its presence, the draft in the pipe increases.
Manufacturing materials
For the manufacture of chimney caps are used:
- sheet galvanized steel;
- stainless steel;
- copper.
Pipe heads made of galvanized steel are well tolerated by aggressive environmental influences, they are practical and do not lose their color in the sun for a long time. They can be additionally covered with a colored polymeric material (polyester).
On sale you can find such caps of any color, this allows you to choose a shade that will be in harmony with the color of the pipe and roof. Stainless steel is a higher class material, products made from it will be more durable.
Copper is the most durable material for a chimney cap. If properly installed, such a chimney will last more than a hundred years. Copper caps are well combined with gutters and other elements made of this metal, as well as with a roof made of natural tiles.
Over time, the head made of this metal will not only not lose its appearance - on the contrary, it will be covered with a noble patina.
How to choose a hat
Most often, heads with a four-pitched roof are used for brick pipes, and for round pipes - chimneys with cone-shaped umbrellas. However, it is worth paying attention to other options. For example, a cap with a gable pommel better protects against snow.
The shape of the chimney cap is not so important. In order for it to fully fulfill its functions, the main thing is to choose the right size for it. The overhangs of the umbrella should protrude several centimeters from all sides beyond the outer perimeter of the pipe.
If you want to ensure that leaves and other debris, as well as birds, do not get into the pipe, you need to opt for a cap with a mesh under an umbrella. The role of the grid can be performed by artistic openwork forging, such heads not only cope with the tasks assigned to them, but also have a wonderful appearance.
- Painted chimneys are not suitable for wood stove pipes, as the paint from them quickly burns out.
- Heads with sealed double caps are more resistant to hot air, while double-deck models allow for better airflow.
- A cap with a deflector will provide the best possible traction and thus increase the heating efficiency.
- If you install a tip with a hinged cover on the pipe, it will be easy to clean.
When choosing a cap, you need to find a model that not only looks good, but also harmoniously combines with the rest of the elements of the roof and the house in general and fits well into the exterior of the building.
Types of different caps
Buildings with a pronounced modern look are suitable for heads with a flat roof., and for most standard "classic" brick houses, a cap with a four-pitched, gable or semicircular top would be the best choice.
To correctly choose the size of the cap umbrella for a brick pipe, you need to measure its length and width. If there is an extension in the upper part of the chimney, the umbrella must also cover it, which means that it is necessary to focus on the dimensions of the outer perimeter of such an extension. The base of the cap should be put on the chimney easily, but at the same time it should sit tightly, in order to find the necessary dimensions of its long and short sides, 4-5 mm must be added to the length and width of the pipe.
How to install the cap
To install the cap, you must:
- tap the brickwork in the upper part of the chimney to check its reliability, replace the bricks if necessary, fill the empty seams with mortar;
- put the base of the cap on the pipe;
- fix the structure on the chimney using dowel-nails or other fasteners.
Installing the hood
There must be at least two fasteners on each side of the pipe. The optimal step for the long sides of the pipe is 25-30 cm. For mounting copper heads, it is better to use fasteners made of the same material; for other caps, stainless steel fasteners are suitable.
Making a do-it-yourself chimney cap
With your own hands, you can easily make a head with a flat or semicircular roof, for this you will need only basic locksmith skills.
Consider the second option, see the photos of the drawings below.
As a material for the manufacture of the umbrella itself, you can use galvanized sheet steel with a thickness of 0.5 mm, a sheet of metal coated with powder paint is also suitable.
The base with which the cap will be mounted at the top of the chimney, and the posts connecting the base to the umbrella, can be made from the same sheet steel.
Another option is to use a metal bar for the base and corners for the uprights.. It is better if the entire structure is made of one material.
To make a cap, you need:
- make markings by applying the desired shape of the top to the sheet of metal, and cut it out (in most cases, a rectangular blank is needed);
- to give the resulting sheet metal rectangle a semicircular shape, the easiest way is to use a pipe of a suitable diameter for this;
- make from a metal rack profile, in this case, holes must be made in the upper and lower parts, they must also be bent;
- connect a semicircular umbrella and racks with rivets;
- fasten the racks and the base in the same way. More details in the video below.
After that, the head can be installed on the pipe.
Four-slope cap
It is more difficult to make a cap with a hipped roof. First you need to prepare a sketch on paper, and then make a sweep drawing, you can also use ready-made sketches and drawings. It is important to carefully calculate all dimensions.
NOTE!
Before you cut out the roof of the chimney according to the finished drawing, you need to make a full-size pattern from cardboard, thick paper or other suitable material to make sure that all calculations are correct and the finished cap fits perfectly in size to the pipe.
Having cut the roof blank from a sheet of metal, it must be bent in such a way that a three-dimensional umbrella is obtained, and connected with rivets.
Making a simple do-it-yourself chimney cap is quite easy. However, the manufacture of complex and most functional structures can be time consuming.
At the same time, you can always find pipe heads on sale, they are also made to order according to individual projects.
A well-made, correctly selected and correctly installed chimney cap will simultaneously perform protective and decorative functions, thanks to which the entire building will take on a complete look, and the pipe will last much longer.
Useful video
Master class on making a chimney with your own hands:
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