TL;DR: Custom chimney caps are a small slice of the market, but a high-margin one for distributors. From Band-Around to Skirt Style to Big Top, HY-C manufactures caps to fit the 5% to 10% of chimneys that don't take a standard cap. Plus, ordering is simple.
HY-C Company makes custom chimney caps. And while they're not for everyone, they could be for you and your customers.
Most jobs your customers bring you, whether they're chimney sweeps, wildlife techs, or roofers, will use a standard cap. But every technician eventually runs into the flue that doesn't fit a standard size, and that's exactly where custom caps earn their keep.
For nearly 80 years, HY-C has been a trusted chimney cap manufacturer in the USA. What started with hand-made aluminum chimney covers in a six-car St. Louis garage is still at the core of what we do today: Protecting homes from weather, wildlife, and everything in between. Now, we're expanding our lineup so every chimney — no matter the size or shape — has a cap that fits.
Here's what you need to know about stocking, quoting, and ordering custom caps through HY-C. Plus, a look at our new order form.
Custom caps get called for in two situations:
There aren't many reasons that fall outside of these two, especially since custom caps share the same core construction and protective features as the standard caps that make up 90% to 95% of chimneys out there. The difference is fit, not function.
That still leaves the 5% to 10% of chimneys that don't take a standard cap. For those jobs, a custom cap is usually the best option your customer has, the alternative being an uncapped chimney exposed to water, wildlife, and debris.
HY-C manufactures three custom chimney cap styles: Band-Around-Brick, Skirt Style, and Big Top. Here's what you need to know about each.
The Band-Around style is named for the metal band that wraps around the top row of chimney brick and clamps down at the corners. Because the band supplies the clamping force, installers don't need to drill into the masonry to mount it, which is a selling point for customers who prefer not to drill into their brick.
Band-Around caps are available in aluminum and stainless steel, giving you a wide enough range to fit almost any single- or multi-flue chimney that falls outside standard sizing.
The Skirt Style cap bolts directly into the top row of chimney brick, and its metal skirt adds an extra layer of protection against rain, snow, wind, and other weather that wears down a chimney over time.
This style comes in aluminum, stainless steel, and copper. Copper carries a higher price point than the other two materials, but it's a strong upsell for homeowners chasing a premium look.
Big Top caps are built for multi-flue chimneys where several flues terminate in one place. The large, single hood covers the whole group instead of capping each flue individually.
Big Top is available in galvanized steel, stainless steel, and copper, so you can offer a good-better-best lineup depending on your customer's budget.
Our goal is to make ordering a custom chimney cap quick and easy.
Give us the chimney dimensions. Measure as accurately as possible.
If you measure 5 from the top of the brick for Big Top, we’ll adjust it for you (usually by subtracting 3-4 inches). Just let us know.
Select one: Aluminum, stainless steel, copper, or black galvannealed steel.
We’ll calculate the price based on your order form. Then you can place the order for your customer.
Since each cap is custom-made, orders cannot be refunded. Please double-check all measurements before submitting.
We can take submissions by email, fax, phone, or EDI.
Please let HY-C customer service know how you’d like to send in the order. This helps us process your order faster.
Once an order reaches our custom caps department, maximum lead times run around 7 business days, and caps are often finished sooner. That's a fast enough turnaround to quote confidently on jobs where a homeowner or contractor is waiting on a fix, without the guesswork that comes with sourcing custom metalwork elsewhere.
A few details worth keeping in your back pocket when you're quoting or ordering:
Plus, to ensure proper venting, a minimum of 6" is required between the top of the tallest flue tile and the cap cover. Ensure your customers are aware of this before installation.
Become an HY-C distributor and offer chimney caps your customers can trust. Ready to order custom chimney caps? Fill out our custom chimney cap form and reach out to orders@hy-c.com to get started.