Chimney Cap Installation
Irmo SC

Check your address with the Town's own lookup before asking about local rules. The answer affects who you call, not how the chimney cap is built.

The Town of Irmo runs an Town of Irmo, Am I in the Town of Irmo page that points residents to its General Plan Land Use and Zoning Map. The Census Bureau lists Irmo town in both Lexington and Richland counties. Put those together and you get a common situation: two houses with the same Irmo mailing address can sit under different governments.

For a chimney cap that matters only if you want to ask about permits or rules. If your lookup shows you inside town limits, Irmo Town Hall is at 7300 Woodrow Street in a building known as the Lown House, according to the Town's Town of Irmo History page. If you are outside, your county is the office to ask. Check with the office for your address before authorizing work.

A tight screened cap keeps raccoons, squirrels and birds out of the flue once it is fastened, but it does not remove an animal already living there. If you hear movement in the chimney now, tell us on the first call. Capping an occupied flue traps the animal, which leads to a worse problem a week later.

Depending on what is inside, an animal may need to be removed first, and in some cases that means a licensed wildlife control operator. That is a conditional step, not a requirement for every job. Once the flue is clear, the cap goes on and the screen stays in place for good.

Mesh size is a balance. The 2021 International Residential Code model text in 2021 IRC Chapter 10, Chimneys and Fireplaces describes spark arrestor openings that stop a half-inch sphere but still pass a three-eighths-inch one. That range keeps out animals and embers while leaving enough open area for smoke. Mesh finer than that can clog with soot and leaves, which is why we do not use window screen or hardware cloth.

An Irmo chimney cap quote changes with the number and size of the flues, whether a separate listed gas vent cap is needed, and the cap material. If an animal is in the flue, removal has to happen first and may involve a wildlife professional, which is separate from the cap. A two-story roof or a steep pitch adds setup time. On a framed chase, the chase cover size and the termination match also affect the price. We quote after measuring.