From the fieldWhat I Find When I Climb Up After a May Storm
Most hail-damaged chase covers look fine from the ground - the real story is on top.
Oklahoma Chimney Sweep Pro field technician
Last May, I was on a roof in the southwest part of Oklahoma City the week after a significant storm system came through. The homeowner had done everything right - walked the yard, checked the gutters, called the roofer. The roofer said the shingles were fine. The chase cover wasn't on the list.
I got up there and found a galvanized cover with three distinct impact dents along the front slope. From the street, it looked like a normal cover. From three feet away, you could see that the center dent had essentially created a flat spot - maybe eight inches across - right where water from the high point of the cover should have been running off. Instead, it was sitting.
I checked the perimeter seal next. That's the joint where the cover's edge meets the chase wall top course - the uppermost masonry at the top of the chimney chase. On the front-left corner, the seal had already pulled away by about a quarter inch. Not cracked. Pulled. That's a water entry path that opens every time it rains.
I ran a numbered field check I use on every post-storm visit:
- 1
Surface profileIs the cover still peaked or sloped, or has deformation created flat or inverted areas?
- 2
Perimeter seal conditionIs the seal continuous, cracked, or separated at any point around the cover's edge?
- 3
Chase wall top courseIs the masonry beneath the cover intact, or has movement or freeze-thaw stress opened gaps?
- 4
Fastener statusAre any screws or clips missing, backed out, or corroded loose?
- 5
Drainage evidenceAre there rust streaks or staining patterns that show where water has been tracking?
On that southwest OKC job, three of those five checks flagged problems. That's a repair job, not a "keep an eye on it" situation.
I also documented the findings in writing and photos. Damage like this - caused by a documented hail event - often qualifies as a covered loss under Oklahoma homeowner insurance policies. That documentation matters.
