Braai Chimney Repairs and New Chimneys
- Smoking braai diagnosis on site
- Chimneys raised to clear the roofline
- Cracked or loose chimney stacks rebuilt
- New flues for new braais
- Flashing and waterproofing at the roof
- Soot and blockages cleared
A braai chimney that draws properly keeps the smoke off your guests and out of the house. We fix smoking braais and install new chimneys, canopies, cowls and extractor fans across Cape Town.
A braai smokes when the chimney cannot pull the smoke up faster than the fire makes it. The usual causes are a chimney that is too short, a flue that is too narrow for the fire, a canopy that is too shallow, or a chimney that ends below a nearby roof or wall.
In Cape Town, wind makes it worse. The south-easter rolls over roofs and down into short chimneys, pushing smoke back onto the patio. A taller chimney, the right cowl or an extractor fan usually solves it. We look at the braai, the roof and the wind before we suggest a fix.
If the braai itself is damaged, see our braai repairs page. To compare flue types, read our guide to single-wall and insulated braai flues.
Smoke problems have different causes, so we price the fix after we have seen the braai and the roof.
The cause. Adding a cowl is a small job. Raising a chimney or rebuilding a canopy takes more work.
Roof height and access. Double-storey roofs and steep pitches need longer ladders, scaffolding or safety gear.
Chimney material. Brick stacks, plastered stacks and stainless steel flues are repaired in different ways.
Extraction. A chimney fan or canopy extractor adds the unit, the fitting and a power supply.
Roof finishing. Flashing, waterproofing and making good the sheeting or tiles around the chimney.
Get my free quote1. Photos and questions. Send photos of the braai and chimney, and tell us when it smokes and in which wind.
2. Site check. We check the chimney height, flue size, canopy, cowl and anything nearby that blocks the wind.
3. Written quote. You get a clear explanation of the cause and a written quote for the fix.
4. Fix the chimney. We raise, rebuild or replace the chimney or flue, and seal it at the roof.
5. Canopy, cowl or fan. We fit or reshape the canopy and add the right cowl or extractor fan.
6. Smoke test. We light a fire and watch the draw, so you see the smoke go up and out before we leave.
Braai chimneys, flues and cowls from our recent jobs, photographed on the roof.
Send us photos of your braai and chimney and we will tell you what is causing the smoke.
Taller chimney. The chimney is extended to clear the roof ridge and nearby walls, where the air moves freely.
Anti-downdraft cowl. A cowl that stops wind blowing straight down the chimney, made for windy suburbs.
Louvred chimney cap. A square cap with louvres that lets smoke out and keeps rain and wind off.
Chimney extractor fan. A fan at the top of the chimney that pulls smoke up when natural draw is weak.
Deeper canopy or hood. A wider or deeper canopy that catches smoke before it rolls out over the front.
Wind blowing over the roof can push air down a short chimney and force smoke back out of the braai. Raising the chimney or adding an anti-downdraft cowl usually stops it. We check which wind causes the problem before choosing the fix.
High enough to clear the roofline and anything close by, like a taller wall, a neighbour's roof or trees. A chimney that ends below these sits in turbulent air and smokes. We measure on site and work to SANS 10400.
Not always. Most smoke problems are solved with the right chimney height, canopy and cowl. A fan helps where the chimney cannot be raised, on long flue runs and in indoor braai rooms.
Yes. We fit stainless steel hoods and build brick or plastered canopies over existing braais. The hood must be wide and deep enough to catch the smoke, and joined to a flue that draws properly.
Check it once a year, and clean it more often if you braai a lot. Soot and fat build up in the flue, which slows the draw and can catch fire. We sweep braai chimneys as well as fireplace chimneys.
