Fireplace Cowls
- Cowls for steel flues and brick chimneys
- Sized to your flue diameter
- Stainless steel for coastal air
- Rain caps for open chimneys
- Bird and spark mesh fitted
- Rusted cowls removed and replaced
A chimney cowl keeps rain, birds and the south-easter out of your fireplace or braai chimney. Our team fits and replaces cowls and caps across Cape Town, matched to your flue size and the wind on your roof.
An open chimney top lets in rain, leaves and nesting birds. Rain runs down the flue and rusts the firebox and the damper. Nests block the flue and push smoke back into the room. A cowl or cap closes the top but still lets the smoke out.
Wind is the bigger problem here. When the south-easter blows across the roof, it can push air straight down an open flue. That downdraft fills the room or the patio with smoke just as you light the fire. The right cowl uses the wind to help the draw instead of letting it blow back down.
If the chimney also needs a clean, book a chimney sweep for the same visit. To compare the different types, read our guide to installing a chimney cowl or cap.
No two roofs are the same, so we confirm the price before we climb up. These are the things that change it.
Type of cowl. A simple rain cap costs less than a rotating cowl or a heavy storm cowl.
Flue size and shape. Round steel flues take standard cowls. Square brick chimneys may need a cap or a custom adaptor.
Roof access. Steep pitches, double storeys and fragile roofs take more time and more safety gear.
Chimney condition. Loose bricks, cracked capping or a rusted flue top must be fixed before a new cowl goes on.
Chimney height. If the chimney is too short to draw, it may need an extension as well as the cowl.
1. Photos and symptoms. Tell us when the smoke problem happens and which way the wind is blowing. Photos of the chimney top help a lot.
2. Roof check. We measure the flue, check the capping and flashing, and look at nearby walls, trees and ridges that stir up the wind.
3. Choose the cowl. We recommend a cap, a rotating cowl or a storm cowl to suit the wind, the flue and your fire.
4. Remove the old top. Rusted cowls, broken caps, nests and debris come off, and the top of the flue is cleaned.
5. Fit and seal. The new cowl is fixed and sealed so it cannot lift or rattle in a strong wind.
6. Test the draw. We light a test fire to check that the smoke clears the top properly.
Cowls, caps and chimney tops our team has fitted on Cape Town roofs, photographed on site.
Send us a photo of the chimney top and we will suggest the right cowl.
Rain cap. For chimneys where rain and birds are the main problem and the fire already draws well.
Rotating whirly cowl. Spins in the wind and helps pull smoke up. Good for flues that draw weakly.
Storm or H cowl. Made for exposed roofs where the wind pushes smoke back down. It lets smoke out when the wind comes from most directions.
Conical flue cowl. The cone-shaped cap seen on most steel flues. It keeps rain out and suits most closed fireplaces.
Spark arrestor. A mesh cowl that catches sparks before they land on the roof, the trees or thatch nearby.
A chimney cowl covers the top of the flue. It keeps rain, birds and debris out, and the right type also stops wind from blowing smoke back down into the room or the braai area.
Often, if the cause is wind or downdraft. If the flue is blocked, too short or the wrong size, a cowl alone will not fix it. We check the whole system first.
Yes. Braai chimneys take a lot of wind in Cape Town, so we often fit storm or louvred cowls to them. We can also raise a short braai chimney that does not draw.
Once a year, ideally with your chimney sweep before winter. Rotating cowls must spin freely and mesh can clog with soot, so a quick check keeps the fire drawing well.
Yes. We fit a cap to the brick, or a steel liner with a cowl on top. If the capping is cracked or bricks are loose, we repair that first so the cowl is properly fixed.
