The Louvered Chimney Cap is a hand-fabricated custom cap built with horizontal fin panels on all four sides. Each fin is brake-formed from the same sheet metal as the cap body — no separate extrusions, no plastic, no painted steel clips. The result is a cap that vents freely, sheds rain, and looks like it belongs on the chimney rather than bolted on as an afterthought.
I build every cap to your exact chimney dimensions from my shop in Berlin, NJ. Standard sizes and off-the-shelf boxes don't enter into it.
What It Does
The louvered panels cover the full perimeter of the cap while allowing air to move freely through the fin gaps. Rain hits the angled fins and sheds outward rather than dropping straight down into the flue. The closed top lid with stainless steel mesh keeps birds and debris out while the fins handle ventilation on the sides. For decorative or gas-insert chimneys that don't need a lid, the open-top option removes the lid and screen entirely.
Louvered Fin Construction
The fins run horizontally around all four sides of the cap body. Standard configuration is 4 fins per side. Additional fins — up to 8 per side — increase ventilation area and visual density for taller chimney openings. Each fin is formed from the same-gauge sheet as the rest of the cap: 16 oz copper, .032 Kynar aluminum, 24-gauge Galvalume, or 24-gauge stainless steel.
Kynar caps with fins above the standard 4 include a color adder per extra fin — the Kynar 500 coating is applied to each fin at the coil level before fabrication, so every additional fin carries a proportional material cost.
The fascia rail frames the top of the louver section. Corner pieces are mitered. The premium top-mount flange wraps the base of the cap and sets on the chimney crown — 8" rip, 1" exposed face, mitered corners.
Material Options
16 oz Copper — Mill-finish copper that develops a natural verdigris patina over years of exposure. The most durable option and the most visually distinctive as it ages. All copper components — lid, fins, body, flange — are the same alloy and will patina uniformly.
Kynar Aluminum (.032) — PVDF Kynar 500 coating in any standard color: Matte Black, Matte White, Dark Bronze, Weathered Zinc, Charcoal Grey, Copper Penny, and more. Color holds indefinitely — Kynar doesn't fade, chalk, or peel under normal exposure. Lightest weight option, which matters for LTL freight on larger caps.
24-Gauge Galvalume Plus — Zinc-aluminum alloy coated steel. The most economical option. Mill-finish silver-grey that weathers to a consistent matte tone. Correct choice when budget is the primary driver and aesthetics are secondary.
Stainless Steel 2B 304 — 24-gauge 304 alloy with a 2B (cold-rolled, lightly polished) mill finish. Ideal for coastal environments, salt air, or any installation where corrosion resistance matters more than color. Heavier than aluminum but holds up in conditions that would compromise lesser metals.
Specs
- Cap styles: Louvered (LV) — horizontal fin panels, 4 sides
- Standard fins: 4 per side (upgradeable to 5–8)
- Drip edge height: 2" – 5" (3" standard)
- Flange: Premium top-mount, 8" rip, 1" face, mitered
- Lid: Removable with stainless steel mesh screen (or open-top)
- Size range: 18" × 18" minimum · 60" × 120" maximum
- Materials: Copper · Kynar Aluminum · Galvalume · Stainless Steel
- Fasteners: Stainless steel rivets throughout
- Made in: Berlin, NJ
Installation
Louvered caps set on top of the chimney crown — no flue liner penetration required. The premium flange sits flush on the crown and the cap rests on it. Measure the outside of your chimney at the crown, not the flue tile. Width is always the shortest dimension. Add at least ¼" to each measurement so the cap slides on without binding.
One person can handle installation on most residential caps. Larger caps benefit from a second set of hands for positioning. No special tools required beyond a caulk gun and a tube of elastomeric sealant for the flange-to-crown joint.
Questions about measuring or fitting? Call or text (609) 352-9840.
Wood-Framed Chase
Louvered caps work on wood-framed chases as well as masonry chimneys. The flange sets on the chase top — use a closed-cell backer rod and elastomeric sealant at the perimeter joint to keep the connection watertight. If your chase top is rotted or needs replacement before the cap goes on, that's worth addressing first — a new cap on a failing chase top is a short-term fix.
Not sure if a louvered style is right for your chase? See chimney cap guides or call (609) 352-9840.
Shipping
Custom louvered caps ship LTL freight in a custom-built OSB crate. Freight cost depends on cap size and delivery ZIP — I quote freight separately after you submit your dimensions. Freight is calculated on actual crate weight and dimensions to your carrier. I use ABF Freight for most shipments.
Typical lead time is 2–3 weeks from order confirmation. Call or text (609) 352-9840 to discuss timeline before ordering if you have a hard deadline.
About Archaic Metal
I'm Sean. I've been working copper and sheet metal since 1994, trained under master coppersmith Stephen L. Foss at Ye Olde Tin Shop in Haddonfield, NJ. Archaic Metal has been my operation since 2011 — one person, one shop in Berlin, NJ. Every cap I sell is one I fabricated. No outsourcing, no overseas production, no batch runs sitting on a shelf. Your cap is built to your dimensions after you order it.
More on how I build caps: How Chimney Caps Are Made · Copper vs. Aluminum
Built to your chimney. Every louvered cap is custom fabricated in Berlin, NJ. Enter your dimensions above to see your price — or call / text (609) 352-9840 for a freight quote to your door.