The Top Vent is a two-piece chimney cap with a solid vented top and a screened base. Like the Copper Top Vent, it separates the weather barrier from the vent plane — but the TV is built from standard sheet material in all four metals rather than the heavier copper-specific construction of the CTV. Same two-piece concept, broader material and size range, lower entry price.
Every TV is hand-fabricated to your exact chimney dimensions in my shop in Berlin, NJ. No stock inventory, no standard sizes.
What It Does
The solid top lid keeps rain and debris out from above. The open perimeter gap between the top and base allows combustion gases and moisture to exit freely on all four sides — lower draft resistance than a conventional side-screen cap. Stainless steel mesh in the screen zone and the vent gap keeps birds and animals out while maintaining airflow. The lid is removable for flue access without tools.
Two-Piece Construction
The base is a four-sided box with the mounting flange at the bottom and a mesh-covered opening at the top edge. The top is a flat lid with an overhang that sheds water away from the vent gap. The top nests on the base and lifts off for access.
Corners are mitered and double-locked. The flange is brake-formed from the same sheet as the body — 8" rip, 1" exposed face. All fasteners are stainless steel. Screen is expanded stainless steel mesh for copper and stainless caps, aluminum mesh for Kynar and Galvalume.
Mount options: side mount with drip edge (standard for masonry chimneys) or top mount flange (flush-set on crown or wood chase top).
Cross-Brake Lid
The TV top lid includes a cross-brake — two diagonal brake-formed ribs running corner to corner across the underside. The cross-brake stiffens the lid against oil-canning on larger sizes and adds visual definition to an otherwise flat panel. On copper caps it becomes more prominent as the surface patinas.
Material Options
16 oz Copper — Develops a natural verdigris patina over time. Both pieces — base and top — fabricated from the same alloy, color together 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. Lightest weight option.
24-Gauge Galvalume Plus — Zinc-aluminum alloy coated steel. Mill-finish silver-grey. Most economical option across the TV size range.
Stainless Steel 2B 304 — 24-gauge 304 alloy, 2B mill finish. Best choice for coastal locations or high-corrosion environments.
Specs
- Cap style: Top Vent (TV) — two-piece, vented gap perimeter
- Screen: Dual zone — lower screen + vent gap screen
- Lid: Solid with cross-brake, removable
- Mount options: Side mount (drip edge) · Top mount flange
- Drip edge height: 2" – 5" (3" standard, side mount only)
- Flange: Premium, 8" rip, 1" face, mitered
- Size range: 24" × 24" minimum · 47" W maximum · 96" L maximum
- Materials: Copper · Kynar Aluminum · Galvalume · Stainless Steel
- Fasteners: Stainless steel throughout
- Made in: Berlin, NJ
Installation
Side mount TVs set on the chimney crown with the drip edge wrapping the outside. Measure the outside of the chimney at the crown — not the flue tile. Width is always the shortest dimension. Add at least ¼" to each measurement so the cap seats without binding.
Top mount TVs set the flange on top of the crown. Seal the flange-to-crown joint with a closed-cell backer rod and elastomeric sealant. The top piece lifts off for flue access without disturbing the base.
Unsure which mount type is right for your chimney? See Top Mount vs Side Mount — Which One Do You Need? or call (609) 352-9840.
Wood-Framed Chase
Top mount TV caps work on wood-framed chases. The flange sets on the chase top board — seal the perimeter with elastomeric caulk and back-prime any exposed wood before installation. If the chase top is deteriorating, address that before capping. A new cap on a failing deck is a short-term fix.
Questions about your chase? Call or text (609) 352-9840.
Shipping
Top Vent caps ship LTL freight in a custom-built OSB crate. The two-piece design ships assembled — top nested on base — in a single crate. Freight cost depends on cap size and delivery ZIP and is quoted separately. I use ABF Freight for most shipments.
Typical lead time is 2–3 weeks from order confirmation. Call or text (609) 352-9840 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 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 Top Vent 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.