Not every flue is alike. There are many types of flues. Because of there are many types of flues, there are also many types of custom chimney caps. In order to determine what type of chimney cap you need, you first must determine what type of flue you have.
If you have a round flue, your flue may be one of several types. It could be a masonry flue (made of clay), a flue for flexible relining systems, or a double or triple walled air insulated flue. Custom chimney caps can be made for each of these different types of round flues.
Instead of a round flue, you may have a single flue chimney. If you have one of these, you can choose a chimney cap made of one of three types of metals. The metals you can choose include copper, stainless steel or galvanized steel. Galvanized steel is good if you want an inexpensive choice. However, it is not as durable as stainless steel. Stainless steel is actually the best value for your dollar, though. Plus, stainless steel caps can come in several different colors. Copper is another choice. It can be very good if you are going for an elegant look.
Round flues and single flue chimneys are just two of the many types of flues. So, when buying a chimney cap for your chimney, be sure you know what kind of flue you have.