Factory-built fireplace liner replacement for Verdae's metal chase chimneys — a different scope from masonry relining, requiring UL-listed liner matched to the appliance nameplate. Written scope before work begins.
Most homes in Verdae and similar Greenville planned communities built from the 1990s onward have factory-built fireplaces inside wood-framed metal chases — not traditional masonry chimneys. The difference is fundamental to how relining is performed.
HeatShield resurfacing, cast-in-place, and the masonry liner sizing methods used for brick chimneys are specific to clay tile flue systems inside masonry structures. A Verdae factory-built fireplace has a round metal pipe — there is no clay tile to resurface or encase. Relining a factory-built system means replacing the metal pipe sections with new UL-listed liner matched to the factory fireplace's listing requirements. Applying a masonry relining approach to a metal chase system is both technically incorrect and potentially unsafe.
Factory fireplace manufacturer and model are identified from the nameplate inside the firebox or from documentation. The nameplate confirms the required liner type — UL 103 HT listing class — and diameter for that specific appliance.
Chase cover condition, existing pipe sections, joints, and the termination cap are inspected from the chase top. Rust, joint separation, and clearance to combustibles inside the chase are documented before scope is written.
Replacement Class A double-wall insulated pipe, in the diameter and listing type confirmed from the appliance nameplate, is installed inside the chase. All pipe sections and joints are connected per manufacturer installation requirements.
Chase cover — the flat metal plate that caps the chase top around the pipe — is inspected and replaced if rusted or damaged. A deteriorated chase cover allows water into the wood-framed chase, causing moisture damage to the framing and liner over time.
Factory-built wood-burning fireplaces require Class A all-fuel listed pipe — double-wall construction with insulation between the inner and outer walls. The insulation maintains liner temperature and prevents heat transfer to the wood framing of the chase. The required outside diameter and inner liner diameter are specified by the factory fireplace manufacturer. Installing single-wall or non-listed pipe inside a wood-framed chase creates a clearance-to-combustibles issue. Replacement pipe must carry the same UL listing as the original factory-supplied pipe.
Factory fireplaces are listed as a system — the firebox and the pipe are listed together under a single UL file number. Replacing the pipe with a non-matching product can break the system listing, creating an insurance and code issue even if the pipe itself is a quality product. The nameplate inside the firebox identifies the brand, model, and required pipe specification. If the nameplate is missing or illegible, the pipe manufacturer can sometimes be identified by the outer diameter and construction of the existing pipe sections. Liner is ordered after this confirmation — not before.