Capping a chimney pot

[marsaday]

I have taken off my chimney pots to relay some loose bricks. three of the pots are now unused and so i wondered about capping then off.

I have seen the little metal hats you can buy, but wanted to know what you thought of this idea.

Before i re-bed the pots i will lay slate over the opening and allow a 2" gap in the middle for air flow. This will seal up 90% of the opening. i will then put the pot back on, without a little hat. Thus i save £17 x 3.

Is this ok or a bad idea?

 

[stem]

A cap prevents rain entering and causing damp at the base of your chimney. If you leave the top of your chimney pot open, rain will still fall in and dribble through the gap in the slate. It might not be damp now, but after your proposed mod, with the same amount of rain and less air who knows.

A cap would also prevent birds nesting in the pot.

The chimney should also have a vent where the fire was removed at the base to allow a flow of air through it.