Jeff Doubet shares Spanish chimneys along with dozens of construction photos, custom designs and helpful insights. In this post I teach more about the art of building Spanish homes while visiting these jobsites. Scroll to see how experts build Spanish chimneys at custom home remodels in Santa Barbara and Montecito, CA.
I start with a simple and relatively inexpensive remodeling idea for Spanish chimneys. In this image above, the original chimney was painted brick. We applied 3 coats of exterior plaster, and then capped it with two new clay chimney pots.
If you are local to Santa Barbara, you can view a variety of terracotta clay chimney pots available at Santa Barbara Stone. They are located at 27 North Nopal Street Santa Barbara, CA 93111. Above: product stock on the day I checked out their supply.
You can see how the clay chimney pots come in many different sizes and designs. Some are rectangular with little clay roofs. Others are round with lipped edges, and others are simple cylinder “pots”.
Direct links to Spanish home and landscape product recommendations and installations.
Spanish Chimneys: Simple Ideas for Improvement
BEFORE Photo: For this small historic Spanish-style home renovation in Santa Barbara, CA I proposed a terracotta clay chimney pot to top off an already classic plaster chimney. The historic chimney was built with brick, and then plastered over with exterior stucco.
AFTER Photo: This is how the project turned out. The front facade of this historic Santa Barbara Spanish home was modernized by removing the ornate iron window grille. 6 inch half round gutters were added for authentic Santa Barbara Spanish styling.
Designing Spanish Chimneys in Beautiful Santa Barbara, California
Many of the projects I enjoy are with real estate investors who are purchasing Santa Barbara and Montecito, CA fixer upper properties. Custom designed Spanish chimneys are just one way to ramp up the charm of those investments.
A small Santa Barbara two story Spanish home design drawing by Jeff Doubet. In this concept sketch I propose a couple of Spanish chimneys to help transform the original fixer upper.
In the sketch you can see a hint of the clay chimney pot idea on the left, with a custom Spanish chimney design on the right.
Click to see the entire Before and After photo sequence of this Spanish-style courtyard home.
Construction Photo 1: A Spanish roofing expert installs short little sections of terracotta clay pipe to create a decorative grille at the front of the chimney opening.
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Construction Photo 2: This custom chimney was built with steel studs and is shown being waterproofed for the upcoming 1.25″ thick stucco that will transform it into an architectural feature.
Construction Photo 3: A talented young plasterer applies a final coat of integral color plaster to the front exterior elevation and Spanish chimney. Another beautiful work day in Santa Barbara!
Construction Photo 4: Here the roofers are installing the red tile roof on the custom designed Spanish chimney with red tile roofing.
Construction Photo 5: A few days after the final stucco finish was applied to the Spanish chimney design, a roofer adds the final detailing. The gas flue is hidden behind this terra cotta clay tile vent, tucked inside the plaster structure and red tile roof.
Design Ideas for Modern Spanish Chimneys
When designing modern Spanish chimneys and remodels, I often recommend using traditional materials and techniques. They can be installed in a clean, minimalistic contemporary way.
Construction Photo 6: For this contemporary Spanish chimney project, we incorporated short pieces of red tile roofing to create a decorative grille within the chimney openings. The stair stepped dual chimneys have crisp clean plaster corners and finish.
Techniques for Building Doghouse Style Spanish Chimneys in Santa Barbara, Ca
Scroll the rest of this page to see a wide variety of construction photos and the different building processes incorporated while building “Doghouse” Spanish chimneys.
Construction Photo 7: The main structure for the doghouse chimney was built using galvanized steel. Note how the original painted brick chimney was “widened” in order to build this custom Spanish chimney design.
The roof flashing was also fabricated by the talented local Santa Barbara roofing company. If you are not in the local Santa Barbara area, you can call metal fabrication shops in your own town and ask who specializes in chimney caps and structures.
After the metal doghouse chimney shroud was secured to the brick base, it was clad with expanded metal. Once the attachment methods were weatherproofed with special sealant, the plasterers begin applying exterior plaster.
Construction Photo 9: Using steel trowels and a long piece of landscaping PVC pipe, the plasterers slowly add the details sketched in my original design drawing. Click to see and learn more about the whole Spanish-style cottage BEFORE and AFTER, here.
Construction Photo 10: The Spanish-style Doghouse chimney details are complete. Notice the additional stucco details that were created during the final stages of the plastering process.
Simple Spanish Chimney Design Remodels in Santa Barbara, California
With a wide variety of Spanish homes in Santa Barbara and Montecito area, clients are often looking for ways to improve existing Spanish chimneys. Sometimes a simple band of Spanish tiles or a custom chimney cap will make a big difference.
BEFORE Photo: For this two story Spanish-style major home remodel in Santa Barbara’s Riviera neighborhood, the homeowner and I decided the existing chimney design was pretty cool “as is”. It really only needed a simple touch up.
AFTER Photo: This is how the Santa Barbara style chimney turned out, once a couple of new layers of exterior stucco were applied. A bonding agent was applied to the existing stucco. The proper way to enable additional thin coats of stucco to the existing chimney.
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Jeff Doubet Spanish Chimney Tower Designs – More Photos and Ideas
Jeff Doubet has designed Spanish chimneys in Santa Barbara, CA since 2003. Scroll to see several more examples of these original designs under construction.
Casa Corazon is a custom Spanish home design project in the foothills of Santa Barbara. There, three oversized Chimney Towers were designed and built. Click to see a wide variety of other project photos for Casa Corazon.
The Spanish Chimney Tower Construction Process
Construction Photo 11: The Spanish chimney towers at Casa Corazon started out as solid wood framing for the base of the chimney. Here, the plaster stucco team wrapped the framing and structural plywood, prepping for the first coat of stucco.
Construction Photo 12: In my original concept rendering for Casa Corazon I had lightly sketched a custom Spanish-style “doghouse” chimney tower. The final design for it slowly evolved as the build process took place.
DESIGN PROCESS Photo: Early in the project the homeowner and I created this cardboard template on top of the partial chimney build. We wanted to see what 3 and 4 arched openings would look like in side elevations (before we built the actual structure).
Construction Photo 13: The scratch coat (first coat) of plaster is being applied to the Casa Corazon chimney towers.
Construction Photo 14: The red tile roof has been installed on the Doghouse style Spanish chimney towers. The plasterers have finished the top section of the chimney. Now they apply a flat collar section for the upcoming brick banding on the tower.
Construction Photo 15: Here the tile setters are on the job installing the decorative banding/collars on the chimney towers.
A herringbone pattern was proposed for the design and implemented on site. Temporary wood supports provide a level edge for the fire brick cut into thin strips for the brick veneer.
Construction Photo 16: The final coat of plaster is applied to all surfaces of the chimney towers. Note the galvanized metal flashing at the bottom of the chimney. This assures a waterproof connection with the red tile roof.
Design Tips For Spanish Chimney Towers
Spanish Chimney Detail # 1: The homeowner and I decided to add decorative blue and white Spanish tiles on the inside edge of each large arches. The painters were called in to paint the chimney towers before the final house roofing was completed.
This allowed the painters to safely use ladders to reach all of the paint surfaces without breaking the house roof tiles.
Spanish Chimney Detail # 2: A close up photo of the texture of the herringbone pattern made with fire brick. We didn’t want the install to be too perfect. Rather, a rustic, handcrafted aesthetic. Another view of the Spanish tiles installed on the inside of the end arches.
A couple of birds take center stage, and admire the detailing within the finished chimney towers. This image also helps illustrate how your Spanish chimney towers can become an important part of your own Spanish home design.
Spanish Chimney Detail # 3: Red tile roofs on the Doghouse style chimneys. I have shared the images (above and below) on my other websites in the past.
I like these images because they show how custom Spanish chimney towers become important design elements within the Spanish architecture itself.
Also custom designed and built at Casa Corazon is the Secret Garden Arch that adds intrigue to the Spanish courtyard.
More “Doghouse” Spanish Chimney Designs
Now I will take you across town to Montecito, CA where other Spanish chimneys are being custom designed, built and showcased at high end home remodels.
This Hacienda style bird house chimney design was created for a courtyard style home located on a quaint lane in Montecito. Combining design elements from previous builds, I consider this built design more of a “Bird house” chimney.
The Hacienda “bird house” chimney design is more petite in size and scale than others I have designed for clients. It still has stucco exterior, thick arched openings and a rustic, red clay roof.
Construction Photo 17: Nearing completion, final touches of exterior plaster details are being completed. Another close up photo you can study the way the authentic clay roof tiles are arranged on the chimney roof. A petite version of the house roofing below.
Fabricating Spanish Chimneys with Steel and Stucco
As illustrated in the construction photos below, many of the new Spanish chimneys in Santa Barbara and Montecito, CA are now being built with steel and stucco. The days of only building Spanish chimneys with brick and plaster are long gone.
Construction Photo 18: The Spanish Revival “Doghouse” style chimney structure is fabricated in galvanized steel. In the photo above, the weatherproofing method of transitioning from the wood and plywood structure to the decorative steel shroud.
Construction Photo 19: The lead plasterer and roofer meet at the nearly completed chimney crown. A beautiful red tile roofed and plastered Spanish chimney tower.
The Spanish chimney tower is a prominent design feature of this poolside elevation of the home. Exterior plaster details abound: cement plaster balcony railings, plaster corbels and elegantly swooped plaster garden walls add to the unique character to this Montecito home.
Other Design Tips For Spanish Chimneys
As you can see, building a quality Spanish chimney design can really enhance the overall perceived value of a custom home. For more than a century- homeowners in Santa Barbara and Montecito, CA have been investing in this form of a special architectural feature.
ABOVE: A Jeff Doubét Spanish chimney sketch. It was a simple design study for how we could add another chimney on the roof. It is for a new fireplace in the master bedroom.
Building Spanish Chimneys
Construction Photo 20: Once the metal chimney flue was installed, a tapered wood frame was built around it using proper clearance specs. Then structural plywood was installed. A tapered sheet metal shroud was custom designed and built to match other chimneys.
Decorative chimney shrouds are an excellent way to conceal the required spark arrestor at the top of the metal flue. This metal shroud will receive a couple of coats of stucco to match the house (for a solid, high end look).
Construction Photo 21: The elegant trio of Spanish chimneys are arranged on different roof sections. The smallest is nearing completion while a section of roof is also being worked on (new weatherproofing). Soon the plasterers will arrive to complete the job.
