A chimney crown is an essential part to the chimney because it acts as a shield and first line of defense against weather-related deterioration. The crown is built on top of the chimney and designed so water can easily run off, instead of collecting on top. Water can eventually cause the chimney to deteriorate, since it is a natural solvent. The crown acts in reducing water damage and lengthens your chimney’s life. However, crowns do not last forever and need to be repaired or replaced once they start to crack or deteriorate.
CrownCoat from SaverSystems on Vimeo.
Broken Crowns
A broken crown can cause water to leak in and create major damage to a home. Most cases , chimney damage happens top down, as the crown develops cracking and water gets in and freeze and expands causing more and more damage as time goes by. The chimneys here in Connecticut experience even more rapid deterioration from numerous freeze-thaw cycles due to the northeastern weather patterns. It is important to catch these problems before they accumulate because once the crown goes, the rest of the chimney is sure to follow. Bricks can loosen up and if this isn’t repaired soon, rebuilding the chimney would be the only solution. If the crown or brick isn’t in bad shape, we recommend CrownCoat. This is a coating that acts as natural concrete to be used on your chimney, or wherever a flexible waterproof membrane is needed.
Rebuilding the Chimney Crown
Rebuilding the Chimney Crown In cases where the chimney crown is too far deteriorated to simply seal, rebuilding it may be necessary. A little more labor is involved when tearing down the cement crown and building a new one. Sometimes staging or a platform must be installed in order to do the demolition and rebuilding. A new crown can be up to a hundred or more lbs of masonry. This is something SafeSide Chimney specializes in.
Pre-Cast Crowns
On single flue chimneys, installation of a pre-cast crown is an option. In some cases, we are matching another existing chimney on a home, or matching the aesthetics of a communities’ chimney construction, that were built with these type crowns.
If you believe your chimney crown needs attention, call the professionals at SafeSide Chimney. We will send a CSIA Certified Chimney Sweep Technician to inspect the crown and determine the best course of action.
