We Repair & Replace Chimney Crowns — One Of Your Chimney’s Only Defenses Against Water

You’ve been caught in the rain without an umbrella so many times that you’re considering having a shirt made that says, “Running between raindrops is my cardio.”

And if you’re like us, you’ve told yourself a million times that you’re going to keep an umbrella in the car, since you can’t ever seem to remember to bring one when the forecast calls for rain.

Of course, you’ve yet to actually transport the umbrella from hall closet to car. One day…

But hey, as frustrated as you are with yourself when you forget your umbrella, there’s really no harm done, right? Sure, your hair has looked better, but once you dry off, you’ll be fine.

Your chimney, on the other hand…well, water can be a lot worse for a chimney caught in the rain, snow, or sleet without a little coverage. That’s why every masonry chimney is built with a crown, or cement slab that seals the top of the chimney stack.

Unlike the crown on the royalty that graces the headlines of your local supermarket magazine rack, the chimney crown is more function than fashion.

But what happens when chimney crowns fail? And what causes them to deteriorate in the first place?

Well, let’s answer the second question first.

How Did Your Chimney Crown Get So Damaged?

Maybe you’ve noticed crumbling edges and large cracks on your crown. What went wrong?

The truth is, crowns can crack, crumble, and deteriorate with age and exposure to moisture from rain, snow, sleet, and ice — as well as from the erratic temperatures that can sometimes accompany moisture.

If there are any small cracks or fractures in the crown due to age or house settling, they create openings for moisture to enter. Once inside the crown, that moisture may freeze as temperatures outside drop, expanding and creating movement inside the crown.

When temperatures rise again and that moisture thaws, it contracts and creates even more movement. And you guessed it: bigger cracks and more fractures.

Crowns that are poorly built — like crowns that don’t have a slope to them or the right thickness to them — are even more prone to these types of problems, because there’s less material to wear through and water, ice, and snow can settle on top rather than sliding off of the crown.

So now that you know what causes chimney crowns to deteriorate, let’s get into what happens when they do…

Why Do Crowns Need To Be Repaired Or Rebuilt Once They’re Damaged?

If you’re lucky, you’ve noticed crown deterioration before you’ve seen much of the effects. But for many people, the first sign of crown damage is a chimney leak.

So the answer to question #1 — what happens when a crown fails? — is that you end up with a leaky, water-damaged chimney.

Not good.

Water that’s made its way in through the crown can cause the following:

rust through a metal chimney liner
cause a clay tile liner to crack and collapse
destroy the smoke chamber
rust out the fireplace or damage the firebox
damage neighboring walls
lead to mold and wood rot in attics

Most people lose their appetite when they see the items on that menu. Because all that damage translates to $$$ for repairs.

But the good news is that you can prevent this costly damage by scheduling crown repairs early on.

How Do You Fix A Leaky Chimney Crown?

Here at Wright’s Hearth, Heat & Home, we repair crowns and prevent future damage and leaks with the use the industry’s most reliable crown repair and sealant product: CrownCoat.

The product itself can repair smaller cracks, but if there are larger cracks or voids present or rough patches in the cement, we’ll make those repairs first and then apply CrownCoat.

This is a brush-on product that does the following:

cures fast (we’re talking 2-4 hours)
remains flexible (which means it allows your crown to move naturally)
is environmentally friendly
gives you 15 years of water protection

It’s like repairing and waterproofing your chimney in one fell swoop.

Okay, but what if your crown is a little too far gone or just wasn’t built right in the first place? No worries.

We can help by rebuilding your crown to the proper specs. When we’re done, your chimney will be properly equipped to ward off water for years to come.

Call Today For Fast, Reliable Repairs

Is your crown damaged, deteriorating, leaky, or just poorly built? Go put your umbrella in the car. When you’re done, give us a call at 828-687-9002 to schedule an appointment to have your crown inspected and repaired or rebuilt today.

Our family of licensed, insured, and certified chimney pros is here to help out six days a week, and we guarantee top-notch service you can depend on.

Let our experts do a complete chimney waterproofing to provide long-lasting protection against chimney leaks.