Is Your Crown In Need Of Professional Repair?
None of us want water or animals in our chimneys, but have you given much thought to what’s keeping them out? The brunt of the work is done by the chimney crown, which is the cement slab that sits atop your chimney stack. When properly designed and well-maintained, crowns can protect your chimney for years – but what happens when they fail?
If your crown has started to crack, moisture can enter into the openings, causing them to grow larger and larger. As they increase in size, the amount of water that can access your chimney system increases as well. And once water makes its way in, it can destroy everything – from the flue and the damper to the firebox, fireplace, smoke chamber, and the walls and ceilings that surround your chimney system. But we’re here to keep that from happening!
When you schedule annual chimney inspections with Chesapeake Chimney & Co., you can trust us to check your crown for proper composition and form, and identify any cracks, holes, or areas that may allow water access. We’ll even provide you with a detailed written report of our findings so you know just what, if anything, needs to be done to restore your crown.
Why Is Crown Composition & Form So Important?
If you think about it, as a horizontal component at the top of your chimney, your crown doesn’t get much protection from the rain, snow, and sun. If it’s not constructed of high-quality concrete and reinforced by mesh, it can quickly crumble under the elemental pressure. Yet, unfortunately, many contractors build chimney crowns out of simple mortar.
Additionally, many crowns are built incredibly thin (a quality crown should be at least 3 inches thick at its thinnest point), and without slope or drip edges. Without a slight slope in the crown, water and snow will settle on the crown and deteriorate it instead of running off.
Without drip edges, when this moisture does leave the crown, it will fall right down into the vulnerable joints where the chimney meets the roofline. Even if this area is properly protected with quality flashing, if water dumps onto the flashing, it will decay and deteriorate faster than it should and allow water to enter your home.
What Can Be Done To Repair A Damaged Or Improperly Constructed Crown?
If your crown is beginning to crack and crumble or if it was built improperly, we can help. We offer solutions for both cracking and poorly constructed crowns:
Cracking Crowns. To repair cracks in crowns, our technicians will apply CrownSeal, which will seal the cracks with a waterproof membrane. This waterproof membrane works to prevent the cracks from growing any bigger and protect the area from water penetration.
Poor Construction. If the problem with your crown begins with construction, our experts can remove your crown and replace it with a new, properly constructed one that will serve you for years.
To have your crown looked at by a Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified professional, call 410-535-0052 or click here. We’re here to help!
Our masonry repair services include skilled firebox repair whether your firebox needs minor repair or a complete rebuild. Call on us for dependable, courteous performance every time.