Expansion joints
The joint between the crown and flue tile is opened and sealed with flexible material which keeps the new crown from cracking early.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Crown Repair Sewickley, PA
A chimney sweep in Sewickley can seal hairline cracks in a chimney crown or rebuild a crown that is breaking apart, so rain stops soaking into the brick from above. Dial (412) 663-3115 to talk with a local chimney sweep about the crown.
The chimney crown is the slab of concrete or mortar on top of the chimney, around the flue tile, and its job is to keep water out of the masonry below. Because it faces every storm, freeze and heat wave head on, the crown is usually the first part of the chimney to fail. Water that gets through a cracked crown soaks the top courses of brick and expands as it freezes.
A crown is not the same as a chimney cap, though the words are often mixed up. The cap is a metal hood over the flue that keeps out rain and animals, and the crown is the concrete it is mounted on. One cannot stand in for the other.
A lot of crown failures trace back to the original construction. Many original crowns are thin mortar caps rather than proper concrete, with no drip edge and the flue tile locked tight in the mix. Mortar shrinks and cracks under weather, and an expanding flue tile will split a crown that has no room for movement.
If the problem goes deeper than it first looked, a Sewickley chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or chimney leak repair.
Looking for Sewickley chimney crown repair? Call (412) 663-3115 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Sewickley.
Call nowThe process
How chimney crown repair works
Here is how a chimney technician typically handles a crown repair.
Inspect the crown
From the roof, the crown is examined for cracks, crumbling, poor slope and missing overhang. The flue tile, cap and upper brick are checked at the same time, since crown damage often spreads to them.
Prep the crown
Loose concrete, moss and debris are cleared and the surface is cleaned and dried. Skipping prep is the main reason crown patches peel off.
Apply crown sealer
Hairline cracks in an otherwise sound crown are filled and the whole crown is coated with a flexible, elastomeric crown sealer. It works well on a structurally sound crown with surface cracks.
Rebuild if needed
A failing crown is chipped off and replaced with a properly built concrete crown. It is built from concrete or a crown mix rather than plain mortar, with an overhang that throws water clear.
Flue tile joint
The gap around the flue tile is filled with a flexible sealant rather than locked tight in concrete. Without it, the hot flue tile will crack a new crown just like the old one.
Finish the top
A cap goes back on once the new crown is ready. Any spalled brick at the top can be repaired at the same time.
What is included
Types of crown repair
Drip edges
An overhang with a drip edge is formed into the crown so water drips clear instead of running down the brick.
Upper brick repair
The brick under the crown is repointed or replaced where needed before the crown goes on.
Crown sealer
Small cracks in a sound crown are sealed that keeps water out and moves with the concrete.
Crown rebuilding
A failed crown is replaced with a properly built concrete crown that sheds water past the brick.
Related service
Chimney Crown Replacement Sewickley, PA
When a crown has deep cracks, loose chunks or no overhang at all, replacing it is more reliable than sealing it. First the failed crown comes off, exposing the top of the brick and the flue tile. Forms are set to create the overhang, the flue tile is wrapped to allow movement, and concrete is placed and sloped away from the flue.
In Sewickley, the weather affects when a crown can be replaced. Because new concrete is vulnerable to frost while it cures, crown work is easier outside the coldest months. In the meantime, a temporary cover can keep the worst of the water out. Ask the chimney sweep whether the new crown will have an overhang, a drip edge and an expansion joint at the flue, since those three details decide how long it lasts.
Local help
Chimney Crown Repair Near Me
In Sewickley, a crown that looked fine in the fall can be cracked by spring. Across Sewickley and nearby places including Coraopolis, Ambridge, Franklin Park and Avalon, the crowns that crack first are the ones with no overhang and no room for the flue tile to move, which is why catching crown cracks in their first season keeps the repair simple.
For chimney crown repair in Sewickley, PA or nearby towns like Coraopolis, Ambridge, Franklin Park and Avalon, call (412) 663-3115 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Sewickley, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why not wait
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Familiar with local homes
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Sewickley and nearby towns.
Straight answers
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Chimney Crown Repair questions
When does a chimney crown need replacing?
A well-built crown can last a very long time, while a thin mortar crown may crack within a few years. The weak ones are thin, flush with the brick and cast tight to the flue. An annual inspection catches cracks while they can still be sealed.
What causes chimney crowns to crack?
Weather, shortcuts in the original build and heat from the flue are behind most crown cracks. A crown cast tight against the flue tile will crack when the tile heats and expands. Once a crack forms, water gets in, freezes and widens it every winter.
Can a cracked chimney crown be repaired?
That depends on how deep and widespread the cracks are. Hairline cracks in a solid crown can be sealed with a flexible crown coating that bridges the cracks and keeps water out. Deep cracks and loose chunks call for a new crown.
Is a chimney crown the same as a chimney cap?
A crown is masonry and seals the top of the chimney, while a cap is a metal hood with a screen that covers the flue itself. The crown keeps water out of the brick, and the cap keeps rain, animals and debris out of the flue. A cap cannot make up for a cracked crown.
Is a cracked chimney crown a big deal?
Crown cracks start small but cause damage well beyond the crown. Water that gets through a crack soaks the brick and mortar, freezes and causes spalling, crumbling joints and leaks. Sealing a crack early is a small job, while ignoring it can lead to rebuilding the top of the chimney.
More questions? Call (412) 663-3115
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney to keep out rain, animals, leaves and stray sparks.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn moreChimney Masonry Repair
Fixing the brick, stone and mortar that hold a chimney together, with materials matched to the original masonry.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Protecting chimney masonry from rain with a penetrating repellent, to slow freeze-thaw damage and spalling.
Learn more
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