Facts About Chimney Crown Repairs for Homeowners

The most common chimney maintenance task that a Chimney Solutions specialist will perform is your annual sweep and inspection. However, it’s also during that time they will often discover unexpected signs of water damage and sometimes even structural issues. Both of these are telltale indicators that your chimney crown is damaged.

First, what is a chimney crown?

Homeowners sometimes have a bit of confusion between their chimney cap and crown. Your cap sits over the opening, usually with some kind of metal mesh to allow smoke to escape while keeping debris out. The crown sits on top of your brick and mortar with some of your flue extending above it (and connecting to your crown).

It’s essentially a slab of concrete that redirects smoke and fumes out through your flue while helping to keep moisture away from your chimney’s interior. Damage to look for If your crown is damaged, it’s usually discovered during an inspection.

As we mentioned, there will be signs of water damage or stains. Typically, it’s due to “spider” cracks or even missing chunks of cement that have allowed water to seep into your chimney. To the untrained eye, these cracks can appear to be normal wear and tear. However, even the smallest crack can cause significant damage up to and including the need to completely rebuild your chimney system.

Tools and materials for chimney crown repairs

To get started with chimney crown repairs, you’ll need a handful of tools and supplies. These include:

• A ladder
• Brushes, including both a nylon and paintbrush
• A Putty knife
• Mortar and possibly replacement brick
• Crown sealer, and
• A par of disposable gloves.

Some optional accessories also include duct tape and a chimney harness.

The process for chimney crown repairs

You should start by filling in and/or replacing any damaged brick with new mortar via a process called tuckpointing. Allow this to be fully set before moving on to the next step, usually a full day. Now, you can begin repairing the crown.

First, you should apply a layer of the crown sealer with a nylon brush along the base of the chimney where it meets your crown. Next, continue to apply it to both the crown and the exposed brick to ensure it’s completely sealed.

Then, use the paintbrush to smooth out the sealer until fully coated. Wondering where the duct tape comes into play? You can use it as an additional sealant by first applying it to your brick and along the base of the crown, then covering it along with the rest in the sealer.

Protecting it from future damage

Once this has fully dried, you can install a new chimney cap (if yours is damaged). This helps to protect it from additional damage. Next, you can apply a layer of water repellant to the entire structure to provide it with an additional layer of protection.
Chimney crown repairs made easy with Chimney Solutions Indiana Of course, it’s always easiest to work with a team of professionals who are the experts in all things chimney. That’s where our team is ready to assist. We’ll perform a sweep and inspection and then let you know if you need additional maintenance. Ready to get started? Then contact Chimney Solutions, LLC at 317-757-6979 to schedule your appointment or visit our website and fill out our short contact form here.