Your chimney crown sits at the top of your masonry chimney to cover and seal your chimney from the flue liner to the chimney edge. An important component of your chimney system, the chimney crown keeps water from rain and melted snow from entering the inside of your chimney to prevent water penetration of the bricks and mortar. Since your chimney crown is constantly exposed to the elements, it can easily become damaged by weather erosion. Blue Ridge Chimney Services strongly recommends having an inspection of the condition of your chimney crown in the fall so that you can have any weather damage repaired before winter arrives. We would like to tell you more about the importance of chimney crown damage repair.
Why is it so important to have my chimney crown repaired before winter?
The main reason for the importance of repairing your chimney crown before winter arrives is to prevent more damage from occurring to the crown. According to the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), your chimney crown will deteriorate quickly when exposed to the freeze/thaw process, in which water that has been absorbed into the crown periodically freezes and expands which causes the crown to break apart and crack. If your chimney crown is already cracked, the freeze/thaw process will make it much worse. The last thing you want to happen is for your chimney crown to be so damaged that it cannot keep water from entering the chimney. Repairing the cracks in your crown will strengthen the crown to keep that seal working as it should.
How can Blue Ridge Chimney Services repair my cracked chimney crown?
To repair hairline cracks in an otherwise-sound chimney crown, our CSIA-certified technicians will apply a flexible sealant to fill in the cracks and keep water from entering the crown to make the cracks even worse. Even better, the sealant will also create a waterproof seal on the chimney crown to protect it from cracking even further.
What if my chimney crown is beyond repairing?
If your chimney crown is cracked significantly or has areas of chipping and flaking, Blue Ridge Chimney Services can build you a new chimney crown. Our experienced masonry technicians will take measurements of your chimney to build you a crown to perfectly seal off your chimney for years to come. Our masons will be sure your new crown provides a downward slope that will direct water from rain and melted snow away from the flue to the edge of the crown. The edge will direct that water away from the chimney to prevent erosion of the bricks and mortar of your chimney. We will finish your chimney crown with the application of a waterproof sealant to prolong its life.
If you suspect you may be having a problem with your chimney crown, contact Blue Ridge Chimney Services today. We can inspect your crown and make the necessary repairs in plenty of time before the arrival of winter.