Are you concerned about attaining detailed information about chimney crowns? Then, this is the right place to get yourself with every single detail about it.
Introduction
Do you own a chimney but don’t know when your chimney crown needs repair or rebuild? If so, then this article is a thorough guide to explain what a chimney crown is, how it’s important, and when it should be fixed. Observing the crown from the top, standing on the floor, can never detect if your crown is damaged and needs repair. When the damage reaches a critical point, water leakage becomes a noticeable and sure sign that a problem with the chimney crown has occurred. This comprehensive guide will help you explore all the aspects of the chimney crown and what to do when it gets damaged.
What is a Chimney Crown?
The chimney crown is a little bit sloped, and the most important part of the chimney system is made of concrete. This area or covering exists around the top of the chimney and presents as an “Umbrella” of the complete chimney system. But it should not be confused with the chimney cap, which is an attachment connected to the top of the flue file and helps to keep deposits out of the chimney flue.
The chimney crown is present at the top of the masonry walls of the fireplace with a small concrete roof and restricts water from seeping into the mortar and bricks that make up your entire chimney structure. The chimney crown with a simple construction saves thousands of dollars for chimney owners who spend on expensive water damage repairs, rebuilds, or replacements.
Why Chimney Crown is Considered Important?
A chimney crown in well-maintained condition aids in protecting your chimney from potential water damage, avoids the likelihood of fire, and helps sustain the chimney’s longevity. Without a properly constructed chimney crown, it’s much easier for water to seep into the flue. Except for that, moisture makes the condition of the mortar and brick of your chimney worse and results in masonry instability. So, costly repairs become a need, and sometimes, the collapse of your chimney and roof occurs.
Chimney Crown Repair:
If the top of the chimney crown has noticeable cracks, it needs to be repaired and sealed. Otherwise, cracks cause leakage and eventually will destroy the entire chimney. Most chimney owners don’t think about maintaining their chimneys except for occasional flue cleaning. However, ignorance results in costly options like chimney crown repair. Chimney crown meets up with weather damage as it comes in direct contact with weather fluctuations like heavy rainfall, so it gets damaged with exposure to harsh elements and water. If you observe an accumulation of water on top of the chimney crown, don’t delay its repair.
You can do repair the chimney crown by yourself, but the recommendation is to hire the services of an experienced, licensed, and certified team of experts to perform the repair professionally after proper inspection. Because you are a novice, chimney crowns do not function, they are just there as a protective object against water that goes to the structure/foundation. In return, you will have to pay more for repair services. A team of experts, after analyzing the chimney crown, deeply suggested that it needs repair or minor improvements. A high-quality chimney crown lasts up to 50 to 75 years and works efficiently as a water-protector.
On the other hand, a poorly constructed chimney crown by inexperienced hands breaks down in less than 1 yearul. Eventually, it costs much more to rebuild than an accurately constructed chimney crown. Along with the crown repair, staff inspects the whole chimney and recommends what your chimney demands right now.
Chimney Crown Rebuild:
Unfortunately, some people repair chimney crowns by stroking a new mortar coating at the top. However, they are unaware that if water enters between these coatings, the damage will only increase. The condition also gets worse when the edges of the chimney crown lift away from the brick. If your chimney is already constructed poorly, then it’s on its way to demanding expensive rebuilding work. To save yourself from extensive restoration work and for the sake of your comfort, always opt for professional evaluation and rebuilding it with quality materials. You must focus on utilizing flexible sealant to cover up minor cracks.
However, larger cracks or in case your chimney has reached extensive damage, or pieces broken off your crowns, and large spaces have been created between the walls of the chimney and the flue, then it’s a sure sign that rebuilding the crown is the only option left. Bear in mind that if rebuilding is not executed on time, then replacement is the single option left behind. Complete replacement of the chimney crown is the most expensive option.
What does crown rebuild mean? A crown rebuild means clearing out the damaged crown and constructing a new crown, as well as building a chimney cap to ensure the long-lasting effectiveness of the entire chimney. Most of the time, chimney crown rebuild needs a call to professional services. Always focus on contacting a reliable company that is authorized, experienced, and licensed. The professionals are equipped up with the essential tools and experience to take care of your chimney crown safely and accurately. Otherwise, a chimney owner can end up destroying the chimney crown, and in turn, collapse may occur.
Conclusion:
Putting all the details under one roof, this guide is a comprehensive approach to obtaining all the must-to-know information regarding chimney crowns. Every aspect has been discussed, from the basic purpose of a chimney crown to its benefits as a water protector and when it needs to be repaired or rebuilt. In short, regular maintenance of the chimney crown can prevent extensive damages and costly restoration. The chimney crown is not being sweeped, there’s simply no such thing. However, the chimney crown, being a top part and directly exposed to harsh weather and elements, gets damaged with time. So, it’s better to hire services of professional, insured, and trained staff for thorough inspection, cleaning, and repairing or rebuilding of chimney crowns as needed.
