Drip edges
New crowns are built to overhang the brick with a groove underneath which keeps runoff from soaking the masonry.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Crown Repair Perkasie, PA
A Perkasie chimney technician can repair the crown, the concrete slab that seals the top of the chimney around the flue, so rain stops soaking into the brick from above. Call (267) 452-8534 to reach a local chimney sweep.
A chimney crown covers the top of the brick and slopes away from the flue so water runs off instead of soaking in. Sitting fully exposed at the highest point of the house, it takes a beating from rain, snow and sun. A cracked crown funnels water into the chimney, where freezing and thawing break the masonry apart from the top down.
People often confuse the crown with the cap, but they are different parts. 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. Builders and roofers often form the crown from mortar mix spread thin and flush with the brick, with no overhang and no gap around the flue tile. Mortar shrinks and cracks under weather, and an expanding flue tile will split a crown that has no room for movement.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney crown repair in Perkasie, PA can go hand in hand with chimney cap installation and chimney leak repair.
Need chimney crown repair in Perkasie? Call (267) 452-8534 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a crown repair
The right fix depends on whether the crown is basically sound with surface cracks or failing all the way through.
Check the top
The technician checks the crown for crack size and depth, overhang, slope and the joint around the flue tile. Damage to the top courses of brick or the flue tile is noted too.
Clean the surface
Loose concrete, moss and debris are cleared and the surface is cleaned and dried. Repairs only hold on a clean, sound, dry surface.
Coat the crown
Small cracks are sealed with a flexible coating made for chimney crowns, which bridges cracks and resists water. It is the least invasive fix when the crown is still intact.
Replace the crown
Crowns that are breaking apart are replaced rather than patched. The new crown is sloped, overhangs the brick with a drip edge and is thick enough to resist cracking.
Leave room to move
A bond break is left between the crown and the flue tile so the tile can expand without cracking the crown. It is one of the most overlooked parts of a crown.
Cap the flue
A chimney cap is installed or reset over the flue once the crown has cured. Any spalled brick at the top can be repaired at the same time.
What is included
Crown work a chimney sweep handles
Expansion joints
A bond break is added so the flue tile can expand freely so heat does not crack the crown.
Crown replacement
Crumbling or badly cracked crowns are removed and recast with a slope, overhang and drip edge.
Crown sealer
Small cracks in a sound crown are sealed before water and frost can widen them.
Upper brick repair
The brick under the crown is repointed or replaced where needed to stop damage from spreading downward.
Related service
Chimney Crown Replacement Perkasie, PA
A crown that is breaking apart or was built from thin mortar usually needs to be replaced rather than coated. Replacement starts with removing the old crown and inspecting the masonry underneath. Some crowns are cast in place on the chimney, and others use a precast crown set on a bed of mortar, both with an overhang and a gap around the flue.
Crown work in Perkasie depends on the season. Concrete needs to cure without freezing, so most crown replacements are done from spring into fall. In the meantime, a temporary cover can keep the worst of the water out. It is worth asking how the new crown will handle water runoff and flue tile expansion.
Local help
Chimney Crown Repair Near Me
In Perkasie, a crown that looked fine in the fall can be cracked by spring. Homes in Perkasie and nearby towns like Sellersville, Telford, Souderton and Quakertown include plenty of older chimneys whose crowns were troweled from mortar rather than built as proper concrete crowns, which is why catching crown cracks in their first season keeps the repair simple.
Searching for chimney crown repair near me from Perkasie or Sellersville, Telford, Souderton and Quakertown? Call (267) 452-8534 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
Chimneys in this climate
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. 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, and each winter widens the cracks a little more. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in Perkasie, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why act early
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 Perkasie and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask the sweep about the cause, the options and the estimate before work starts.
Common questions about chimney crown repair
Why did my chimney crown crack?
The most common causes are freeze-thaw cycles, poor construction and flue tile expansion. A crown cast tight against the flue tile will crack when the tile heats and expands. Each freeze after that makes the crack wider.
How serious is a cracked chimney crown?
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. Caught early, a crown seal is simple, but left alone, the damage can spread down the chimney.
When does a chimney crown need replacing?
A properly built concrete crown with an overhang and expansion joint can last for decades. Crowns made from mortar mix, with no overhang or no gap around the flue tile, fail much sooner. Yearly inspections, as NFPA 211 recommends, are the best way to keep an eye on it.
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. They protect different parts of the chimney. A cap cannot make up for a cracked crown.
Do I need a new crown if mine is cracked?
That depends on how deep and widespread the cracks are. Minor surface cracks are usually sealed with an elastomeric crown sealer. Deep cracks and loose chunks call for a new crown.
More questions? Call (267) 452-8534
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides to keep out rain, animals, leaves and stray sparks.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Tracing chimney leaks to the real entry point and sealing it, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn moreChimney Masonry Repair
Fixing the brick, stone and mortar that hold a chimney together, so the chimney stays solid and dry.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Waterproofing masonry chimneys with vapor-permeable repellents, not paint, applied after repairs so the brick sheds water but can still dry out.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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(267) 452-8534
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