Expansion joints
The joint between the crown and flue tile is opened and sealed with flexible material to prevent the most common type of crown crack.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Crown Repair Calumet City, IL
A Calumet City 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. Dial (708) 708-7203 to talk with a local chimney sweep about the crown.
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.
A crown is not the same as a chimney cap, though the words are often mixed up. A cap is metal and covers the flue opening, while the crown is concrete and covers the rest of the chimney top. One cannot stand in for the other.
Crowns often fail sooner than they should for a few common reasons. A common shortcut is a thin layer of mortar troweled over the top, with no overhang to throw water clear and nothing to let the flue tile expand. 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 Calumet City chimney sweep may also recommend chimney cap installation or chimney leak repair.
Dealing with this in Calumet City, IL right now? Call (708) 708-7203 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Calumet City.
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.
Inspect the crown
The crown is tapped and checked to see whether it is solid with surface cracks or breaking up. Damage to the top courses of brick or the flue tile is noted too.
Clean the surface
The crown is scrubbed of dirt, growth and loose pieces so repair material can grip. Repairs only hold on a clean, sound, dry surface.
Coat the crown
Hairline cracks in an otherwise sound crown are filled and the whole crown is coated with a flexible, elastomeric crown sealer. 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. It is built from concrete or a crown mix rather than plain mortar, with an overhang that throws water clear.
Expansion joint
The crown is separated from the flue tile by an expansion joint sealed with flexible material. That one detail prevents the most common crown cracks.
Cap the flue
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
What crown repair covers
Overhangs
New crowns are built to overhang the brick with a groove underneath so water drips clear instead of running down the brick.
Crown sealer
Small cracks in a sound crown are sealed before water and frost can widen them.
Upper brick repair
Damage to the top courses from a leaking crown is fixed in the same job so the new crown sits on sound masonry.
Crown replacement
Crumbling or badly cracked crowns are removed and recast that sheds water past the brick.
Related service
Chimney Crown Replacement Calumet City, IL
When a crown has deep cracks, loose chunks or no overhang at all, replacing it is more reliable than sealing it. The old crown is broken out down to the brick, and the top courses are checked and repaired if needed. 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.
For Calumet City homeowners, timing matters with crown replacement. Concrete needs to cure without freezing, so most crown replacements are done from spring into fall. A winter crown failure can often be sealed temporarily to buy time until warmer weather. It is worth asking how the new crown will handle water runoff and flue tile expansion.
Local help
Chimney Crown Repair Near Me
In Calumet City, a crown that looked fine in the fall can be cracked by spring. From Calumet City out to neighboring communities such as Lansing, Burnham, South Holland and Dolton, many original crowns are thin, flush with the brick and locked tight against the flue tile, which is a recipe for cracking, so sealing cracks early or replacing a poorly built crown protects the rest of the chimney.
For chimney crown repair in Calumet City, IL or nearby towns like Lansing, Burnham, South Holland and Dolton, call (708) 708-7203 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Calumet City
Winters here are cold and long, with lake effect snow in many towns and deep cold snaps that can last for days. Furnaces, wood stoves and fireplaces run hard from fall to spring, which means fast creosote buildup and a lot of stress on liners, crowns and flashing. Snow drifting against the back of a chimney melts slowly and works water under tired flashing. That is why Calumet City chimney sweeps are busiest every September and October.
Why call
Why fix it now
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Sweeps who know Calumet City
Chimney sweeps in Calumet City know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Crown Repair FAQ
When does a chimney crown need replacing?
A properly built concrete crown with an overhang and expansion joint can last for decades. The weak ones are thin, flush with the brick and cast tight to the flue. Having the crown checked each year lets you seal cracks before replacement is needed.
Can a cracked chimney crown be repaired?
The answer turns on how badly the crown is damaged. Minor surface cracks are usually sealed with an elastomeric crown sealer. If the crown is cracked through, crumbling or missing pieces, replacement is the better option.
Is a cracked chimney crown a big deal?
Crown cracks start small but cause damage well beyond the crown. The water it lets in damages the brick, the flue and the framing around the chimney. Sealing a crack early is a small job, while ignoring it can lead to rebuilding the top of the chimney.
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. Once a crack forms, water gets in, freezes and widens it every winter.
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. Each does a different job, so a good chimney needs both. Adding a cap will not fix crown damage.
More questions? Call (708) 708-7203
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, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
Learn moreChimney Masonry Repair
Brick and mortar repair for weathered or damaged chimneys, before freeze-thaw damage spreads.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Treating chimney brick and mortar with a breathable water repellent, as the last step in keeping a chimney dry.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
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Call (708) 708-7203 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Calumet City, IL.
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