Water that shows up in the firebox after rain often starts at the very top of the chimney, on the crown. Our local, family-owned team inspects and repairs chimney crowns in Cameron City, a community in Seminole County. You pay nothing for the inspection, and you see the price of any repair in writing before we begin.
The crown is the cement or masonry slab that closes the top of a brick chimney around the flue. It is meant to shed water away from the flue and past the face of the brickwork. Hairline cracks, a crown built flat or without an overhang, and gaps where the crown meets the flue liner all let water into the masonry below.
Over time that water can loosen brick and mortar, stain an inside wall and rust a damper. The crown is easy to confuse with the cap. The cap is the metal hood and screen fastened on top, and the crown is the slab it sits on. A new cap does not fix a cracked crown, and a patched crown does not keep animals out.
We tell you which part is failing, and whether the flashing lower down, at the roof line, is also letting water in. Small surface cracks can sometimes be sealed. A crown that is broken through, crumbling or shaped so that water sits on it usually has to be rebuilt so it sheds water properly. We explain which one your chimney needs and why.
You can help by noting when the leaks appear. Water after every rain points somewhere different from water only in wind-driven storms. Please do not climb onto the roof to look. A crown repair is also a good moment to check the cap, the top of the flue liner and the upper courses of brick, since they share the same exposure.
Each item gets its own price, so you can choose what to do now and what to leave for later. Call (645) 465-4122 to schedule a free inspection at your Cameron City home. Crown work booked within 72 hours of that inspection is 10% off. Our workmanship warranty covers the finished crown, and our 100% satisfaction guarantee covers the visit.
