Chimney Services
What a lasting crown repair takes
Same-day crown inspections are available in Goldsboro when the schedule allows.
Mortar washes and formed crowns
Many chimneys were finished with a layer of mortar troweled over the top course and sloped toward the edge. From the ground it looks like a crown, but it is thin, rarely reinforced and made from a mix meant for joints. The Brick Industry Association notes that mortar washes may not be as durable.
If the wash is still holding fast, a sealer and a yearly look may be enough for now. Once it is loose, cracked through or turning to sand, we recommend breaking it off and casting a proper crown with a thick edge, a projection past the brick and a drip underneath. Either way, you hear which kind of top your chimney has before any price.
Concrete pieces in the gutter
Small chunks of gray concrete in the gutter or on the ground by the chimney usually come from the crown's edge. They mean the rim is breaking up, and each piece that falls leaves a larger gap for water.
Keep the pieces if you find them and mention them when you call. We check how much of the edge is left and whether the rest of the crown is still solid, which decides between an edge repair and a new crown.
Protecting the roof during crown work
Breaking out an old crown sends dust and concrete toward the roof and gutters. We cover the roofing around the chimney, protect the flue openings from debris and lower the old material instead of dropping it. Any cap removed for the work is stored where it cannot be damaged or blow away.
At the end of the day the roof is swept, the gutters near the chimney are cleared and the flues are checked for anything that fell in. If we notice roofing damage near the chimney, we mention it before we leave.
A yearly look at the chimney top
Under NFPA 211, the national standard for chimneys and fireplaces, a chimney should get an inspection every year. The crown gains a lot from that check, because small cracks are simple to seal and large ones are not.
A yearly look catches hardened sealant, new hairline cracks and edge damage while they are still minor. We can combine it with a sweep or a cap check on the same visit, each priced separately. A crack that has grown between two yearly visits tells us more than a single look ever could.
