Chimney Services
Sealing, repairing and rebuilding the crown
Our experts check the crown, the flue joints and the brick below before recommending any repair in Woodruff Springs.
Hairline cracks and cracks that go through
Fine surface cracks in a sound crown can often be sealed. Cracks that run through the full thickness, open wider at the edge or let pieces move are a different problem, because water passes straight through them into the chimney below.
Crack width and depth, hollow spots found by tapping and whether the edges are still firmly attached tell us whether a coating will hold or the crown needs to come off. You see the difference before any price is written.
Coating over an older coating
Crowns that have been treated before may carry a layer of old sealer, paint or patching compound. Some of it still grips well and some of it is peeling, and a new product cannot grip a surface that is coming loose.
We test how the old layer is holding, remove what is failing and clean the surface before anything new goes on. If the old material is unknown and the product maker calls for bare masonry, we strip it. You see that preparation listed on the estimate.
Sealant at the flue joint
Around each flue liner, the crown is finished with a bead of flexible sealant in place of rigid mortar, and that bead wears out long before the concrete does. The Brick Industry Association recommends a good grade of polysulfide, butyl or silicone rubber sealant, installed with proper priming and backing, and advises against oil-based sealants.
A hardened, cracked or missing bead lets water run straight down the outside of the liner. Resealing that joint is a small job when the crown itself is sound, and we check it on every crown we look at.
What we check on the chimney top
A crown inspection covers the surface, the edges and the overhang, the slope and any low spots, the joint around each flue, the liner projection, the drip under the edge and the top courses of brick. We also look at the cap and the flashing while we are up there.
Each repair option comes with a plain explanation and its own written price. The inspection is free, and nothing starts until you approve the work. If the crown is sound, we tell you that too, so you do not pay for work the chimney does not need.
