The chimney crown at the very top of a chimney is one of the system’s components most people rarely, if ever, see. But the concrete crown performs a very important function, and if it becomes damaged, big trouble won’t be far off down the road.
American Chimney & Fireplace of Louisville, KY, is a family-owned, family-operated company that’s been rebuilding chimney crowns throughout Jefferson County, KY, since 2007. Let us share a little about this work and how it will benefit your entire chimney system.
What Does a Chimney Crown Do?
Chimney crowns are slabs made of concrete that cover the top of the chimney structure minus the flue opening. Crowns protect interior areas of the chimney system from several things, including:
- Rain and snow
- Leaves and twigs from nearby trees
- Squirrels, birds, rodents and other small animals
When Is Chimney Crown Repair Needed?
As years pass, crowns often develop small cracks. If these cracks aren’t shielded by a full-width custom chimney cap, then rain and melting snow will seep into the openings and then freeze and expand. This can lead to significant cracking and deterioration.
Lightning strikes, pounding hail, inferior-quality concrete and poor workmanship in building the crown are all common reasons that homeowners schedule chimney crown repair services.
When Chimney Crown Rebuilding Is Necessary
As we mentioned higher up, the crown sits in an area of the chimney that most people rarely see. Once crown damage starts, it can progress and become serious without anyone in the home even knowing about it.
Chimney crown rebuilding is needed when basic repair and crack-sealing can’t restore soundness. American Chimney & Fireplace employs experienced masons who know the right way to perform chimney crown rebuilding in order to give your chimney system years of solid protection.
It Starts with a Chimney Inspection
Before we do any work on your crown, we’ll perform a close visual inspection, not only of the crown but also of nearby components and parts of the chimney. We’re looking for damage in the crown as well as collateral damage that the faulty crown may have caused.
Based on what we find, we’ll either recommend basic chimney crown repair or a full chimney crown rebuilding.
Never allow a so-called “chimney company” to give you an estimate and begin work without first doing a proper inspection!
Crown Sealing
Following a chimney crown repair project, we like to add a coating of ChimneySaver CrownCoat, a special compound that shields crowns from water and snow. This coating cures quickly, is friendly to the environment and provides a secure barrier of protection.
Work Done by Experts
Whether it’s full-scale chimney crown rebuilding or just basic repairs, the masons who work on your chimney will be fully trained with years of hands-on experience. Since 2007, we’ve produced superior results for our Louisville, KY, customers, and our exceptional team is the main reason for it.
If your chimney crown needs attention, give us a call and arrange an inspection. You can also get in touch through our simple contact form.
American Chimney & Fireplace provides licensed chimney repairs and chimney crown rebuilding services in Louisville, KY, Prospect, KY, Shelbyville, KY, Jeffersonville, IN, Taylorsville, KY, Hillview, KY, Shepherdsville, KY, and other local communities.
