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 DuBois, PA
A chimney sweep in DuBois can seal hairline cracks in a chimney crown or rebuild a crown that is breaking apart, so rain stops soaking into the brick from above. One call to (814) 913-0171 reaches a nearby chimney crown pro.
A chimney crown covers the top of the brick and slopes away from the flue so water runs off instead of soaking in. It takes more weather than any other part of the chimney, so it is often the first thing to crack. Once it cracks, water runs straight into the brick and mortar below, and every freeze widens the crack.
People often confuse the crown with the cap, but they are different parts. The crown is the masonry slab, while the cap is the metal cover with a mesh screen that sits over the flue opening. Both matter, but a cap does nothing for a cracked crown.
A lot of crown failures trace back to the original construction. Many original crowns are thin mortar caps rather than proper concrete, with no drip edge and the flue tile locked tight in the mix. Mortar is not meant for that job, and a flue tile that heats and expands will crack a crown that is cast tight against it.
Chimney Crown Repair is often paired with chimney cap installation and chimney leak repair, depending on the cause.
Looking for DuBois chimney crown repair? Call (814) 913-0171 to reach a nearby chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a crown repair
Crown repair runs from a simple seal coat to a full rebuild, depending on the damage.
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.
Prep the crown
Loose concrete, moss and debris are cleared and the surface is cleaned and dried. Skipping prep is the main reason crown patches peel off.
Apply crown sealer
Small cracks are sealed with a flexible coating made for chimney crowns, which bridges cracks and resists water. It works well on a structurally sound crown with surface cracks.
Recast the top
A failing crown is chipped off and replaced with a properly built concrete crown. It is built from concrete or a crown mix rather than plain mortar, with an overhang that throws water clear.
Leave room to move
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
With the crown done, a cap with a mesh screen is added to keep rain and animals out of the flue. Damaged upper brick and joints are often handled in the same visit.
What is included
Crown work a chimney sweep handles
Upper brick repair
Damage to the top courses from a leaking crown is fixed in the same job before the crown goes on.
Drip edges
New crowns are built to overhang the brick with a groove underneath so water drips clear instead of running down the brick.
Crown replacement
Crumbling or badly cracked crowns are removed and recast that sheds water past the brick.
Crown sealer
Small cracks in a sound crown are sealed to extend the life of the crown.
Related service
Chimney Crown Replacement DuBois, PA
When a crown has deep cracks, loose chunks or no overhang at all, replacing it is more reliable than sealing it. First the failed crown comes off, exposing the top of the brick and the flue tile. Some crowns are cast in place on the chimney, and others use a precast crown set on a bed of mortar, both with an overhang and a gap around the flue.
Crown work in DuBois depends on the season. Because new concrete is vulnerable to frost while it cures, crown work is easier outside the coldest months. 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
Chimney crowns in DuBois take the full force of the weather year round. From DuBois out to neighboring communities such as Sandy, Treasure Lake, Punxsutawney and Brookville, many original crowns are thin, flush with the brick and locked tight against the flue tile, which is a recipe for cracking, and a properly built crown is one of the best investments in a chimney.
Searching for chimney crown repair near me from DuBois or Sandy, Treasure Lake, Punxsutawney and Brookville? Call (814) 913-0171 to talk to a chimney sweep who works in your part of town.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Winters here are long and cold, and the heating season usually runs from October well into April. Masonry takes the worst of it from the freeze and thaw cycle: water soaks into brick, mortar joints and the crown on a mild day, freezes overnight and expands, which is how cracks, loose bricks and leaks start. Nor'easters drive rain sideways into flashing and mortar that looked fine in summer. Most homeowners in DuBois, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why fix it now
Less damage
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across DuBois and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Crown Repair FAQ
When does a chimney crown need replacing?
A well-built crown can last a very long time, while a thin mortar crown may crack within a few years. Poorly built crowns crack early and need attention more often. An annual inspection catches cracks while they can still be sealed.
Why did my chimney crown crack?
Weather, shortcuts in the original build and heat from the flue are behind most crown cracks. A crown cast tight against the flue tile will crack when the tile heats and expands. Water and frost then finish the job.
Do I need a new crown if mine is cracked?
How far the cracking goes decides it. Minor surface cracks are usually sealed with an elastomeric crown sealer. Deep cracks and loose chunks call for a new crown.
How serious is a cracked chimney crown?
Crown cracks start small but cause damage well beyond the crown. Water that gets through a crack soaks the brick and mortar, freezes and causes spalling, crumbling joints and leaks. Sealing a crack early is a small job, while ignoring it can lead to rebuilding the top of the chimney.
Is a chimney crown the same as a chimney cap?
The crown is the concrete or mortar slab that covers the top of the masonry around the flue, and the cap is the metal cover that sits over the flue opening. They protect different parts of the chimney. A damaged crown needs its own repair.
More questions? Call (814) 913-0171
Other services that may help
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney so water, birds and debris stay out of the flue.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, whether the drip shows up in the attic, the ceiling or the firebox.
Learn moreChimney Masonry Repair
Fixing the brick, stone and mortar that hold a chimney together, with materials matched to the original masonry.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Protecting chimney masonry from rain with a penetrating repellent, to slow freeze-thaw damage and spalling.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesNeed chimney crown repair in DuBois, PA?
Call (814) 913-0171 for a local chimney sweep in DuBois and nearby towns.
(814) 913-0171
Free to call. No forms to fill out.