Upper brick repair
Damage to the top courses from a leaking crown is fixed in the same job before the crown goes on.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Crown Repair Bryn Mawr, PA
A chimney sweep in Bryn Mawr 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. Call (484) 380-7228 to reach a local chimney sweep.
The chimney crown is the slab of concrete or mortar on top of the chimney, around the flue tile, and its job is to keep water out of the masonry below. 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.
It helps to separate the crown from the cap. The crown is the masonry slab, while the cap is the metal cover with a mesh screen that sits over the flue opening. A new cap will not stop water from soaking in through 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. That combination tends to crack within a few winters.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney crown repair in Bryn Mawr, PA can go hand in hand with chimney cap installation and chimney leak repair.
Need chimney crown repair in Bryn Mawr? Call (484) 380-7228 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Bryn Mawr.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a crown repair
The right fix depends on whether the crown is basically sound with surface cracks or failing all the way through.
Check the top
The technician checks the crown for crack size and depth, overhang, slope and the joint around the flue tile. The flue tile, cap and upper brick are checked at the same time, since crown damage often spreads to them.
Remove loose material
Any crumbling material is chipped away and the surface is prepared. Repairs only hold on a clean, sound, dry surface.
Seal minor cracks
For minor cracking, a brushable crown repair coating seals the cracks and stretches with the concrete as it moves. This is a good option when the crown is solid and the cracks are caught early.
Replace the crown
If the crown is crumbling, thin or cracked through, it is removed and a new one is formed and cast. A proper replacement slopes away from the flue and extends past the brick with a drip edge underneath.
Leave room to move
The crown is separated from the flue tile by an expansion joint sealed with flexible material. It is one of the most overlooked parts of a crown.
Finish the top
A cap goes back on once the new crown is ready. It is a good moment to repoint the top courses if needed.
What is included
Types of crown repair
Crown replacement
Crumbling or badly cracked crowns are removed and recast built to last through many winters.
Drip edges
The crown extends past the chimney face to protect the brick below.
Expansion joints
A bond break is added so the flue tile can expand freely which keeps the new crown from cracking early.
Crown sealer
Small cracks in a sound crown are sealed to extend the life of the crown.
Related service
Chimney Crown Replacement Bryn Mawr, PA
Chimney crown replacement is the right call when the crown is cracked all the way through, crumbling, missing pieces or was built too thin to last. The old crown is broken out down to the brick, and the top courses are checked and repaired if needed. Forms are set to create the overhang, the flue tile is wrapped to allow movement, and concrete is placed and sloped away from the flue.
In Bryn Mawr, the weather affects when a crown can be replaced. Concrete needs to cure without freezing, so most crown replacements are done from spring into fall. A winter crown failure can often be sealed temporarily to buy time until warmer weather. Make sure the plan includes a drip edge and a flexible joint around the flue, not just new concrete.
Local help
Chimney Crown Repair Near Me
Chimney crowns in Bryn Mawr take the full force of the weather year round. From Bryn Mawr out to neighboring communities such as Rosemont, Ardmore, Villanova and Narberth, many original crowns are thin, flush with the brick and locked tight against the flue tile, which is a recipe for cracking, which is why catching crown cracks in their first season keeps the repair simple.
Need chimney crown repair around Bryn Mawr? Call (484) 380-7228 for a Bryn Mawr chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
What the local climate does to a chimney
Cold winters keep fireplaces, wood stoves and oil burners working for half the year or more. The hardest thing on brick here is not the cold itself but the constant swing above and below freezing: 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. Wind driven rain from coastal storms finds any gap in flashing, too. Most homeowners in Bryn Mawr, PA schedule a sweep in early fall, and a repair check after a hard winter.
Why call
Why not wait
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Sweeps who know Bryn Mawr
Chimney sweeps in Bryn Mawr know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Common questions about chimney crown repair
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. The crown keeps water out of the brick, and the cap keeps rain, animals and debris out of the flue. A cap cannot make up for a cracked crown.
Can a cracked chimney crown be repaired?
How far the cracking goes decides it. Minor surface cracks are usually sealed with an elastomeric crown sealer. A crown that is breaking apart or was built too thin usually needs to be replaced.
What causes chimney crowns to 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. Each freeze after that makes the crack wider.
How long does a chimney crown last?
A properly built concrete crown with an overhang and expansion joint can last for decades. The weak ones are thin, flush with the brick and cast tight to the flue. An annual inspection catches cracks while they can still be sealed.
How serious is a cracked chimney crown?
A cracked crown is worth fixing quickly, even if the crack looks small. The water it lets in damages the brick, the flue and the framing around the chimney. Caught early, a crown seal is simple, but left alone, the damage can spread down the chimney.
More questions? Call (484) 380-7228
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides to keep out rain, animals, leaves and stray sparks.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Tracing chimney leaks to the real entry point and sealing it, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
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
Waterproofing masonry chimneys with vapor-permeable repellents, not paint, to slow freeze-thaw damage and spalling.
Learn more
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