Chimney crown repair in College Park

Leave the roof climbing to our crew

Climbing onto a roof to look at a chimney is riskier than it seems. Wet shingles, loose tile and a ladder on soft ground turn a quick look into a real hazard, and a crown crack is never worth a fall.

Our crew brings the right ladders and roof gear and knows how to work safely around a chimney. You get the same information you would have seen yourself, written down, without leaving the ground.

Our technicians also know what to look for once they are up there, which makes the visit faster and more useful. They check the crown, cap, flue and flashing in one trip, so you get a complete picture of the chimney top from a single inspection.

What a full crown rebuild includes

A crown rebuild covers the whole top of the chimney. The old crown comes off, the top brick is checked, forms go up, reinforcement goes in, and a new sloped crown is cast with an overhang and drip.

After it cures, the flue joint gets its sealant and any cap is refitted. Our written estimate lists each of those steps, and at the end of the job we walk you through them so you know exactly what you paid for.

A rebuild also includes protecting the flue during the work and checking it afterward, so no debris is left inside. If the cap needs replacing, it is fitted once the crown has cured. Everything is listed, so you can see what the rebuild includes and what it leaves out.

• Old crown removed down to sound masonry
• Forms, reinforcement and a sloped pour
• Bond break and sealant at each flue

Scheduling a crown pour around rain

Fresh concrete and heavy rain do not mix. A downpour on a crown poured an hour earlier can wash out the surface and leave it weak and rough for good.

We schedule crown pours into dry windows and keep you posted if the forecast changes. If we need to move your date, the office calls with the next opening, and your inspection findings stay valid in the meantime.

Heat matters as well. Concrete placed in strong sun loses water quickly, so our crew often starts early in the day and keeps the surface protected while it sets. Planning around the weather is part of building a crown that holds up.

Crown repair that fits the rest of the chimney

A new crown should look like it belongs on your chimney. The overhang, the thickness and the finish are sized to the chimney, so the top looks tidy from the street and the drip edge still does its job.

Our crew talks through the look before building the forms. If you have a preference about the edge profile or finish, tell us at the inspection and we will say what works with the drainage the crown needs.

Our crew also makes sure the new crown lines up with the chimney faces. A crown that is square and even looks better and sheds water more evenly. We check the finished edges from the ground before we pack up.