Chimney crown repair and sealing in Morningside Park

Crown repair on homes with tile roofs

Clay and concrete roof tiles can crack under a careless step. If your home has a tile roof, the path to the chimney matters as much as the crown work itself.

Our crew plans where to step, spreads the load and keeps materials off the tiles. If a tile near the chimney is already cracked when we arrive, we point it out before starting. The goal is a repaired crown and a roof left the way we found it.

Tile roofs also hide what is underneath. Water that gets past a cracked crown can reach the underlayment below the tiles near the chimney. If we see signs of that, we mention it so you can have a roofer look, and we keep our estimate focused on the crown.

Water repellent for the brick after crown repair

Once the crown is sound, the brick below can still absorb rain through its face. A breathable water repellent made for masonry lets moisture escape while slowing the water coming in.

Chimney waterproofing is a separate service, and it only makes sense after the top is fixed. We mention it when the brick is clearly soaking up water and leave it off the estimate when it is not needed. The choice stays yours.

Timing matters with repellents. They go on dry brick after the crown and any masonry repairs have cured. Applied too early they trap moisture, and applied over open cracks they do little. Our technicians tell you when the chimney is ready, if you decide to go ahead.

Details that help when you call about the crown

A few details help our technician plan the visit. Tell us what you have noticed, when it started, whether water shows up inside and whether anyone has worked on the chimney top before.

If you have an old estimate or inspection report, keep it handy. We read it at the free inspection so we can explain what has changed since, and whether the earlier advice still holds.

It also helps to know how the fireplace gets used. A fireplace lit every week in the cooler months puts more heat through the flue than one lit a few times a year, and that affects how the crown and flue joint behave.

What our technician checks on a crown

A crown inspection is more than a glance at the top. Our technician looks at the surface, taps for hollow areas, checks the edges and drip, watches how the top drains and examines the joint at each flue.

Everything goes into a written summary in plain language, with a recommendation for each finding. The inspection is free, and so is the estimate.

The inspection also covers the brick at the top of the chimney and the cap. If anything outside the crown needs attention, we tell you, and it shows up as a separate line on the estimate so you can decide.

• Surface cracks and how deep they run
• Hollow or loose sections
• Edges, corners and the drip line
• Sealant and bond break at each flue