Chimney crown repair and rebuilds in Randal Park

Slope that moves rain off the crown

A flat crown holds puddles. Standing water finds every hairline crack and sits in it until it evaporates or soaks in. The code language for masonry chimney caps is plain on the point, the top has to be sloped to shed water.

We check the pitch with a straightedge and look for dark rings where water has been sitting. If the slope is wrong, no coating will fix it for long, and your estimate will say that plainly. A recast crown gets the correct pitch built into the forms.

Slope matters most around the flue, where water tends to gather against the tile. A new crown our crew casts falls away from each flue toward every edge, so rain leaves in all directions. On a sound crown with one small low spot, a repair mortar can sometimes build up the pitch.

Loose brick under a failed crown

Water coming through a cracked crown for a long time loosens the top few rows of brick. The mortar washes out, the bricks shift, and a new crown would have nothing solid to sit on.

If we find loose brick at the top, we relay those courses before casting the new crown. That work goes on the estimate as masonry, separate from the crown itself, so you see what each part involves. The same local crew handles both, so nothing falls between two contractors.

Relaid courses use a mortar suited to the existing brick where practical, so the repair blends in. Once those courses have set, the crown forms go on and the job continues. Your estimate shows how many courses we expect to relay, based on what the inspection found.

A second opinion on a crown estimate

If another company told you the crown needs a full rebuild, or that a coating will do, a second look can help. Crown recommendations depend on what the concrete underneath is doing, and different inspectors check different things.

Our free inspection gives you an independent answer in writing. We tell you where we agree with the earlier estimate and where we see it differently, and why.

A second opinion does not mean the first one was wrong. It means you get a clearer picture before spending money. If we agree with the earlier recommendation, we tell you that too, and we will never invent extra work to justify the visit.

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