Chimney Crown Repair – Chimney Crown Rebuild

High’s Chimney Service of Gaithersburg, MD, performs chimney crown repair and chimney crown rebuilding throughout Potomac, MD, Bethesda, MD, Chevy Chase, MD, Rockville, MD, and other communities in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.

A chimney crown serves as a roof for your chimney.  Made of cement, it provides a solid barrier against water infiltration, which will erode the chimney’s masonry.  The crown is built with a sloped design that slightly overhangs the exterior of the chimney, allowing rain water to be channeled away from the flue opening and keeping it from running down the outside of the chimney.  Water can significantly damage the bricks and mortar that were used to build your chimney, so if there’s cracking or decomposition in your chimney crown, it needs to be inspected and repaired quickly.

Most homeowners are unaware of the condition of their chimney crown.  This is why we recommend annual chimney inspections by CSIA- or CCP-certified chimney sweeps.  It’s always best to catch problems early.

Chimney crowns that are showing signs of damage and are left unattended can cause problems; ranging from expensive to catastrophic.  If water is allowed to bypass the cement crown and seep into the chimney’s bricks, it will freeze in cold weather and expand, causing further decomposition.  Before long, large sections of masonry can fall apart, leaving your chimney in an unsafe operational state.  Fortunately, if problems are spotted early enough, basic repairs can be made to prevent further damage.

Chimney Crown Sealing

When cracking is minor or moderate, often a waterproof sealant is the ideal remedy.  The first step is to fill any cracks with a patching material that is strong and durable.  This along with a coating of sealant will then block water from entering compromised areas and restore safe operation to your chimney.  Chimney crown sealing should only be done by professionals who are experienced in chimney crown repair.

Chimney Crown Rebuilding

In cases of severe damage, chimney crown rebuilding may be called for.  Assuming there hasn’t been any significant damage to the chimney structure itself, chimney crown rebuilding is a fairly straightforward operation that will give you a brand new crown to protect your chimney for years to come.  Only an inspection by a certified technician can determine exactly how much damage exists and where it has happened.  If more extensive chimney rebuilding services are necessary, our crews are trained to get it done right the first time.

Keep in mind that you should never hire a chimney sweep who wants to rebuild your chimney crown with mortar.  This material will absorb water, and before long you’ll be right back where you started.  Our techs use only high-quality, durable cement when rebuilding chimney crowns.

When it comes to your chimney, you should never put off needed repairs.  Any kind of existing damage can turn into an expensive and dangerous scenario down the line.  Chimneys have many components – flue liner, chimney crown, chimney cap, chimney flashing and the bricks and mortar from which the chimney was built.  Only a professional inspector can find areas of compromise and have them repaired or rebuilt in a way that ensures the safety of your chimney.

If it’s been awhile since your chimney was looked at, call High’s Chimney Service of Gaithersburg, MD, for complete inspection services and expert chimney crown repair and rebuilding.  We serve customers in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.  Call the experts today.