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Austin Chimney Crown Repair
For Chimney Crown Repairs Near Austin
Trust Our Certified Chimney Professionals!
When most people look at their chimneys, it looks like a single piece, but it’s actually made from many different parts that require different maintenance and repairs. Some are a part of the whole, while others are able to be removed and replaced as needed.
One of the components of your chimney that was built into the whole is the chimney crown. If you’re in the greater Austin area and have concerns about your chimney’s crown, you’ll find answers and great service at Wolfman Chimney & Fire. As a certified, experienced team of the best chimney professionals in the Austin area, we offer a range of crown repair and maintenance options in addition to our many other services.
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What and Where is the Chimney Crown?
Like a crown for a human, the chimney crown sits on the top of the chimney. Unlike the chimney cap, which is a small roof and screen over your chimney’s opening, the crown is a cement slab covering the top of your chimney. It directs water away from your chimney’s masonry work and interior, providing protection from moisture.
To do its job, your chimney crown needs to be built properly from the right materials. If it isn’t, it can break down before it should. This leaves your chimney system vulnerable to moisture damage. For this reason, it’s important to trust the experts at Wolfman to take care of your chimney crown, along with the rest of your chimney system.
What Makes Up a Chimney Crown?
Though crowns on historic structures may have been made from mortar mix, modern chimney crowns are made from a Portland cement-based mix. Mortar-mix crowns didn’t last, and would break down, leaving the chimney vulnerable to leaks and water damage. However, there are other factors beyond material that need to be kept in mind:
- Proper thickness. Chimney crowns need to be a minimum of 2” thick at the thinnest point. This allows natural thinning and deterioration that happens over time without harming the chimney.
- Sufficient overhang. Chimney crowns should be designed to extend over the sides of the chimney, typically two to three inches, to allow water to move away from the masonry on the side.
- No damage. If there’s damage that you can spot on your chimney crown, even just small cracks or chips, it’s important to have the issue addressed before it causes more costly repairs.
- Slanted or sloped design. You don’t want a flat crown that allows water to pool and cause damage. Slanted or sloped design is intentional to shed water.
- Professionally waterproofed. Because of the surface area that is exposed, you want to ensure that your crown has been professionally waterproofed with a vapor-permeable barrier.
There’s a lot of work and expertise that goes into your crown’s construction, which is why it’s so important to find a trusted Austin chimney technician to work with. At Wolfman, you’ll find courteous, experienced, certified chimney professionals on your project.
How Can I Tell If My Chimney Crown Is Damaged?
We admit, as certified chimney technicians, we spot damage very easily. But with individuals without that training, your crown can look fine when there are serious issues. Here are some basics to watch for:
- Cracks: The first sign that many homeowners notice is cracking. Any signs of gaps, cracks, or deterioration means you need to have a repair done ASAP, as it can lead to other damage.
- Missing pieces: Missing pieces of your chimney crown is a very bad sign. If it’s obvious, you need to have it checked out as soon as possible.
- Pooled water: Whether water is pooling on the crown or in your firebox, the part of your fireplace where the fire goes, pooling water is a sign of damage or poor design.
- Rusting metal: A rusted damper, grate, or other metal components means water is getting into your system, an issue that needs to be addressed before more damage occurs.
- Interior damage: If you’ve noticed signs of damage on the interior walls or ceilings around your chimney, such as stains, rotten woodwork, or mold, your crown may be damaged.
- Masonry damage. If your whole chimney is beginning to show signs of crumbling, cracking, or loose, it’s a sign that your entire system is approaching failure and needs to be fixed quickly.
Some of these may be signs of other issues, but no matter the source, you should always have these issues addressed by a chimney professional as soon as possible. If it is the crown, we can fix it, but if it’s something else, we can handle that for you as well, whether it’s a leaky chimney or a missing cap. Your annual inspection will also catch these issues, ensuring your system will remain in excellent condition. This allows you to catch these issues before they become big problems.
What Causes Crown Damage?
Spotting damage is important, but figuring out why it’s occurring at all so that you can fix the issue is more important. Crowns can break down due to poor construction, severe weather such as high rainfall, strong winds, or tornados causing blown debris, and natural wear and tear happens over time.
Though you can invest in an inspection each year, as you should, hiring a tech who isn’t familiar with issues can be problematic, costing you money in repairs that should have been caught sooner. Look for well-reviewed, certified, insured, experienced technicians like the team at Wolfman who will always put your safety and well-being first.
How Are Damaged Chimney Crowns Repaired?
The chimney crown repair that you receive will depend on the issue, because different situations will require different approaches. Cracked cement crowns can be fixed fairly easily, but a mortar-based crown that’s breaking down needs a rebuild due to poor material being used.
We usually start the process by removing loose or crumbling areas. We’ll then clean the system to ensure it’s free of dirt, moss, or debris. We’ll mix new concrete and use it to build your crown back up to the right thickness and slope, providing you with the protection you need. If you need help with your chimney crown, the experienced team at Wolfman is happy to help, just contact us to get started!
How are Chimney Crowns, Chimney Caps & Chase Covers Different?
There are two parts at the top of your chimney, either a chimney crown or chase cover and a chimney cap. They all work to protect your system from water, but have slightly different purposes and appearances:
Chimney Crowns:
A chimney crown is a concrete slab at the top of your masonry chimney. These slabs are cement-based, sloped to shed water, and extend past the chimney’s edge to keep water from your masonry work.
Chimney Caps:
A chimney cap is a small metal roof over your chimney opening that allows smoke and fumes to leave while performing a range of important tasks for your chimney system.
Chase Covers:
Similar to chimney crowns, chase covers are the equivalent on a prefabricated system. Like crowns, they move water away from the chimney’s sides.
Your chimney system should always have a chimney crown or chase cover combined with a chimney cap.
If you still have questions, you can always contact our chimney professionals for more details. Whether via phone or our internet form, you’ll always get great answers and we’re always happy to address your concerns.
Offering the Highest Level of Chimney Crown Repair Service Near Austin
It’s important to not skimp on chimney care, as it can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning and possibly death. If you need a quality chimney technician in or near Austin, contact us today to get started. You’ll discover why homeowners in the area turn to us over and over due to our Chimney Safety Institute of America certification and National Chimney Sweep Build membership. Our focus on our clients’ health and safety is our primary goal. If you don’t know where your system is, book an inspection and as soon as we’re done, we’ll give you an overview that tells you what you need to do next. To use your system with comfort and ease, contact the best chimney professionals in Austin today at Wolfman via phone or reach out online. We’d always be happy to chat over your chimney concerns!