Your chimney crown may not get much attention, but this unassuming concrete cap plays a vital role in protecting your chimney. As the topmost part of the chimney, the crown bears the full brunt of weather exposure. Cracks or damage can lead to extensive water ingress, deterioration, and costly repairs. Preventing such headaches requires making chimney crown inspection and maintenance a regular priority.
What Exactly is a Chimney Crown?
Situated right above the brick or masonry chimney walls, the chimney crown is a sloped concrete cap. It acts as an umbrella to divert rain, snowmelt, and other moisture away from the chimney. Without a sound crown, water can seep into mortar joints, erode masonry, cause efflorescence stains, and damage the interior. The crown also provides a transitional surface between the chimney walls and the chimney cap covering the flue liner.
Why Consistent Inspection Matters
Despite being a seemingly inert chunk of concrete, your chimney crown is vulnerable. Exposure to harsh weather, debris, animals, and normal aging can all inflict cracks, chips, and other defects. Water getting between the crown and chimney invites deterioration, mold, and structural issues. That’s why making crown inspection a regular habit is so important. It catches small problems before they mushroom into expensive repairs or crown replacement.
When to Inspect Your Chimney Crown
Aim to visually inspect your chimney crown at least twice yearly. The best times are spring and fall. The spring inspection assesses for any damage sustained over the winter. And the fall check helps ensure everything looks robust before frigid weather arrives. Additionally, inspect right after severe storms. Heavy rain, wind, hail and other extremes can dislodge crown sections.
What to Look for When Inspecting
During inspection, scan the entire crown surface for cracks wider than 1⁄4 inch, signs of crumbling, spalling or erosion, evidence of ponding water, missing or loose sections, improper slope that allows water pooling, bird nests, leaves, debris that can impede drainage, and efflorescence stains indicating moisture penetration. Even if the crown looks okay from the ground, consider an annual professional chimney inspection. The pros have the ladders, roof access, and high-tech tools to examine every square inch closely.
Addressing Damage or Deterioration
If you spot minor cracking or damage, have a professional masonry contractor repair it promptly. But if there is extensive deterioration, a full crown rebuild may be necessary. This involves demolishing the old crown, prepping the surface, installing waterproof membranes, pouring fresh concrete, proper sloping, and sealing. Rebuilding now avoids even pricier repairs down the road. And with consistent maintenance, your new crown should serve you well for decades without issue. Don’t wait for major problems to motivate you—regular crown inspection and upkeep is the best medicine.
Protect Your Investment with Proactive Care
Your chimney likely cost thousands to construct, and rebuilding the entire thing could cost tens of thousands. So doesn’t it make sense to protect that investment through proper maintenance? Along with chimney cleaning, crown inspection and repair should be part of your regular home care routine.
Conclusion
By making crown inspections part of your spring and fall maintenance checklists, you can safeguard your chimney for the long haul. Your future self will thank you when problems get nipped in the bud long before they escalate. So set those calendar reminders and give your crown the attention it needs—you’ll breathe easier knowing water damage and other expensive headaches have been averted.
