Overhangs
The crown extends past the chimney face which keeps runoff from soaking the masonry.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Crown Repair Itasca, IL
A chimney sweep in Itasca can seal hairline cracks in a chimney crown or rebuild a crown that is breaking apart, with a design that sheds water past the masonry. Dial (331) 301-3229 to talk with a local chimney sweep about the crown.
The chimney crown is the slab of concrete or mortar on top of the chimney, around the flue tile, and its job is to keep water out of the masonry below. It takes more weather than any other part of the chimney, so it is often the first thing to crack. Once it cracks, water runs straight into the brick and mortar below, and every freeze widens the crack.
People often confuse the crown with the cap, but they are different parts. The cap is a metal hood over the flue that keeps out rain and animals, and the crown is the concrete it is mounted on. One cannot stand in for the other.
Crowns often fail sooner than they should for a few common reasons. Builders and roofers often form the crown from mortar mix spread thin and flush with the brick, with no overhang and no gap around the flue tile. That combination tends to crack within a few winters.
Depending on what the sweep finds, chimney crown repair in Itasca, IL can go hand in hand with chimney cap installation and chimney leak repair.
Looking for Itasca chimney crown repair? Call (331) 301-3229 to talk to a local chimney sweep.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a crown repair
Crown repair runs from a simple seal coat to a full rebuild, depending on the damage.
Check the top
From the roof, the crown is examined for cracks, crumbling, poor slope and missing overhang. The flue tile, cap and upper brick are checked at the same time, since crown damage often spreads to them.
Prep the crown
Any crumbling material is chipped away and the surface is prepared. Good prep decides how long the repair lasts.
Apply crown sealer
For minor cracking, a brushable crown repair coating seals the cracks and stretches with the concrete as it moves. It works well on a structurally sound crown with surface cracks.
Recast the top
A failing crown is chipped off and replaced with a properly built concrete crown. It is built from concrete or a crown mix rather than plain mortar, with an overhang that throws water clear.
Expansion joint
The gap around the flue tile is filled with a flexible sealant rather than locked tight in concrete. It is one of the most overlooked parts of a crown.
Protect the work
A cap goes back on once the new crown is ready. Any spalled brick at the top can be repaired at the same time.
What is included
Types of crown repair
Top course repair
Damage to the top courses from a leaking crown is fixed in the same job before the crown goes on.
Crown rebuilding
A failed crown is replaced with a properly built concrete crown that sheds water past the brick.
Crack sealing
Small cracks in a sound crown are sealed to extend the life of the crown.
Expansion joints
A bond break is added so the flue tile can expand freely to prevent the most common type of crown crack.
Related service
Chimney Crown Replacement Itasca, IL
A crown that is breaking apart or was built from thin mortar usually needs to be replaced rather than coated. First the failed crown comes off, exposing the top of the brick and the flue tile. Some crowns are cast in place on the chimney, and others use a precast crown set on a bed of mortar, both with an overhang and a gap around the flue.
Crown work in Itasca depends on the season. Concrete needs to cure without freezing, so most crown replacements are done from spring into fall. A winter crown failure can often be sealed temporarily to buy time until warmer weather. Ask the chimney sweep whether the new crown will have an overhang, a drip edge and an expansion joint at the flue, since those three details decide how long it lasts.
Local help
Chimney Crown Repair Near Me
Chimney crowns in Itasca take the full force of the weather year round. From Itasca out to neighboring communities such as Wood Dale, Elk Grove Village, Addison and Roselle, many original crowns are thin, flush with the brick and locked tight against the flue tile, which is a recipe for cracking, and a properly built crown is one of the best investments in a chimney.
Need chimney crown repair around Itasca? Call (331) 301-3229 for an Itasca chimney sweep who serves the towns around it too.
Chimneys in this climate
Winters here are cold and long, with lake effect snow in many towns and deep cold snaps that can last for days. Heating systems and wood stoves work nearly nonstop for months, which means fast creosote buildup and a lot of stress on liners, crowns and flashing. Snow that piles up behind a chimney and melts slowly is a common source of leaks at the flashing. Most chimney cleaning in Itasca, IL happens right before the first snow.
Why call
Why fix it now
Smaller repairs
Small chimney problems caught early usually stay small repairs.
Local knowledge
Local sweeps see the same chimney types and weather wear across Itasca and nearby towns.
Clear next steps
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Crown Repair FAQ
What is the difference between a chimney crown and a chimney cap?
Think of the crown as the roof of the chimney and the cap as the lid on the flue. Each does a different job, so a good chimney needs both. A damaged crown needs its own repair.
How long does a chimney crown last?
How long a crown lasts depends mostly on how it was built. The weak ones are thin, flush with the brick and cast tight to the flue. An annual inspection catches cracks while they can still be sealed.
Is a cracked chimney crown a big deal?
Small crown cracks deserve attention because they let water straight into the chimney. The water it lets in damages the brick, the flue and the framing around the chimney. Caught early, a crown seal is simple, but left alone, the damage can spread down the chimney.
Can a cracked chimney crown be repaired?
That depends on how deep and widespread the cracks are. If the crown is sound with only small cracks, a crown coating is often all it needs. If the crown is cracked through, crumbling or missing pieces, replacement is the better option.
What causes chimney crowns to crack?
Crowns crack from water freezing in small cracks, from being built thin out of mortar, and from the flue tile expanding against them. Many crowns are troweled from mortar mix with no overhang and no gap around the flue tile, so they crack within a few years. Once a crack forms, water gets in, freezes and widens it every winter.
More questions? Call (331) 301-3229
Related services
Chimney Cap Installation
Putting a sturdy cap on top of the chimney to keep out rain, animals, leaves and stray sparks.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, before the water rots framing or ruins the flue.
Learn moreChimney Masonry Repair
Fixing the brick, stone and mortar that hold a chimney together, so the chimney stays solid and dry.
Learn moreChimney Waterproofing
Treating chimney brick and mortar with a breathable water repellent, as the last step in keeping a chimney dry.
Learn more
Looking for something else?
See all chimney servicesTalk to an Itasca chimney sweep about chimney crown repair
Call (331) 301-3229 for a local chimney sweep in Itasca and nearby towns.
(331) 301-3229
Free to call. No forms to fill out.