Bond breaks
A bond break is added so the flue tile can expand freely which keeps the new crown from cracking early.
Masonry Repair
Chimney Crown Repair Winfield, IL
A chimney sweep in Winfield 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. Call (331) 716-1355 to reach a local chimney sweep.
A chimney crown covers the top of the brick and slopes away from the flue so water runs off instead of soaking in. Because it faces every storm, freeze and heat wave head on, the crown is usually the first part of the chimney to fail. 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 crown is the masonry slab, while the cap is the metal cover with a mesh screen that sits over the flue opening. 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. Mortar shrinks and cracks under weather, and an expanding flue tile will split a crown that has no room for movement.
Many chimney crown repair calls in Winfield also turn up a need for chimney cap installation or chimney leak repair.
Looking for Winfield chimney crown repair? Call (331) 716-1355 and describe the problem to a chimney sweep who works in Winfield.
Call nowThe process
What happens during a crown repair
The right fix depends on whether the crown is basically sound with surface cracks or failing all the way through.
Assess the cracks
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.
Remove loose material
Any crumbling material is chipped away and the surface is prepared. Skipping prep is the main reason crown patches peel off.
Coat the crown
Small cracks are sealed with a flexible coating made for chimney crowns, which bridges cracks and resists water. It is the least invasive fix when the crown is still intact.
Rebuild if needed
A failing crown is chipped off and replaced with a properly built concrete crown. The new crown is sloped, overhangs the brick with a drip edge and is thick enough to resist cracking.
Expansion joint
The crown is separated from the flue tile by an expansion joint sealed with flexible material. Without it, the hot flue tile will crack a new crown just like the old one.
Protect the work
With the crown done, a cap with a mesh screen is added to keep rain and animals out of the flue. Damaged upper brick and joints are often handled in the same visit.
What is included
What crown repair covers
Crown rebuilding
Crumbling or badly cracked crowns are removed and recast built to last through many winters.
Top course repair
Spalled bricks and worn joints near the top are repaired along with the crown before the crown goes on.
Crack sealing
Minor cracking is filled and coated with an elastomeric sealer to extend the life of the crown.
Drip edges
New crowns are built to overhang the brick with a groove underneath so water drips clear instead of running down the brick.
Related service
Chimney Crown Replacement Winfield, IL
Chimney crown replacement is the right call when the crown is cracked all the way through, crumbling, missing pieces or was built too thin to last. First the failed crown comes off, exposing the top of the brick and the flue tile. A form is built around the top of the chimney, a bond break goes around the flue tile, and the new crown is cast with a slope, an overhang and a drip edge.
For Winfield homeowners, timing matters with crown replacement. Fresh concrete should not freeze while it cures, which makes mild weather the best time for the job. In the meantime, a temporary cover can keep the worst of the water out. It is worth asking how the new crown will handle water runoff and flue tile expansion.
Local help
Chimney Crown Repair Near Me
Chimney crowns in Winfield take the full force of the weather year round. From Winfield out to neighboring communities such as Wheaton, Carol Stream, West Chicago and Warrenville, many original crowns are thin, flush with the brick and locked tight against the flue tile, which is a recipe for cracking, which is why catching crown cracks in their first season keeps the repair simple.
For chimney crown repair in Winfield, IL or nearby towns like Wheaton, Carol Stream, West Chicago and Warrenville, call (331) 716-1355 to reach a chimney sweep who covers your street.
How the weather here affects chimneys around Winfield
Winters here are cold and long, with lake effect snow in many towns and deep cold snaps that can last for days. Furnaces, wood stoves and fireplaces run hard from fall to spring, which means fast creosote buildup and a lot of stress on liners, crowns and flashing. Snow drifting against the back of a chimney melts slowly and works water under tired flashing. That is why Winfield chimney sweeps are busiest every September and October.
Why call
Why not wait
Safer fires
A chimney problem fixed early rarely spreads to the masonry, the liner or the house.
Local knowledge
Chimney sweeps in Winfield know the chimneys and fireplaces common in local homes.
Know what happens next
Ask your questions before you agree to anything.
Chimney Crown Repair FAQ
What is the difference between a chimney crown and a chimney cap?
The crown is the concrete or mortar slab that covers the top of the masonry around the flue, and the cap is the metal cover that sits over the flue opening. Each does a different job, so a good chimney needs both. Adding a cap will not fix crown damage.
Why did my chimney crown crack?
Weather, shortcuts in the original build and heat from the flue are behind most crown cracks. 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.
When does a chimney crown need replacing?
A properly built concrete crown with an overhang and expansion joint can last for decades. Poorly built crowns crack early and need attention more often. 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. Fixing it now is far easier than repairing the masonry damage later.
Can a cracked chimney crown be repaired?
The answer turns on how badly the crown is damaged. 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.
More questions? Call (331) 716-1355
Often needed together
Chimney Cap Installation
Installing chimney caps with mesh sides so water, birds and debris stay out of the flue.
Learn moreChimney Leak Repair
Finding and stopping water that gets in through the crown, cap, flashing or brick, instead of patching the stain on the ceiling.
Learn moreChimney Masonry Repair
Fixing the brick, stone and mortar that hold a chimney together, with materials matched to the original masonry.
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 servicesGet chimney crown repair help in Winfield
Call (331) 716-1355 to talk to a chimney sweep serving Winfield, IL.
(331) 716-1355
Free to call. No forms to fill out.