Your chimney sits atop your roof like a king on a throne, protecting your home by venting out dangerous smoke and gases that are produced by a fireplace. For performing such a noble function, you might think your chimney deserves a crown! Well if your chimney is properly constructed, it should already have one! A chimney crown isn’t a flashy gold headpiece purely for decoration, but is an important component that protects your chimney from its number one enemy: water.
What Is A Chimney Crown?
Many people mistake the chimney cap for a chimney crown. It is certainly an easy mistake to make as the chimney cap most resembles a crown, but they are very different and both very important when it comes to the longevity of your masonry chimney. A chimney crown is not the metal piece that sits atop your chimney, but is actually the tapered layer of mortar at the top of the masonry structure of the chimney, just beneath the chimney cap.
When properly designed, this mortar is tapered in such a way that any water that hits the top of the chimney is directed away from the masonry structure and harmlessly off your roof. While this component is easy to miss, it can save your chimney’s life when it comes to preventing water damage.
How Do I Know If My Chimney Crown Is Damaged?
The easiest way to tell if your chimney crown needs to be fixed is to look for cracks. If your chimney crown is cracked, it will completely undermine the intended function. A cracked chimney crown allows water to seep into the masonry which can cause major problems. This water can promote the growth of mold and mildew, and will slowly erode the mortar and eventually the brick, resulting in structural weakness and,if left unrepaired, possibly even partial or total chimney collapse.
Unfortunately the only way to tell if your chimney crown is cracked is to get on your roof and look! Luckily, an annual chimney inspection will include an inspection of the outside of your chimney, including your chimney crown. At London Chimney Services, we’ll do the dangerous and dirty work for you so that you don’t have to!
Call Us Today!
If you suspect you might have a damaged chimney crown or you simply aren’t sure, give us a call. We’ll get your crown back in the condition it should be in again in no time! Click here to schedule your chimney inspection online!
Keep water out of your chimney with the additional protection provided by waterproofing. We happily perform this chimney repair for customers throughout the Greater Bay Area.
