Chimney Cap Installation
A cap and a crown protect different parts of the chimney top — many homes need attention to both.
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Chimney Services
Chimney Crown Repair & Rebuild
The crown is the concrete slab that caps the masonry and sheds water away from the chimney. A cracked or poorly built crown lets water straight into the structure it's supposed to protect.
Why Chimney Crown Repair & Rebuild Matters
The crown sits at the very top of the masonry, covering the space between the flue and the outer edge of the chimney. Its job is to shed rainwater away from the brick and mortar below. When it cracks — which happens naturally as concrete ages and goes through freeze-thaw cycles — water finds its way into those cracks, then refreezes and expands in winter, widening the damage year after year.
A failing crown is one of the more common sources of chimney water damage we find, and it's often overlooked because it's hard to see from the ground. Left unaddressed, it can lead to spalling brick, a deteriorating smoke chamber, or interior water stains that seem to come from nowhere.
When You Might Need This
- You can see visible cracks running across the crown
- Water shows up near the top of the chimney during or after rain
- The concrete surface is crumbling or flaking
- The crown was built flush with the flue instead of with a proper overhang
What Happens
We get a close look at the crown's condition — often during the same visit as a Level 2 inspection — to determine whether it needs a patch or a full rebuild. Minor cracks can typically be sealed and coated to stop water intrusion. When the concrete is significantly deteriorated or was never built with the correct wash and overhang, we rebuild it properly, sloped to shed water away from the flue and extending past the brick so runoff doesn't sit against the masonry.
Small Cracks Don't Stay Small.
Freeze-thaw cycles turn hairline crown cracks into real damage over a single winter. Catching it early keeps the fix simple.
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Chimney Waterproofing
After crown repair, waterproofing the surrounding masonry adds an extra layer of protection.
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See the full list of chimney sweeping, inspection, repair, and waterproofing services we offer.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Chimney Crown Repair & Rebuild Questions
The crown is the concrete or mortar slab covering the top of the masonry structure itself, while the cap is the metal cover that sits over the flue opening. They work together, but they're separate components — a chimney can have a good cap and a bad crown, or vice versa.
A damaged cap usually lets water and debris straight down the flue. A cracked crown lets water into the masonry structure surrounding the flue, which can cause spalling brick and interior damage that's a separate — and often more serious — repair.
It depends on the extent of the damage. Minor surface cracks are often sealed and coated, while a crown with significant deterioration or poor original construction usually needs to be rebuilt.
Ready to Stop Water at the Source?
Get your crown assessed and repaired — and ask about pairing it with our $99 Level 2 inspection.