A chimney crown is a beautiful accessory to your home’s exterior, especially if it complements the architectural style of the structure. When it shows signs of damage, it means more than a less-attractive feature, though. After all, a chimney crown has several practical purposes. For example, you may end up with a leaking chimney, which can lead to its own variety of problems. There are several warning signs that should clue you to the status of your chimney crown. If yours shows any of the 6 following problems, then you will need help repairing a chimney crown in Kennesaw. Thankfully, there are experts who can do that for you. Before the damage becomes too severe, you should hire professionals to take a look at it and repair it right away.
What Are Chimney Crowns?
First of all, you should learn what exactly your chimney crown does, besides acting as a handsome apex to this architectural feature. The crown is a concrete roof-like structure that is specially made to be thick and sloped. It offers the following benefits:
Keeps your chimney free of water damage
Keeps pests out
Prevents birds from nesting in or on your chimney
Protects the bricks or concrete that make up the chimney
A professional who can repair a chimney crown should evaluate your crown every year or so to ensure it is problem-free. Regular care can prevent problems from escalating, catch them when they are minor, and keep it looking attractive atop your home. This can save you thousands of dollars down the road. For example, providing chimney repair to small cracks is much less expensive than repairing a crumbling, waterlogged chimney.
Signs of Chimney Crown Damage
And now onto the signs that your chimney crown could be causing problems.
Cracks
Visible cracks in the crown, even small ones, will need to be filled with concrete as soon as possible. Tiny cracks are large enough for dirt, moisture, ants, and termites to seep down into your chimney.
Falling Tiles
If you notice tiles falling down into your fireplace, then there is a possibility that the flue lining of the chimney is in poor condition.
Rust
Rust is a sign of moisture damage just about everywhere, on anything. If you see rust in your fireplace, then there is one probable place from which moisture is entering the chimney: the crown.
Interior Wall Damage
Take a close look at the walls near the chimney inside your home. Look closely at the paint, wallpaper, or whatever wall finishing material you have. Do you see moisture damage, like discolored blotches or fraying? Moisture may be seeping through the crown.
Mortar Joint Damage
Mortar joints are also a good place to look for moisture damage. Signs include dark spots, crumbling, and cracking mortar. The crown is likely letting water down.
Chimney Degradation
By the time that actual chunks of concrete or bricks that make up the chimney itself are falling, then your crown damage is severe, as is the damage to your home itself. You will have to hire professional crown repair, if not chimney rebuilding services.
So if you notice any of the above problems with your chimney, you need to have your crown fixed as soon as possible. Keep your home in good shape by only hiring trained professionals for repairing a chimney crown in Kennesaw.
What Causes a Cracked Chimney Crown?
One of the most common questions that clients ask about involves how to repair a chimney crown in Marietta. The chimney crown is located at the top of your chimney. It works to keep water from seeping into your chimney. If it gets a crack in it, it won’t be able to do its job, and water will end up in your chimney. To prevent this from happening, you need to get cracks filled as soon as possible or repair the crown right away. So what causes cracks in your chimney crown? Here are 4 culprits that you should know about.
Improper Installation
It’s hard to tell if your chimney crown was installed correctly, but improper installation can play a huge role in how well it will withstand the other culprits of cracks. It should be made of quality material that will hold up for as long as possible. If your crown wasn’t installed correctly, you should replace it with a crown that is made of quality material and make sure that it’s firmly sealed to your chimney with a sticking agent and a waterproofed seal.
Structural Problems
Loose bricks, a shift in the chimney structure, and other issues can cause cracks in your chimney crown. When this happens, they create spaces that allow moisture to get inside of the chimney crown. The increased moisture leads to greater cracks in your chimney crown, which will continue to allow more water to seep into your chimney. It’s important to check your chimney crown on a regular basis, so you can identify any structural changes that can affect your chimney. When you notice them, you can repair the structural damages to make sure that the chimney crown isn’t affected.
Weather Conditions
Rain, wind, and snow can affect your chimney crown, too. Wind can wear down your chimney crown as it beats against your home, and the rain and snow will send moisture into the small cracks and enlarge them along the way. One of the biggest issues involving the weather is the changes in temperature. Heat and cold can work to break down the chimney crown as it expands and shrinks with the weather.
Seismic Activity
Even minor seismic activity can cause small cracks in your chimney crown. Then, the other culprits can cause the crack to grow over time. If your area experienced any seismic activity, you should have your chimney crown examined for any cracks. Small ones can be filled in, so they won’t continue to grow and cause more issues for you.
How to Repair a Chimney Crown
If you have these issues with your chimney crown, you may be wondering about how to repair a chimney crown in Marietta. To do this, you would need to take the following steps:
1. Prepare the Area
Use caution as you climb a ladder to get on top of your roof. When you reach your chimney crown, you should remove all debris, rocks, and particles around it. Clean off any mold that may have started to grow. Use a stiff wire brush to remove it effectively. If you need to remove the crown, be careful as you do so. Place a drop cloth over the hole to prevent anything from falling down your chimney.
2. Remove Extra Concrete
If there is extra concrete that needs to be removed, you’ll need a chisel. Tap away as you remove the broken concrete. Place the concrete in a bucket, so you can carefully bring it off the roof with you.
3. Create Your Mixture
The mixture that you use to attack the chimney crown should consist of 2 parts mason’s cement to 1 part gravel. Make sure that there are no lumps in the mixture. Then, you should add water a little bit at a time. Make sure that the mixture sticks together without becoming too runny. Then, add about 1 cup of a bonding agent.
4. Attach the Chimney Crown
If your chimney flue is less than 6 inches in length, you should place your chimney crown about 2-inches from the flue. If your chimney is greater than 6 inches in length, then you should place your chimney crown about 4-inches from the flue. Use a trowel to spread the mixture evenly over the chimney crown. Make sure that there are no bubbles. If you’re using the mixture to fill cracks, make sure that you’re getting the mixture deep into the crack. You don’t want to just fill the crack along the surface.
5. Dry the Mixture
Allow the mixture to dry completely before moving onto the final step. It may take an entire day to allow it to dry out completely. If you need to, place a drop cloth over the chimney crown to prevent rain or other debris getting into the wet concrete.
6. Add Sealant
Once the concrete is dry, you should apply a coat of sealant. For example, you could use Crown Coat. Make sure to use a brush and apply at least 3 coats.
Contact Us Today for Chimney Crown Issues
Repairing your chimney crown is important to making sure that no water will get into your chimney. If you need any assistance completing these steps, contact Atlanta Chimney Doctor. We can come to your home to inspect your chimney crown and determine the right steps to take to make sure that your crown is fixed and protected from future problems.