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At Family Roofing, we take great pride in our experience, expertise, quality and customer service. It is our mission to provide excellent workmanship and complete customer satisfaction from start to completion of a project. Our reputation is based on service, safety and quality, regardless of how large or small the job.

 

CHIMNEY CROWNS AND CHIMNEY CAPS

Chimneys play a crucial role in the conduction of smoke and combustion gases up from a fireplace.  For these structures to work smoothly, they’ll need to be maintained.  Chimney maintenance includes the repair or replacement of faulty parts.  One of those parts is the chimney cap. This chimney component helps in the reduction of moisture, restricts animal access, prevents or blocks downdrafts, and also prevents embers and sparks from leaving.

What’s a Chimney Cap?

Before we go into why you need a chimney cap, you must first understand what it actually is.  Many homeowners with fireplaces often don’t fully understand every part of their chimney which can lead to things getting overlooked or forgotten about.  Not to be confused with a chimney crown, a chimney cap is located at the very top of your chimney and is a metal structure that covers the opening on top.  Whereas a crown and chase cover are what covers the bulk of the top of your chimney, there still obviously has to be an opening for smoke to come out of. That’s what the chimney cap is installed above.

They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and even finishes to help match your chimney and the rest of your home’s exterior.  Now, let’s get into why they’re important and what they provide for your chimney and home.

Common Reasons For A Fireplace Chimney Cap Repair

Your chimney cap should be frequently inspected and maintained to promote functionality.  This key component will affect the smooth functioning of a chimney when it’s left unattended.  The benefits derived are lost due to cap defects  and malfunction.

• Reduction of Moisture

Moisture causes all sorts of chimney issues especially when it’s in excess.  Now, consider your chimney cap as an umbrella that keeps out hail, rain, snow, and sleet from getting access to the chimney interior.  You’re saved from common moisture-related problems like toxic mildew & mold, and damper rust.  What more?  Mortar joint deterioration is also prevented.

• Restriction of Animal Access

It’s a fact that a chimney without a cap serves as a ready access point for all sorts of animals.  This is due to its warmth and darkness which attracts squirrels, raccoons, and birds.  These animals create all sorts of problems including blockage of the chimney.  With a functional chimney cap on, all such problems are prevented.

• Prevention of Downdrafts

On windy days, chimneys without a cap are most affected.   Windy downdrafts usually occur in such situations, filling your living room with smoke.  The chimney cap serves to reduce the chances of that happening.

• Prevention of Sparks and Embers from Leaving

When sparks and embers resulting from combustion aren’t trapped, they float out and could cause chimney fire by igniting combustible material.  This is more common on windy days.  With a chimney cap on, there’s little chance of that happening.

CHIMNEY CROWN

What is the Chimney Crown?

The chimney crown is the upper-most portion of the chimney.  Its purpose is to allow smoke and fume to vent through the flue to prevent moisture from getting inside.  It is built using cement reinforced with a wire mesh for stability and durability. The lip of the crown is sloped to direct moisture away from the chimney.

While concrete is extremely durable, it isn’t impenetrable.  And without annual chimney inspections by a professional, homeowners have no way of knowing that they may have a problem with the chimney crown until they notice water inside the chimney.  The exposure to pounding rain, sleet, and snow can eventually cause the crown to crack under the pressure of Mother Nature.  When these cracks begin to surface on the crown, it exposes the interior of the chimney to moisture.  Without repairs, the crown will continue to deteriorate.  As it continues to decline, the stack is at a higher risk for spalling and cracked bricks and weakened mortar joints that can affect the structural integrity of the chimney. Depending on the extent of the damage, your chimney mason may recommend sealing or repairing the chimney crown.

Sealing the Chimney Crown

If there are a few small cracks in the chimney crown but it is otherwise intact then sealing the crown is a viable repair option.  Sealing the cracks will prevent any more moisture from leaking between the walls and flue inside the chimney.  The chimney mason will use a specially formulated waterproof sealant that will lock-out moisture but will allow it to breathe to minimize deterioration further.

Repairing the Chimney Crown

Rather than sealing, repairing the chimney crown is a better option when there are more significant, hairline cracks in the surface.  When repairing the crown, a skilled mason carefully fills the cracks with a patch cement material.  The entire chimney crown is then sealed with a waterproof sealant to protect the surface.  In more extreme repairs where there is major damage such as large chunks missing, or the walls between the flue are exposed, rebuilding the crown is the most reliable and safe option.

Protecting the Chimney Crown

Installing a chimney cap will help protect the chimney and the crown.  The cap is attached to the crown and acts like an umbrella keeping the surface underneath dry.  A wire mesh surrounds the cap allowing smoke and contaminants to ventilate while preventing small animals, pests, and debris from obstructing the flue.  It also has a spark arrestor that protects the roof from hot embers that could otherwise fly out of the vent.