Moisture can wreak havoc on your chimney. Issues caused by moisture include cracked bricks, crumbling mortar, masonry stains, and unpleasant smells, just to name a few. Luckily, there are mechanisms built into your chimney system designed to prevent water from causing too much damage to your chimney masonry. One of these mechanisms is your chimney crown. Although sometimes overlooked by homeowners when it comes to preventative 
maintenance, the fact is that your chimney crown is the first line of defense against moisture intrusion. We here at the Chimney Guy can’t stress enough the importance of having a functional chimney crown. Let us tell you why chimney crown health is so important and why we are the Fox Valley area’s best choice when it comes to repairing and building a custom crown specific to your chimney.
Does my chimney masonry need protection?
Many people think that chimney bricks are extremely durable and impenetrable. This is true when it comes to high temperature. Your chimney masonry’s primary job is to control and channel heat out of your home. When it comes to moisture, however, your chimney masonry isn’t nearly as durable as you may think. Chimney bricks are porous. This means that moisture can seep into your chimney masonry and settle in little pools inside your bricks. These pools can slowly erode your brickwork from the inside out. When it gets cold enough to freeze, the water inside your masonry expands rapidly and can cause your brickwork to chip, crack, and crumble.
How does my chimney crown work?
Your chimney crown is a concrete shelf that is attached to the top of your chimney. The crown is slanted away from your chimney opening, deflecting rain from your chimney opening and allowing water to flow off the top of your chimney and onto your roof. Your chimney crown also acts as a barrier, preventing water from resting on top of your chimney brick. Your chimney crown does not prevent water from entering your chimney flue, so it works with your chimney cap and chimney flashing to offer complete chimney moisture protection.
Problems can arise, however, if your chimney crown isn’t functioning properly. If your chimney crown is old, cracked, or was poorly constructed, your chimney may not be getting the protection that it needs. This is where The Chimney Guy can help you. We have over 20 years of experience repairing and building chimney crowns. Having this much experience is important because not all chimneys are designed the same. This means that any given chimney may have specific needs in a chimney crown design. We draw on our experience to design and construct chimney crowns that are custom fit for your specific chimney.
Cooler weather will be here before you know it! Getting your chimney crown inspected now will assure that your chimney will be ready to go when you want to fire it up this fall. If you live in Oshkosh, Green Bay, or anywhere else in the Fox Valley area, call The Chimney Guy for all your chimney and masonry needs. You can reach us at (920) 830-1920, or you can schedule an appointment online on our scheduling page. We look forward to serving you.
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