Sealing or rebuilding the chimney crown in North Bay Village

Moss and organic growth on the crown

A crown that stays damp can support moss or other growth. The growth holds moisture against the concrete and keeps the surface wet longer after rain. It also hides cracks that would otherwise be easy to see.

Before any crown repair, the surface is cleaned so the concrete can be assessed. If growth has returned after earlier cleaning, that tells us water lingers on the top. We look at slope and drainage as the cause, rather than treating the growth as the only problem.

What a crown estimate should break out

A crown estimate is easier to judge when each step is its own line. Removal of unsound concrete, preparation, forming or coating, sealing at the flues and resetting the cap are distinct tasks. Seeing them apart shows what you are paying for.

Our written estimate follows that pattern. Anything that falls outside the crown, such as brick repair below it or a new cap, is listed separately with a reason. You approve the lines you want, and nothing is added later without a conversation first.

Start with a free crown inspection

Crown work begins with a free inspection. We look at the crown surface, edges, slope, overhang and drip, the joints at each flue, the cap fixings and the brick just below. The findings are explained on site in plain words.

You then receive a free written estimate with each item on its own line. There is no charge for the visit and no obligation to proceed. If the crown is sound and needs nothing yet, we tell you that too, and explain what to watch for.

Conditions that decide sealing or replacement

The choice between coating and a new crown comes down to a few conditions. We check each one on your chimney and explain what we found.

When all of these hold, a coating may be a sensible repair. When one or more fails, a coating would cover a problem it cannot solve, and we explain replacement instead.

• The concrete is firm and still attached to the brick
• The crown slopes away from every flue
• The edges keep real thickness and overhang the face
• The joint at each flue can be resealed