Chimney Crown Repair in St. Augustine, FL
A sound top on the chimney so rain runs off, not in.
- Family run
- Locally owned
- Licensed and insured
- Same-day service
Get Your Free Inspection
Request Received
Got it, thank you. Expect a call from the family to book your free inspection.
Or call us at (904) 943-7482
Short version
Crown repair fixes the concrete or mortar slab that caps the top of a masonry chimney around the flue. We seal small cracks, coat a sound crown, or form a new crown with an overhang and drip edge when the old one is breaking up.
Inspect First, Then Save 10%
The crown inspection is free. Book within 72 hours and 10% comes off the repair.
Why Homeowners Call Us Back
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Family run
The company is run by one family, so the people who price the job are the people who answer for it.
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Upfront, honest pricing
The price is on paper before we start. If something changes, we ask before doing more.
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Workmanship warranty
Our workmanship warranty backs every repair we complete.
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Licensed and insured
Licensed and insured, with an experienced crew on every roof and hearth.
What the Chimney Crown Does
The chimney crown is the slab across the top of a masonry chimney, with the flue tile running up through it. It should slope away from the flue, overhang the brick on every side, and have a drip edge underneath so water falls clear instead of running down the face. NFPA 211 and good masonry practice both treat the chimney top as the first line against water.
A crown is not a cap. The cap covers the flue opening; the crown covers the masonry around it. Both matter, and a good cap will not keep water out of a cracked crown.
Cracked Chimney Crown Repair
Fine surface cracks in a crown that is otherwise sound can be filled and then protected with a chimney crown coating, a flexible product that bridges hairline cracks and sheds water. Chimney crown sealing works when the concrete under it is hard and attached. We follow the coating maker's data sheet for preparation and cure.
Mortar crown repair is different. Many older crowns are a thin wash of mortar that cracks into pieces. Coating over loose pieces only hides them for a season.
Chimney Crown Replacement and Rebuild
When the crown is loose, broken through or flat with no overhang, chimney crown replacement is the lasting fix. A chimney crown rebuild means removing the old crown, checking the top courses of brick, and forming a new crown in place with the right slope, an overhang and a drip edge.
We leave a small expansion gap around the flue tile and seal it with a flexible sealant, because concrete and clay tile move differently in heat. A crown poured tight to the tile is a common reason new crowns crack.
Timing and Curing
Crown work needs dry weather to set and cure. We plan around the forecast and tell you if the fireplace should stay unused for a few days afterwards. If the brick under the old crown has been soaking up water for years, we may suggest repointing or replacing the top courses at the same visit.
Urgent Chimney Problem in St. Augustine?
The 24/7 emergency line is answered at any hour. Once the house is safe, the family sorts out the repair plan with you.
If there is fire, a gas smell or a carbon monoxide alarm, get everyone out and call 911 first. Report a gas smell to your gas utility from outside the house.
Request a Free Inspection in St. Augustine
- No-charge inspection, priced on paper
- Upfront pricing with no hidden fees
- Family owned and run
Request Received
Got it, thank you. Expect a call from the family to book your free inspection.
What We Check For
- Hairline cracks in a solid crown
- Sealing and coating can keep them closed and shed water.
- Crown breaking into pieces
- The crown has failed. Coating will not hold, so we form a new one.
- Water stains on the top bricks
- The crown has no overhang or drip edge. A rebuilt crown sends water clear of the face.
Questions We Hear Often
Is a chimney crown necessary?
Yes, every masonry chimney needs a crown to shed water off the top of the brick. Without one, rain soaks straight into the top courses and the mortar around the flue tile. A good crown slopes away from the flue, overhangs the brick and has a drip edge underneath.
How long should a chimney crown last?
A well-formed concrete crown with an overhang and an expansion gap at the flue can last decades. Thin mortar washes often crack within a few years; sun, heavy rain and a crown poured tight to the flue tile all shorten its life, so we check it at every sweep or inspection.
When should a chimney crown be replaced?
A crown should be replaced when it is broken through, loose, crumbling or has no slope or overhang. Small hairline cracks in a sound crown can be sealed instead. If water is reaching the brick below the crown, replacement usually saves the top courses from further damage.
Can you put a coating on a cracked crown?
A crown coating works on a sound crown with fine surface cracks. The coating bridges the cracks and sheds water; on a crown that is loose, broken through or crumbling, a coating only covers the problem for a short while, so we recommend forming a new crown instead.
Proudly American
Owned and run by one St. Augustine family. Our experienced crew puts every estimate on paper and backs its repairs with a workmanship warranty.
Call Now (904) 943-7482Put a Sound Top on Your Chimney
Find out whether your crown needs sealing or replacing, at no charge for the visit.