Download a Sample Inspection Report
Chimney Crown
A chimney crown (also called a chimney cap) is the concrete piece that tops the chimney. Not all houses have them, but they should. A well-made chimney crown is designed so that it slopes downward and has an overhang from the chimney itself, aiding in directing water away from the chimney. Chimney crowns are not always visible from the ground.
Chimney caps are often overlooked, but they are essential in keeping rain water and snow out of the masonry that makes up the chimney. A chimney crown functions something like the roof and eaves do on your house. Without a chimney crown, water can seep into the bricks or stones that make up the chimney. In colder climates, this water freezes and causes cracks in the brick, stone or mortar, compromising the integrity of the chimney itself.