If you see water damage, rust stains, loose masonry or critters in your chimney, you may need to repair or install a chase cover or crown. Doctor Flue repairs chimney crowns and installs chimney chase covers.
What Are Chimney Chase Covers & Crowns?
Chase covers and crowns both seal the top of your chimney, from the flue liner to the outer edge of the chimney, and shed water away from the chimney walls. When one fails, water gets in and can cause serious damage.
- Chase cover: a metal cover, often used on factory-built or prefabricated chimneys. Chase covers are usually replaced when damaged.
- Crown: a concrete or cement-based cover used on masonry chimneys. Crowns can usually be repaired unless the damage is severe.
Chimney Chase Cover Installation
How do you know you need a new chimney chase cover? The first sign is usually rust stains streaking down the side of your chimney and onto the roof. If you can see rust on the sides of the chase cover from the ground, the top of the cover is probably already ruined.
Once a chase cover fails, water gets inside the chase and soaks into the wood framing or even drywall. This problem is often misdiagnosed as leaky flashing or a leaky roof.
Chase cover repair is often expensive and can weaken the cover. If yours is damaged, we recommend replacing it.
Replacement Chase Covers
A proper chase cover is raised at the center to shed water away from the flue. Its skirt has a drip edge that guides water off and away from the chimney walls.
We can replace your existing chase cover with either of two options, each with a lifetime warranty:
- Stainless steel, with an optional powder coat
- Copper
When you call, we will go over your options and help you choose the best one for your home.
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“Just wanted you to know how much Liz and I appreciate all that you have done for us. Your guys have shown that you are a top-notch company to deal with in every way. Please let everyone at DR Flue know how much we appreciate all the help that was given to us throughout this entire process.”
Mike Roberts
Chimney Crown Repair & Installation
How do you know your chimney crown is damaged? The first signs are loose masonry, mold growth on the chimney walls, or both.
A cracked or worn crown lets water into the chimney. When that water freezes and expands, it can break apart brick and mortar, causing more damage and possibly leaks into your home.
If your crown is damaged, you can repair it or install a new one. The right choice depends on how severe the damage is.
Chimney Crown Repair
Repair works well when your chimney crown is slightly cracked or worn. First we remove loose debris and mold so the repair materials bond well to the existing crown. Once the surface is clean, we fill the cracks and coat the surface with a flexible sealant that moves with the freeze and thaw cycle without cracking.
Chimney Crown Installation
A proper crown sheds water off the chimney and onto the roof. It is thick enough to resist cracking and pulling back from the edge of the brick, and it leaves room around the flue tile for expansion.
There are a few ways to install a chimney crown properly. Our most popular is the Doctor Flue “Floating Concrete Crown.”
The Floating Concrete Crown has no bond to the chimney, so the crown and chimney expand and contract separately. That protects your chimney from the freeze and thaw cycle and other weather for years to come.
If you think you need chimney crown repair or installation, call us at (800) 438-3583 or contact us online.