The fireplace is one of the interior features of the house most people recognize, while in the exterior component is the chimney. At first, it looks like a simple structure on the roof. In order to keep the chimney working well, there are actually a number of important components that must work together to keep a fireplace system in good working order.
The chimney crown is one of the important pieces of a chimney system. The chimney crown is one of the most significant parts that keep away water, debris, and animals from entering the chimney and fireplace. It is also known as a chimney wash, it is a large slab that covers the top opening of the chimney.
The chimney crown the chimney crown covers the entire top of the chimney and may be made of metal, concrete, or stone. One must remember that they should never be constructed using bricks and mortar, as these materials are not water proof and will deteriorate quickly when exposed to the elements.
Crown of the Chimney
Protecting the chimney structure from deterioration due to weather exposure is the main and most important purpose of a chimney crown. The properly installed chimney crown structure is able to achieve this by extending over the walls of the chimney. As its primary purpose is to protect your chimney, it should overhang the masonry by at least 2-2.5 inches. It commonly refers as a kerf. By doing this, it creates a form of a rain gutter, allowing rain, snow, and other moisture from finding its way onto the chimney. Instead, kerfs direct the water onto the roof where it can then harmlessly drain without damaging the bricks and mortar of the chimney structure.
The top should gently slope away from the chimney opening, encouraging precipitation to run away from the chimney interior. The overhang prevents this water from running down the masonry, and a slight ridge build into the underside of the masonry further encourages the water to drip onto the roof rather than reach the masonry.
The damage of the chimney crown can often be hard to spot as it is located on the roof. Chimney crown damage can only be seen when inspecting the chimney directly on the roof. Because of this reason, most chimney crown damage is only found during chimney sweepings or inspections.
The chimney crown is placed atop the masonry chimney as a form of protection against the weather. As crowns withstand a lot of abuse, they need to be made out of a solid material; most commonly, chimney crowns are made of poured concrete and free from cracks and crumbling. In general, it is advisable to avoid using mortar to built chimney. The reason is due to mortar is the ideal material to bind bricks together, but it should not be used for chimney crowns are it deteriorates rapidly when exposed directly to the elements. Similarly, ill-maintained chimney crowns can build up cracks or holes which can allow water to enter the flue and firebox.
Chimney crowns are specifically fitted to each individual chimney, they should be custom built by a trustworthy chimney company. It is best having a chimney crown professional built at fitted can expand the life of the chimney crown for decades. They also guarantee their work and aim to build chimney crowns that protect the chimney and fireplace system, as well as look beautiful and fit the style of the house.