Certain areas of a chimney are more susceptible to water damage than others. The top of the chimney, called the crown, and the shoulder areas where the chimney narrows are two such areas. In order to restore these areas, we often have to remove the defective mortar and perform a Crown and Shoulder Pour.
This repair requires all of the existing surface to be removed so we can achieve adequate depth of concrete. This ensures maximum strength and longevity of the repair.
Once each location is prepared (in this case, the crown and both shoulders), its time to mix. We used fast setting concrete mixed with a little bit of extra sand for easier smoothing. Each bucket also has fibers mixed in for extra protection against cracking.
Once enough material is poured to the desired location, shaping the material comes next. We want to ensure that when water hits these areas, it will run off away from the home.
We achieved this with each shoulder as well as the crown.
After each area has set up, we applied Chimney Saver Waterproofing to prevent water absorption and installed a stainless steel chimney cap.
This will be the last time these areas will need to be addressed. Crown and Shoulder Pour for maximum lifespan.