Chimney Caps & Crowns, Done Right

The crown is the concrete slab on top of the chimney and the cap is the metal cover over the flue. Together they keep rain, snow, birds and squirrels out. A cracked crown lets water into the brick, and a missing cap lets it straight down the flue.

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About Caps & Crowns

Picture the top of a chimney as a small roof. The crown is its surface: a slab of concrete or mortar over the last course of brick, sloped so water runs off and ideally overhanging the face so drips fall clear. The cap is the hood and screen above each flue opening, keeping rain, snow, leaves and animals from dropping straight down inside. One protects the masonry, the other protects the flue, and a chimney needs both doing their job.

The two fail in different ways. Crowns crack from shrinkage as they cure, from freeze and thaw, and from flue tiles that expand against them when hot. Many older crowns were just mortar troweled over the top with no overhang, and those crack early. Caps fail from rust, from wind lifting a loose fastener, and from mesh clogged with soot or torn by squirrels and raccoons. Salt air near the shore speeds up corrosion on lower-grade metal.

Looking at both on the same visit makes sense because a problem in one often shows up as a symptom of the other. Rust on the damper may come from a missing cap, or from water seeping through a cracked crown into the flue. A good result is a crown that sheds water and moves with the tile, plus a cap sized to each flue and fastened so it stays.

What Our Crew Does

Crown checked for cracks, slope, overhang and the joint around each flue tile
Each cap checked for rust, loose fasteners and torn or clogged mesh
Every flue on the top counted and matched to the appliance that uses it
Hairline crown cracks cleaned and sealed with a flexible crown coating
A failed crown removed and replaced with a sloped, overhanging one
Caps measured and fitted to each flue, or one cap sized over the whole top
Top courses of brick and the flashing below checked while on the roof

When to Call Us

No cap on top of the flue
Birds or animals in the chimney
Cracks across the crown
Rust stains on the firebox or damper
Water dripping into the fireplace

How the Job Goes

Measure
We measure the flue and crown so the cap fits and the crown sheds water.
Repair or replace
Small crown cracks get sealed; a failed crown gets replaced.
Install the cap
A cap sized to your flue, fastened to stay on in strong wind.
Check the rest
We look at the flashing and the top courses of brick while we are up there.

Your Options

Single-flue caps

One cap per flue, fixed to the tile. Each flue stays independent, which suits chimneys with a mix of fireplace and heating flues.

Full-top cap

One hood mounted to the crown and covering every flue. It also shields the crown from direct rain, but must be sized to suit every appliance below.

Crown coating

A flexible, breathable coating over a crown that is cracked on the surface but still solid. It buys time and slows water entry.

New poured crown

Formed and cast in place with a slope, an overhang and a drip groove. The lasting answer for a crown that is broken through.

What Affects the Cost

Flue count and tile sizes on the chimney top
Whether the crown needs a coating, patching or full replacement
Cap material, with stainless steel and copper costing more than galvanized
Custom-sized caps for unusual or oversized tops
Ladder or roof equipment needed to work safely at the top
Clearing out nesting material before the top is closed

Every job starts with a free written estimate, so you know the price before we start.

When It Cannot Wait

A cap hanging loose or lying in the gutter
Animals going in and out of the top of the chimney
Chunks of crown on the roof or in the gutter
Rain dripping onto the damper or into the firebox during storms

Make It Last

Scan the top with binoculars from the yard after big storms and each spring
Keep overhanging branches cut back from the chimney
Have the cap mesh cleaned during each sweep so it does not clog with soot
Reseal the joint where the crown meets each flue tile when the sealant cracks

Questions About Caps & Crowns

Do I really need a chimney cap?

Yes. A cap is the simplest way to keep rain and animals out of the flue.

What is the difference between a crown and a cap?

The crown is the masonry or concrete top of the chimney. The cap is the metal cover over the flue opening.

Can a cracked crown be repaired?

Hairline cracks can be sealed. A crown that is broken through or crumbling should be replaced.

How can I check the crown and cap without going on the roof?

Stand back in the yard or across the street and use binoculars or a phone camera zoomed in. Look for the shine of a cap over each flue, mesh that looks torn or black, and dark lines across the top slab. Then look inside the firebox with a flashlight for rust flakes or damp. Getting up there safely takes roof gear and training, so it is not a homeowner task.

Can the crown and the cap be done on the same visit?

Usually, yes. Crown coatings and repairs go on first, and the cap is fitted once the surface is ready. A newly poured crown needs time to cure before a crown-mounted cap is bolted to it, so in that case a temporary cover may go on and the permanent cap follows.

Will a new cap change how my fireplace drafts?

A correctly sized cap with clean mesh should not slow the draft noticeably, and in wind it can help by keeping gusts from blowing straight down the flue. Problems come from caps with a lid set too low, mesh that is too fine or clogged, or one cap shared by flues that need different terminations.

Guides From Our Crew

Why homeowners call Pro 1

18,000+ Chimney Jobs. One Standard.

15+ years and 18,000+ chimney jobs taught us what homeowners want: a crew that shows up, explains it plainly and leaves the house as clean as they found it.

$500 OFF any chimney service

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Our own local crews
The people at your door work for us and live in the area. We never send subcontractors.
Licensed and insured
Your home and our crew are covered on every job, from a sweep to a full rebuild.
Free written estimate
You see what we found and what it takes to fix it, in writing, before any work starts.
Upfront pricing
The price we write down is the price you pay. No hidden fees and no surprise add-ons.
Fast response
Open 24 hours Sunday to Friday, with a real person on the phone and same-day visits when we can.
Clean, careful work
Floors and furniture covered, the roof and yard cleaned up, and a walk-through when we finish.

Caps & Crowns Near You

Limited time offer

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Any chimney service. Mention it when you call or book online.

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Mason working on a brick building from a lift — **18,000+** projects completed by our own crew

Simple from the first call

How It Works

Your callCall, text or book online
Tell us what you see or smell. A real person from our team answers and sets a time that suits you.
The visitFree chimney inspection
Our own crew arrives in a marked Pro 1 van, covers the floor and inspects the chimney from the firebox to the cap, free of charge.
The estimateFree written estimate
We walk you through what we found, in plain words, and put any repair in writing before work starts.
The workThe job, done right
We do the work, clean up the roof, the yard and the room, and walk you through the finished job.

Book before the holidays. Fireplaces get their heaviest use from Thanksgiving to New Year. A free inspection now catches nests, creosote and cracked flue tiles before the first big fire and the family gatherings.

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