My roofer noticed cracks near the top of my chimney while he was working on the roof. Is that where chimney problems usually start?
Answer
Honestly, yes — the top of the chimney is where we see a lot of problems start. We’ve done quite a few chimney repairs in Birmingham over the years, especially around Maple Rd and Woodward Ave. That area has been pretty busy for us.
The reason is simple: the top of the chimney takes the worst beating from the weather. Rain, snow, wind — it all hits that section first. After enough Michigan winters, the mortar joints and sometimes the brick near the top start to crack.
A lot of homeowners also ask what the chimney crown is when we’re looking at this. The crown is the concrete top surface on the chimney. Its whole job is to push water away from the masonry so it doesn’t soak down into the brick and mortar below. When that area starts cracking, water can get in and that’s usually when the real damage begins.
