Chimney Inspection
Level 1 and camera inspections with a written 21 point report, for yearly checks, home sales and after a fire.
Inspection
Rochester chimney crowns
Chimney Crown Repair in Rochester, NY
For chimney crown repair in Rochester, NY, Rochester Premier Chimney Sweep trowels a new fiber-reinforced or concrete crown over a cracked one, so meltwater runs off instead of into your brick. Our crown work comes with a guarantee.
The Umbrella on Top of Your Chimney
A sound crown keeps the water out and the brick in one piece
Contact UsThe crown is the slab of concrete on top of the brick that sheds water off the chimney. Think of it as an umbrella that has to survive a Rochester winter, so we judge it by February, not July. Once it cracks, water seeps down between the flue and the brick, freezes, and pushes everything apart. That is how a hairline crack in the crown turns into crumbling mortar and a leaky ceiling two years later. In our experience it is the most common problem on this side of the lake.
Chimney Crown Repair Options
From sealing a hairline to pouring a whole new crown
New Fiber-Reinforced Crown
We trowel on a new crown mixed with fibers that hold it together as it cures and flexes. It slopes away from the flue and overhangs the brick, so water drips clear of the chimney instead of running down it.
New Concrete Crown
A poured concrete crown, formed on the chimney top, with rebar where it needs it. It takes a bit more time than a fiber mix and suits larger chimneys with several flues.
Sealing Hairline Cracks
A crown that is still sound but has hairline cracks may only need a flexible sealer. We will tell you if that is enough. Sealing a good crown beats selling you a new one every time.
Crown With a New Cap
When we replace a crown, it is the cheapest moment to add a stainless cap, since the top is already open. We clamp the cap to the flue so water has no way in.
Chimney Crown Prices
- Sealing a sound crown: $350 to $600
- New fiber-reinforced crown, small chimney: $600 to $1,400
- New concrete crown, large or multi-flue: $1,400 to $2,500
- Stainless cap added at the same time: $200 to $450
- Guarantee on the crown work: included
You get a price after we look at the crown from the roof.
Every Crown Job Includes
- A close look at the crown and top courses of brick
- Old, loose crown material chipped away
- A new crown sloped away from the flue
- An overhang so water drips clear of the brick
- A guarantee on the work
- Photos of the crown before and after
How Much Does Chimney Crown Repair Cost in Rochester?
Chimney crown repair in Rochester costs $350 to $600 to seal a sound crown and $600 to $2,500 for a new one in 2026. Small single-flue chimneys land at the low end. Big chimneys with several flues, or crowns that took water for years, cost the most.
| Crown job | Typical chimney | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Seal hairline cracks | One flue, crown still solid | $350 to $600 |
| New fiber-reinforced crown | One flue, ranch or colonial | $600 to $1,400 |
| New concrete crown | Wide chimney or two flues | $1,400 to $2,500 |
| Crown plus new cap | Any size | add $200 to $450 |
We fixed about 140 crowns last year, more than any other single job except sweeping. Our rule is simple: coat a good crown before selling a rebuild. A sealer is cheaper, and you do not have to give up a cracked crown that is still sound. Ron has spent 24 years looking at Rochester crowns from the roof, and our crew trowels every one.
What Happens If You Ignore a Cracked Chimney Crown?
A cracked crown lets water into the chimney, where it freezes and expands. That cracks the flue tile, flakes the brick and breaks down the mortar. Over a few winters the repair can grow from a few hundred dollars to a full rebuild costing several thousand. Fixing the crown early is the cheapest repair you can make.
Water Gets Behind the Flue
A gap between the crown and the clay tile is a funnel. Water reaches the top of the flue, the smoke chamber and sometimes the ceiling below. You may notice rust on the damper or a damp spot near the fireplace before you ever see a crack up top.
Freeze and Thaw Do the Rest
Water expands as it freezes, and Rochester crosses the freezing line again and again each winter. Each cycle widens the crack. Brick faces start to pop off, a problem called spalling, and the mortar turns to sand. At that point you are looking at chimney repointing or worse.
Gaps, Pieces and Missing Overhang
Sometimes a corner of the crown is just gone. Or the crown was never built with an overhang, so rain runs straight down the brick. We see both on 1950s and 1960s homes in Greece and Gates, where crowns were often a thin skim of mortar.
Crown Repair or Chimney Rebuild
If the brick under the crown is solid, a new crown is all you need. If the top few courses are loose or leaning, the crown cannot sit on them, and a partial rebuild comes first. We check by climbing up and pressing on the brick. If it moves, we say so, and show you a photo on your phone. Our chimney rebuild page explains what that job looks like.
After the crown, a chimney waterproofing coat is a good way to protect the brick below. We repair crowns all over Monroe County, including Irondequoit and Brighton.
Questions we hear
Chimney Crown FAQs
How long does a new chimney crown last?
A well-built fiber-reinforced or concrete crown lasts for many winters in Rochester weather, especially with a clean slope and a good overhang. We guarantee our crown work. A crown made of a thin skim of mortar fails much sooner, which is why we do not build them that way.
Can you repair a cracked crown without replacing it?
Sometimes. If the cracks are hairline and the crown is still solid, a flexible sealer can do the job for a few hundred dollars. If the slab is crumbling, loose or has no overhang, sealing only hides the problem. We check from the roof and tell you which it is.
How long does crown repair take?
Most single-flue crowns take half a day to one day, and the crown needs a day or two to cure. Larger chimneys with multiple flues can take two days. We will not pour in rain or when the forecast drops below freezing, so late fall jobs can be pushed a few days.
Will a new crown stop my chimney from leaking?
If the crown was the problem, yes. Water also gets in through the mortar joints or at the roof line. Our crew looks at all three on the roof. If the leak is at the flashing, a roofer is the right call, and we will tell you before you spend money on a crown.
Our reviews
What Rochester Customers Say
We had a brown stain by the chimney every spring and two roofers blamed the shingles. Ron went up, took pictures of the crown and showed me the crack. New crown, dry ceiling, and he mentioned two cracked bricks before I asked.
Karen L.Crown repair · Irondequoit Bought a 1940s house in Brighton and the inspector said the chimney needed a closer look. They sent a camera down the flue the next week and gave us a report the bank wanted. We closed on schedule.
Matt & Priya S.Camera inspection · Brighton Our wood stove would not draw. They fitted a stainless liner and a new cap in one day, showed me how to burn it and haven't left a speck of soot on the carpet. First winter with no smoky smell.
Dan W.Liner and cap · Greece
Explore Our Other Services
Chimney Liners
Stainless steel liners and clay flue tile replacement for wood, oil and gas chimneys, with a lifetime warranty on stainless.
LinersChimney Caps
Hy-C stainless caps with a lifetime guarantee and top-mount dampers that seal the flue tight.
CapsChimney Repointing
Old mortar joints removed and new mortar colored to match, so a crumbling chimney is solid again.
RepointingChimney Waterproofing
Chimney Saver breathable water repellent that slows freeze-thaw damage, with a 10 year guarantee.
WaterproofingChimney Rebuild
Partial and full rebuilds to the roof line for chimneys that lean, crumble or have come apart.
RebuildsBook online in a minute
Smoke, Smell or a Wet Ceiling by the Chimney? Tell Us.
Leave your name, number and a line about your chimney. We call back within one business day, and often the same afternoon.
- Photos before any quote
- 21-point report after every visit
- Free quotes on repairs