Cracked chimney crowns from freeze-thaw
Why it happens here
Freehold Center gets dozens of freeze-thaw cycles every winter. Water sits in a hairline crown crack, freezes, expands, and widens the crack. By spring, the crown is failing and water is running down the flue. This is the single most common leak source we find.
Our approach
We rebuild the crown with a proper slope and overhang, using a crown mix designed for New Jersey winters. We also seal the crown-to-brick joint, which is where most cracks start. A new crown should last 20 years or more.