Chimney crowns can incur damage that may also affect chimney cowls and with this in mind, there are numerous tips that can prevent unnecessarily expensive repair work.
Firstly, Ask the Chimney Sweep has advised homeowners to be careful when removing existing chimney crowns, as an improper removal procedure can damage the brick on the chimney or the chimney flue itself and it is "often where mistakes occur".
When constructing a chimney crown, it is inadvisable to use mortar as it "will erode away quickly", instead individuals should use a concrete mixture and subsequently set steel forms on the chimney, which should be filled up with cement, according to the source.
Ensuring that chimneys are appropriately maintained is extremely important for home safety, as the potential pitfalls of unstable chimneys were exposed last week when an 87-year-old was evacuated from her home in fear of a collapsing chimney.
According to the Helensburgh Advertiser, the collapsing chimney forced Claris Burgess to be evacuated from her home, before she was handed temporary accommodation at Helensburgh's Abbeyfield Society's home.