Answering 24/7
Chimney Cap and Crown Repair in Atlanta, From the Roof Up
Not every chimney leak is a flashing problem. Water also gets in through the top of the chimney and through the brick itself.
At a glance
- 24/7
- Calls answered
- Crown and cap
- Checked with the flashing
- Repointing
- Above the roofline
- Atlanta
- Service office
Chimney cap and crown repair in Atlanta stops water entering from the top of the chimney: a cracked concrete crown, a missing or rusted cap, or crumbling mortar above the roofline. Published figures put chimney repairs at $800 to $3,000, and we check the flashing at the same time, since crown and flashing leaks look identical from inside.
Updated September 2026
The job
Three Ways Water Gets Into a Chimney
Water gets into a chimney three ways: around it, through the flashing; into it, through an open flue or a cracked crown; and through it, as brick and mortar soak up rain. Stains beside a fireplace can come from any of them.
So a chimney leak gets checked from the top down. We look at the cap, the crown, the mortar joints and the brick above the roofline, then the flashing at the roof. Flashing repairs are covered on our flashing repair page.
Signs to watch for
Signs of a Chimney Top Problem
Stains beside the fireplace
Water is entering the chimney somewhere.
Cracks in the crown
The top slab has started to fail.
Missing or rusted cap
Rain falls straight into the flue.
Crumbling mortar joints
Water is soaking into the brick.
White staining on brick
Salts left behind by water moving through.
Your options
Chimney Cap Types Compared
The right cap depends on the flue layout and the condition of the crown.
| Single-flue cap | Full crown cap | Top-sealing damper cap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covers | One flue | Every flue and the crown | One flue, sealed when closed |
| Protects the crown | No | Yes | No |
| Best for | Simple single-flue chimneys | Multi-flue or worn crowns | Fireplaces that lose heat up the flue |
What the work covers
Chimney Crown Repair
The crown is the concrete slab on top of the chimney that sheds water away from the flue. Many were built with plain mortar rather than a proper crown mix, too thin and without an overhang, so they crack as they heat and cool. Hairline cracks are sealed with a crown sealant made for masonry; a crown that is broken or crumbling is removed and rebuilt with an overhang and drip edge that throws water clear of the brick below.
Chimney Cap Installation
An uncapped flue lets rain fall straight down into the chimney, along with leaves, birds and squirrels. A cap with a mesh screen stops all of that. We measure the flue or the whole crown and fit a stainless or galvanized cap that clamps or fastens securely, and replace rusted caps that have started staining the crown. On multi-flue chimneys, a single cap that covers the whole crown can protect the crown as well. Every cap is fastened so a storm cannot lift it off.
Chimney Mortar Repointing
Mortar joints above the roofline take the full weather, and as they erode, water soaks into the brick and down into the house. Repointing means grinding out failed joints to a consistent depth and packing in new mortar matched to the old in strength, since mortar harder than the brick causes the brick to crack. We repoint the exposed stack; a chimney that leans, has loose bricks or needs rebuilding is a job for a mason, and we will tell you plainly when a chimney needs one.
What drives the price
What Chimney Cap and Crown Work Costs
Published Atlanta figures put chimney, flashing and valley repairs at $800 to $3,000. Where a job lands depends on what failed.
Crown condition
Sealing cracks versus rebuilding the crown.
Cap size
Single flue cap or a full crown cover.
Mortar joints
How much of the stack needs repointing.
Chimney height
Taller stacks need more staging.
Flashing
Often repaired in the same visit.
Roof pitch
Steep roofs take more setup.
Local conditions
Older Atlanta Chimneys
Even after a decade of new building, Atlanta's median home dates only to 1987, and a large share of the city's houses are older than that. Masonry chimneys on those houses carry crowns and mortar joints that have been through decades of summer heat and winter freezes. On those roofs, a leak beside the chimney is often the crown or the mortar rather than the flashing, which is why we check the top of the chimney first.
Step by step
How a Chimney Repair Runs
- 1
Call about the stain
Where it shows and when it appears.
- 2
Top-down inspection
Cap, crown, mortar, brick and flashing.
- 3
Photos and price
What failed, shown before work.
- 4
Crown work
Cracks sealed or crown rebuilt.
- 5
Cap fitted
Screened cap sized and secured.
- 6
Repoint joints
Failed mortar ground out and refilled.
- 7
Water test
Hose test around the repaired chimney.
Questions we hear
Chimney Cap and Crown Questions
From inside they look the same. We check both from the roof before quoting.
If the flue is open, yes. A cap keeps rain, debris and animals out.
Hairline cracks, yes. A broken or crumbling crown needs rebuilding.
We repair crowns, caps and joints above the roof. Leaning chimneys or full rebuilds are a mason's job.
A breathable masonry water repellent can help on porous brick once the joints are sound.
A screened cap stops birds and squirrels using the flue.
Yes, and it is a good time, since the flashing is being replaced anyway.
Related work
Other Chimney and Leak Work
Atlanta, GA service office
1421 Peachtree St NE FL. 3, Atlanta, GA 30361
Talk to a roofer today
Stop the chimney leak at the top
Call and tell us where the stain is. We check the cap, crown, mortar and flashing and fix what failed.