Expert: James Ball - 11/2/2008

Question
I am a poor person, and bought an old house, 1880!  I have been here for
awhile, and I reroofed the place myself, and just finished putting on that tar
tape stuff to prevent water from entering, but as I read on, my chimney
should have a crown or cap.  I dont have anything...  How do I add a crown if
its just a hole?
Can I weld a cap to prevent water from getting in?  I have a small leak coming
in somehow, I guess its coming n through the big hole eh'.  I have a water
heater that IU exhuasted into the chimney, thats all its used for!

Have any ideas for a do it yourselfer, or any sight I can check online on how
to?  Will stop by the library or my friends house again and check back,
Thanx todd

Is waterseal a bad thing to put on the brick?  I have read altering views!

Answer
Hello Todd, I will assume this is a masonry chimney, and the "hole" does not go all the way to the bottom and there is flue tile (you don't say how big it is), Where did the old crown go? If the flue is unlined you may have to line it even for just a hot water heater. You can get cement from your local home center (tell them what you want to use it for) and fill the hole you must leave a 1/2"-4" gap around the flue tile (if you have any) and fill that with silicone after it dry's. the crown is to pitch water off the top of the chimney.
water proofing I guess can't hurt?
I would also have a local Certified Chimney Sweep (www.csia.org, there you can look up by zip code to find one near you) take a first hand look at what you have.
Keep me posted
James Ball