North Tacoma — Eroded Crown, Spalled Brick and Three Open Flues
A crown eroded to a mossy stub, brick faces spalling away beneath it, and three clay flues standing open to the weather. Inspected one day, approved the next.
The Challenge
The crown had worn down to a rough, mossy edge and broken away at the corners — and moss holds damp against masonry, which is how erosion accelerates. Directly below it the brick faces had spalled, the signature of water getting in behind the face and freezing. The three clay flues sat open at the top with nothing over them, so rain, debris and animals had a straight path down all three.
Our Solution
Damaged bricks were removed, matched, reset in new mortar and the surrounding joints repointed. The crown was rebuilt with a proper outward slope and a clean drip edge, sealed at each crown-to-flue junction so water is thrown clear of the masonry. Each of the three flues received its own custom-fitted stainless steel cap with mesh screen.
The Result
Water leaves at the crown instead of soaking in, the failed brick faces are gone, and all three flues are closed to rain and animals. Inspected and quoted 12 August 2026, approved the next day at $4,997.