Covering cement block chimney with fake bricks ?

Question for the chimney pros out there.

So while I was sweeping my liner I also noticed a few bricks at the top of my chimney were deteriorating along with the cement rain cap ( crown ?? ) that keeps rain from falling between the chimney and the clay tiles.

My chimney is cement block. I thought it was brick covering it for looks. But to my surprise it doesn't feel like brick . But it doesn't feel like plastic either. At the very top of the chimney there's a few pieces of brick that are actually " flaking apart" reminds of layers in a puff pastry .

What was a common covering used over block chimneys? There is morter in between the bricks. So I assumed it was brick.

Anyhow I've got to replace a few and I want to pour new cement on the crow . I'll have to remove the old cement crown that's got cracks in it.

Also, what type of contractor do you think I should call ? A masonry person or a chimney sweep ? Some sweeps say they do masonry chimney work.

Lastly do you think I need to remove my metal liner ? I'd rather not have to because it was a tight fit and is a flex liner it might not go back in so easy.

Thanks for any thoughts

bholler said:

Also brick will flake apart if water gets into it.

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Thanks Bholler. I can tell you know what your doing your responses are always informative and I appreciate it.

I didn't think brick flaked apart. It feels like brick. It's brown colored. And flaking at the crown I'm assuming because of the warm flu temps and -15 outside temps etc. but it's flaking and separating in layers.

I'm going to get it fixed it's only exterior visual bricks cause underneath is a block chimney and clay flue. I just don't want to have to remove my flex liner to do it .

I'll get some pics over the weekend

bholler said:

That can work fine but it wont fix the spalling brick veneer.

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So for sure what I have is brick veneer. That explains why it feels like brick and uses cement morter, yet is not as thick as brick. It's flaking, or spalling, as Bhollet points out.

So basically I need 3 or 4 brick veneer replaced . If I can't match the color I'll paint it who cares it's at the top of the chimney anyway.

Then I need a new crown .I prefer new cement . I am generally a do it yourselfer. How hard can breaking off a few brick veneeres, replacing them, and then pouring a new cement crown and shaping the crown be ?? All while NOT removing my 6 inch flex liner because it will never go back in correctly. 15 or 20 years down the road when I have to replace the flex liner I'll probably redo the veneer and crown again anyways because I'll break out the clay flue tiles so my 2nd liner can be properly insulated. ( not enough room as is ) but for now I get great draft, so want to leave it as is but do a handy man special kinda repair to the brick veneer and crown

I'm guessing a slow setting cement for the crown so I have time to properly shape it ? The cement crown is all there it's just developed some cracks. It's keeping a majority of moisture out cause it's not missing any pieces but it's cracked and will only get worse