The top part of your chimney is known as a chimney crown or wash. This part of your chimney takes the brunt of the elements and will typically deteriorate faster than the rest of the chimney. Sometimes, resurfacing the chimney top is an adequate repair, but if the chimney crown/wash is too badly deteriorated, rebuilding it is the proper repair option. The finished result is a sharp, symmetrical chimney crown that (with proper maintenance) will last decades.