Chimney Repair in Irvington, NJ
Cracked crowns, crumbling mortar, loose bricks and leaking flashing. We repair the outside of your chimney so it stays standing and keeps water out of the house.
Signs your chimney needs repair
You do not have to climb onto the roof to spot most chimney problems. From the yard or the street, look for:
- Cracks in the crown or bricks, or pieces of brick and mortar on the roof or in the gutters
- Mortar joints that look sandy, recessed or empty
- White staining (efflorescence) on the brick, a sign that water is moving through it
- A chimney that leans or bricks that sit out of line
- Rust or gaps in the metal flashing at the base
- Water stains on the ceiling or wall next to the fireplace or chimney chase
What our chimney repair covers
- Chimney crown repair or replacement
- Repointing of worn mortar joints
- Spalled and loose brick replacement
- Step and counter flashing rebuilt
- Chimney caps installed or replaced
- Partial or full rebuild above the roof
- Cricket installed behind wide chimneys
- Waterproofing of the brick face
How we repair a chimney
- Inspect from the roof. We look at the crown, cap, bricks, mortar joints and flashing up close and photograph what we find.
- Find the water path. Many chimney leaks come from several small failures at once. We identify each one so the repair actually stops the leak.
- Repair the masonry. Worn joints are ground out and repointed, damaged bricks are replaced, and the crown is repaired or rebuilt with a proper overhang so water drips clear of the brick.
- Rebuild the flashing. New step and counter flashing is cut into the mortar joints and sealed. Wide chimneys get a cricket behind them so water and snow do not pile up.
- Cap and protect. A cap keeps rain, animals and debris out of the flue, and a breathable water repellent can be applied to the brick face.
Chimneys and New Jersey winters
Brick and mortar do not like water, and they like freezing water even less. Every winter, North Jersey goes through many cycles of freezing at night and thawing during the day. Water that soaks into a crack or an open joint expands as it freezes and pushes the masonry apart a little more each time. That is why a chimney can look fine for years and then deteriorate quickly once the crown or joints start to fail.
Many homes in Irvington, Maplewood, South Orange and the Oranges are older houses with tall brick chimneys, some no longer in use. An unused chimney still needs a sound crown and flashing, or it becomes a leak and a falling-brick risk.
Chimney work with the roof in mind
Because we are roofers too, we see the chimney as part of the roof system. If the flashing is the problem, we fix it properly into the shingles rather than smearing sealant over it. If your roof is close to replacement, we plan both together. See our roof repair page for other leak sources, or book a free roof inspection that includes the chimney.
Ready to stop the leak? Get a free estimate or check the towns we serve.
Chimney Repair questions in Irvington, NJ
The most common causes are failed flashing where the chimney meets the roof, a cracked crown on top, open mortar joints and a missing cap. Water can also soak through porous brick. We check all of them before deciding what to repair.
The crown is the concrete or mortar slab that caps the top of the chimney around the flue. It cracks as it ages and as water inside it freezes and expands. Once cracked, it lets water straight into the chimney, so it should be repaired or replaced quickly.
Repointing means grinding out worn mortar and packing new mortar into the joints. A chimney needs it when the mortar is sandy, recessed or missing. Left alone, the bricks loosen and the chimney can lean or need a rebuild.
That is called spalling. Water gets into the brick, freezes, expands and pops the face off. North Jersey's many freeze and thaw cycles each winter make it common. We replace damaged bricks and address where the water is coming from.
Our work is the exterior of the chimney: the masonry, crown, cap and flashing above the roof. For cleaning and flue liners, you will need a chimney sweep. We are happy to coordinate with one if the job calls for both.
Yes, or at the same time. Chimney flashing is tied into the roof, so doing both together avoids opening the new roof later. We plan roof replacements and chimney work as one job when it makes sense.
Have a question we did not answer? Call us at (908) 848-1384 or read our general FAQ.
Chimney leaking or falling apart?
Call us before winter. We inspect the chimney from the roof and tell you what it needs.