Creosote builds up every time you burn wood. That’s the leading cause of chimney fires in the US, responsible for 60% of all chimney accidents. If you’re seeing crumbling mortar, water stains on your ceiling near the fireplace, or pieces of brick in your firebox, you’re looking at problems that get worse fast.
A small leak today becomes interior wall damage next season. Cracks in your chimney crown let water freeze and expand, turning a $300 repair into a $2,000 rebuild. You’ve probably noticed your heating bills climbing too—when your chimney isn’t sealed properly, you’re literally heating the outdoors.
Here’s what changes after we fix it: your fireplace works the way it should. No more smoke backing up into your living room. No more wondering if that smell is just soot or something dangerous. Your family stays warm, your home stays safe, and you’re not dealing with emergency calls in January when every chimney sweep company near me is booked solid.
We’ve worked on chimneys across Kinnelon and Morris County for nearly twenty years. We’re not a franchise or a national chain—we’re the crew that shows up, assesses what’s actually wrong, and tells you exactly what needs fixing without upselling you on work you don’t need.
Most homes in Kinnelon were built between the 1960s and 1980s. That means brick chimneys that have seen forty-plus winters of freeze-thaw cycles. We know how these structures age in Northern New Jersey. We know what fails first and what can wait another season.
Our team includes certified masonry contractors who follow New Jersey construction codes. We give you a free estimate with transparent pricing—no hidden charges, no surprises when the job’s done. You’ll know what you’re paying before we start.
First, we schedule a time that works for you—usually within a few days, faster if it’s urgent. When we arrive, we do a full chimney inspection from the roof down to the firebox. We’re checking for cracks in the crown, damaged flashing, deteriorating mortar joints, blockages, and interior liner condition.
Then we walk you through what we found. You’ll see photos of the damage and get a clear explanation of what’s causing it. We tell you what needs immediate attention and what you can plan for later. No pressure, no sales pitch—just the facts about your chimney’s condition.
Once you approve the estimate, we schedule the repair. Most chimney leak fixing and brick repair jobs take one to three days depending on extent of damage. We handle everything: setting up scaffolding if needed, protecting your landscaping, repairing or rebuilding damaged sections, waterproofing, and cleaning up completely when we’re done.
After the work’s finished, we walk you through what we did and answer any questions about maintenance. You get documentation of the repairs for your records. Then your chimney’s ready for another season of safe use.
Ready to get started?
Chimney crown repair is one of the most common jobs we do in Kinnelon. That concrete cap at the top of your chimney takes a beating from weather. When it cracks, water gets into your masonry and the damage spreads fast. We rebuild crowns with proper slope and overhang so water runs off instead of soaking in.
Flashing repair is critical but often overlooked. That’s the metal seal where your chimney meets your roof. If it’s rusted, loose, or improperly installed, you’ll get leaks during every rainstorm. We install new flashing that’s sealed correctly and built to last through New Jersey weather.
Brick and mortar work is our specialty as a full-service masonry company. We tuckpoint deteriorating joints, replace damaged bricks, and rebuild sections that are beyond repair. If your chimney’s leaning or separating from the house, we handle structural repairs too. For older chimneys that need complete rebuilds, we match the original brick and maintain your home’s appearance.
We also handle fireplace repair, chimney installation for new construction or additions, and interior masonry restoration when water damage has affected your walls. Every job includes proper waterproofing to prevent future problems.
Most chimney repairs in our area run between $300 and $4,000 depending on what’s wrong. Simple mortar repairs or minor crown fixes are on the lower end. Complete chimney rebuilds or extensive structural work costs more.
Here’s what affects your price: how much of the chimney needs work, whether we need scaffolding to reach it safely, and what materials we’re matching. A straightforward tuckpointing job where we’re repairing mortar joints might cost $800 to $1,500. Rebuilding a chimney crown typically runs $1,000 to $2,000. Full chimney rebuilds start around $3,000 and go up based on height and complexity.
We give you a free estimate before any work starts. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying and what that covers. No hidden fees, no surprise charges when we’re done.
Early fall is the best time—September or October, before you start using your fireplace regularly. That’s when you’ll get better availability and avoid the rush that happens once cold weather hits.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends annual chimney inspections even if you don’t think anything’s wrong. Small problems are harder to spot from the ground, and catching them early saves you money. If you’re seeing visible damage like crumbling bricks, white staining on the exterior (that’s efflorescence from moisture), or pieces of your chimney in the firebox, don’t wait for fall—call now.
You should also get an inspection if you’re buying a home in Kinnelon, after any chimney fire no matter how small, or if you haven’t used your fireplace in several years and want to start again. Blockages from animal nests or debris can build up fast.
Water gets into chimneys through four main entry points: cracked crowns, damaged flashing, deteriorating mortar joints, and missing or broken chimney caps. Sometimes it’s a combination of several issues.
The crown is that concrete top—it cracks from freeze-thaw cycles and age. Once water gets in through those cracks, it soaks into the brick and causes interior damage. We repair crowns by sealing small cracks or completely rebuilding them when damage is extensive.
Flashing problems are trickier to diagnose because the leak might show up inside your house far from where water’s actually entering. We remove old flashing, install new corrosion-resistant material, and seal it properly to your roof and chimney. For mortar joint issues, we tuckpoint the damaged areas and apply waterproofing. If you don’t have a chimney cap, we install one—it’s a simple fix that prevents most blockages and a lot of water entry.
That depends on how extensive the damage is and whether the structure is still sound. If you’ve got isolated areas of damaged brick or deteriorating mortar joints, repairs are usually enough. If the chimney’s leaning, has major cracks running through multiple courses of brick, or shows severe spalling where brick faces are falling off, you’re probably looking at a rebuild.
During our inspection, we check the foundation, the structural integrity of the masonry, and the condition of the interior liner. Sometimes the outside looks rough but the structure is solid—we can repair that. Other times, what looks like minor damage on the exterior is hiding serious problems inside.
We’ll tell you honestly what makes sense. Rebuilding costs more upfront but if your chimney’s failing, throwing money at repairs is just delaying the inevitable. On the other hand, if repairs will give you another 15-20 years of safe use, that’s usually the smarter choice. We base our recommendation on the actual condition, not what’s more profitable for us.
Most standard repairs take one to three days. Simple jobs like crown sealing or flashing replacement might be done in a day. More involved work like tuckpointing large sections, rebuilding a crown, or replacing multiple courses of brick takes longer.
Weather affects the timeline too. We need dry conditions for mortar work—it has to cure properly or it won’t hold. If rain’s in the forecast, we’ll reschedule rather than rush a job that won’t last. For masonry work, temperature matters too. Mortar doesn’t set right in freezing conditions.
Complete chimney rebuilds take longer, usually one to two weeks depending on height and access. We’ll give you a realistic timeline with your estimate. If we run into unexpected issues once we open up the work—like hidden water damage or structural problems—we’ll let you know immediately and explain how that affects schedule and cost.
It depends on what’s damaged. If you’ve got structural cracks, a damaged liner, or any issue that affects ventilation or safety, don’t use it. The risk of carbon monoxide backing up into your home or a chimney fire isn’t worth it.
If the damage is limited to exterior cosmetic issues—like some deteriorating mortar joints on the outside or minor crown cracking that we’ve assessed as non-urgent—you might be okay to use it carefully until we can schedule repairs. But you need a professional assessment first, not a guess.
Here’s the thing: creosote builds up every time you burn wood, and if your chimney has cracks or gaps, that’s where fires start. About 5,000 chimney-related incidents happen every year in the US, and most are preventable. When you call us for an inspection, we’ll tell you straight whether it’s safe to use or not. If it’s not safe and you need heat, we can usually prioritize emergency repairs to get you up and running quickly.
Local Resources
Useful Links
Other Services we provide in Kinnelon
