Chimney rebuilding in Passaic County, NJ
In the City of Passaic and in Prospect Park, the median house was built in 1938. When a chimney that old will not hold fresh mortar, we take it down to solid brick and build it back.
NJ HIC 13VH13268400 · Licensed and insured · Free inspection · Open 24 hoursModern Home Roofing & Chimney rebuilds brick chimneys on houses across Passaic County, NJ, including Passaic, Prospect Park, Paterson and Haledon. In the City of Passaic and Prospect Park over half the homes were built before 1940. When the top of the stack will not hold mortar, we take it down to solid brick and rebuild it. NJ HIC 13VH13268400.
Chimneys from the 1930s
In the City of Passaic, close to six homes in ten were built before 1940. In Prospect Park it is just over half, and in both places the median house dates to 1938. A chimney that old has been through more than eighty winters of freezing and thawing.
At some point repointing stops working. When the crown is cracked through and the top courses rock under your hand, new mortar has nothing solid to grab. The stack has to come down to sound brick and go back up.
Most of these chimneys still vent a gas furnace or water heater. Condensation from that exhaust can be part of what wore the top out. A rebuild is the time to deal with the flue, while the stack is open.
Nobody can call a rebuild from the sidewalk. We climb to the top and photograph exactly where the loose brick ends.
Does a 1930s Passaic chimney need rebuilding
A rebuild costs more than repointing, so we only price one when the brick will not hold new mortar. These are the things that decide it.
What settles it
- Top courses that shift under a firm push.
- Whether the crown is cracked all the way through.
- How many courses down the joints are hollow.
- A stack that tilts or has opened a gap against the wall.
- Cracks in the liner, as far down the flue as we can see.
- On a two-family house, what each unit vents up the chimney.
Sometimes taking down the top few feet does it, or the joints just need new mortar. When the smaller job will last, the smaller job is what we quote. Chimney repair in Passaic County
How a chimney rebuild works in Passaic County
How long it takes depends on how far down the stack has to come. All seven steps are on the chimney rebuilding page.
Free inspection
We get up to the top when it is safe to and photograph the brick, crown, cap, flue and flashing. You see how far the damage goes before we talk about price.
Written estimate
How far down we expect to go, what goes back up and the price, on paper. Any permit goes on it too.
Down to solid masonry
We take the chimney apart brick by brick until we reach solid masonry. With the stack open, we check the liner and the framing and show you what we find.
Build it back and clean up
New brick and mortar go up course by course, with a new crown, cap and flashing. Then we haul the old brick away and go over the photos with you.
Do you need a permit for a chimney rebuild in Passaic County?
It depends on your town. Rebuilding a chimney is not on New Jersey's list of ordinary maintenance or minor work, so the construction office in your town decides what paperwork it needs. Paterson's historic districts need Historic Preservation Commission review before exterior roofing, siding or window work, ordinary repairs included, though staff can sign off on minor ones. We check with your town before we start, and any permit goes on the estimate.
What you can check on us first
- Our New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor license is 13VH13268400. Look it up with the Division of Consumer Affairs.
- We carry insurance and can send you the certificate before work starts.
- The inspection is free, and the estimate comes to you in writing.
- We are open 24 hours.
If it is in Passaic County, yes. We cover all 16 municipalities, from Bloomingdale to Woodland Park. Put your ZIP code in the estimate form and we confirm it when we call you back.
The town makes that call. Rebuilding a chimney is not on the state list of permit exempt work, so it is the construction office that decides. They hear from us first, and any permit is written into the estimate.
Yes, but the city looks at it first. Paterson's historic districts need Historic Preservation Commission review before exterior work, ordinary repairs included, though staff can sign off on minor ones. Before work starts we contact the city and give you photos for the review.
Often not. On many older chimneys only the part above the roof, or just the top few feet, is loose. We take it down until we reach brick that holds and show you where that is in photos.
Height, how many courses come off, and whether the flue needs a liner set the price. We do not quote over the phone. The written number follows a trip to the top, once we know where solid brick starts.
See where the solid brick starts
Send us your town and what the chimney is doing. We call you back shortly, climb up at no charge, and hand you photos plus a price on paper. When repointing will last, that is the estimate you get.
Or call 732-682-9251