Chimney Repair for Allendale chimneys
Allendale's chimneys fall into two groups. The older homes near the downtown have brick chimneys that may have served coal, then oil, and now gas, often without ever being relined. The post-war and newer homes typically have a masonry fireplace chimney, sometimes with a second flue for the furnace or boiler, and these are often used for wood fires in winter.
Wood-burning fireplaces bring creosote buildup and the need for regular cleaning and inspection. Gas-converted flues bring condensation that attacks mortar and clay tile from the inside. On every chimney in the borough, the crown and cap take the brunt of freeze-thaw, and northwest Bergen sees plenty of it.
We inspect, clean, reline, repair or rebuild crowns, install caps and chase covers, repoint, waterproof and reflash. Because we also roof, we can fix the chimney and the roofline around it together.
Allendale housing
Allendale is primarily single-family. Older frame homes, some dating to the late 1800s and early 1900s, stand near the railroad and the downtown. Much of the rest of the borough filled in after World War II with colonials, capes, ranches and split-levels, and later decades added larger colonials and custom homes on bigger, wooded lots. Most roofs are steep-slope asphalt shingle, and many homes have a masonry fireplace chimney.
Weather & exposure
The borough is inland and heavily wooded, so tree cover rather than wind is the main exposure. Oaks and other mature trees drop limbs in summer storms and under wet snow, fill gutters each fall and keep shaded slopes damp. The Celery Farm marsh and the low, wet ground around it hold moisture, and northwest Bergen tends to see a bit more snow and colder nights than the towns near the Hudson, which means more freeze-thaw cycling on chimneys and more ice dams on shaded eaves.
Repair, repoint or rebuild in Allendale
If you burn wood in your Allendale fireplace, have the chimney inspected and cleaned regularly, generally once a year for a fireplace in regular use. If the chimney vents a gas furnace or boiler and has never been relined, ask us to check the flue. Visible problems such as a cracked crown, missing cap, loose brick or white staining on the masonry are all signs it is time for an inspection.
Most chimney problems here are repairable with cleaning, a cap, a new crown, repointing and waterproofing. A chimney with failed brick above the roofline or a badly damaged liner may need a partial rebuild or relining. We explain what we find, show you photos and give you a free written estimate.
