Chimney Repair for Cedar Grove chimneys
Cedar Grove chimneys are mostly post-war brick stacks serving a fireplace and, originally, an oil furnace. Many homes have since converted to gas. These chimneys are younger than those in the older eastern Essex towns, but they were often built with thin mortar crowns, and half a century of freeze-thaw and condensation has caught up with them.
We repair chimneys throughout Cedar Grove: crown replacement, repointing, caps, flashing, stainless steel liners, rebuilding of deteriorated upper sections, waterproofing and cleaning. In newer townhouse and condominium communities, we also repair framed chimney chases, chase covers and the flashing where they meet the roof.
On the wooded, higher streets, chimneys take wind-driven rain on their exposed faces and collect leaves and debris on their uphill side. Both speed up wear on the masonry and flashing.
Cedar Grove housing
Cedar Grove is largely a post-war township. Ranches, split-levels, bi-levels, capes and center-hall colonials from the 1950s and 1960s make up most of the housing, typically with brick chimneys serving a fireplace and a furnace. Newer townhouse and condominium communities have long, connected roofs with many units under one system. Commercial and light industrial buildings along Route 23 have flat roofs.
Weather & exposure
Homes on the upper streets toward the First Watchung ridge sit higher and take more westerly wind than those lower in the valley, and wooded slopes near Mills Reservation put mature trees over many roofs. That combination means wind-lifted shingles on exposed homes, branch and debris damage after storms and shaded north slopes where snow lingers and ice dams form.
Repair, repoint or rebuild in Cedar Grove
An inspection of the crown, cap, masonry, flashing and flue sets the scope. Most Cedar Grove chimneys need a new crown, a cap, repointing of the upper courses and, where gas appliances vent through clay tile, a liner. If the top is loose or heavily spalled, we rebuild it from the roofline. You get photos and a written scope.
If a roof replacement is coming up, have the chimney inspected first. Crown, brick and flashing work is easier and less risky before new shingles go on.
