Chimney Repair for North Caldwell chimneys
North Caldwell has two broad kinds of chimney. Older homes have brick masonry chimneys serving a fireplace and often the furnace. Many homes from the 1970s onward have prefabricated fireplaces with metal flues running up a framed chase clad in siding or stone veneer. Each type fails in its own way, and an inspection needs to cover the right things for the chimney you have.
We service both: crowns, caps, repointing, stainless steel liners, flashing and waterproofing on masonry chimneys, and chase covers, flashing and cap work on framed chases. On tall chases that rise alongside two-story great rooms, we pay close attention to the flashing and to the chase cover, since water entering at the top can travel a long way before it shows.
North Caldwell housing
North Caldwell's housing is mostly single-family homes from the 1950s onward: center-hall colonials, split-levels, contemporaries with cathedral ceilings and large windows, and newer custom homes. Roofs tend to be large, with multiple gables, skylights and in some cases low-slope sections on contemporary designs. Many homes from the 1970s and later have prefabricated fireplaces vented through metal flues inside framed chases, while older homes have brick chimneys. Some houses carry cedar shakes.
Weather & exposure
The borough's hills and ridgelines expose some homes to westerly wind, while homes tucked into wooded slopes sit in heavy shade. Tall trees close to the house drop leaves, twigs and limbs onto large roof areas and into skylight wells. Shaded, north-facing slopes hold snow, and warm vaulted ceilings below them are a classic setup for ice dams. Long driveways and sloped yards make access a planning item for any roof project.
Repair, repoint or rebuild in North Caldwell
Start by knowing what kind of chimney you have. If it is clad in siding or stone veneer and the fireplace has a metal firebox, it is a framed chase, and the chase cover and flashing are the first things to check. If it is solid brick, the crown, cap, joints and flue liner are the priorities. We inspect and photograph either type.
Water stains on the ceiling or wall beside a fireplace are a reason to inspect the chimney promptly. In a vaulted room, the damage behind the drywall can be more extensive than the stain suggests.
