Years of wood-burning leave behind creosote — a tar-like, highly combustible substance that coats the interior walls of your flue. In older Bordentown homes where flues may be narrower or irregularly shaped due to original construction methods, creosote accumulates faster and is harder to clear without professional equipment. Our certified technicians use rotary cleaning systems and high-powered vacuums to remove all three stages of creosote buildup, including the glazed, rock-hard third-stage deposits that DIY brushes simply can't touch. We sweep fireplaces, wood stoves, oil-flue chimneys, and boiler flues. Every sweep includes a post-cleaning visual inspection so you know exactly what condition your flue is in before the next burning season begins. We keep your home clean — drop cloths, HEPA vacuums, and no mess left behind.
Request this service →Many Bordentown homes built before 1950 were constructed with unlined chimneys or with clay tile liners that have been slowly deteriorating for decades. A compromised liner allows carbon monoxide, heat, and sparks to migrate into the surrounding wood framing — one of the leading causes of house fires in older neighborhoods. We perform camera-assisted liner inspections using flexible video equipment that travels the full length of your flue, revealing cracks, spalling tiles, and mortar joint failures that a standard mirror inspection will never catch. Where liners are damaged or absent, we install stainless steel liner systems sized to your specific appliance and flue dimensions, improving both safety and draft efficiency. We'll explain every finding in plain language before recommending any work.
Request this service →Older chimneys in Bordentown tell a story in their brickwork — and deteriorating mortar joints, spalling bricks, and crumbling crowns are chapters you want to close before water and freeze-thaw cycles write the ending. Our masons specialize in tuckpointing: carefully removing failed mortar and packing new mortar that matches the profile and color of the original, so repairs don't stand out visually. We also rebuild damaged crowns, replace individual bricks, and repair corbelled sections unique to older construction styles. Mortar selection matters enormously in historic masonry — using a mix that is too hard for the original brick causes accelerated damage. We choose lime-based or blended mortars appropriate to the era and condition of your chimney, protecting the structure while honoring its history. Free estimates on all masonry work.
Request this service →A missing or deteriorated chimney cap is one of the most common — and most preventable — sources of chimney damage we find in Bordentown's older homes. Without a cap, rainwater pours directly into the flue, accelerating liner deterioration and soaking the surrounding masonry. Nesting birds and squirrels block flues and create serious fire hazards. We fabricate and install stainless steel chimney caps sized to fit single and multi-flue chimneys, including the oversized openings common in older Bordentown row-style chimneys. We also restore or completely rebuild chimney crowns — the concrete or mortar slab that seals the top of the chimney structure — which frequently crack and separate in New Jersey's freeze-thaw winters. Properly built crowns shed water away from the flue opening rather than pooling against it, dramatically extending the life of the entire chimney.
Request this service →Water is the slow enemy of every masonry chimney, and Bordentown's climate — wet springs, humid summers, and hard freezes from November through March — gives it plenty of opportunity to work. We diagnose chimney leaks precisely, tracing them to their actual source: failed flashing at the roofline, cracked crowns, open mortar joints, or a missing cap. Once identified, we address each failure point before applying a professional-grade, vapor-permeable waterproofing treatment to the exterior masonry. Unlike paint or silicone sealers, vapor-permeable sealants allow moisture trapped inside the masonry to escape while blocking new water from entering — critical for older brick that has never been sealed before. We back our waterproofing applications with a written warranty so you have genuine peace of mind through the next rainy season and beyond.
Request this service →The throat dampers found in older Bordentown fireplaces are notorious for warping, rusting shut, or losing their sealing ability entirely as decades of heat cycling take their toll. A damper that won't close fully loses enormous amounts of conditioned air up the flue year-round — a significant hidden energy cost. We repair or replace throat dampers on most fireplace configurations, and in cases where the firebox geometry makes a traditional throat damper impractical, we install top-mount dampers that seal the flue at the chimney crown. Top-mount dampers also act as an integrated cap, providing both draft control and weather protection in a single unit. Improved damper function typically pays for itself in heating and cooling savings within a season or two, making this one of the highest-value upgrades available for older-home fireplaces.
Request this service →Fast response, upfront pricing, and workmanship guaranteed. Get your free estimate today.