Chimney repair and sweep in Princeton

Princeton is one of the oldest towns in New Jersey. Its name appears in 1724, the Bainbridge House on Nassau Street dates to 1766, and the Battle of Princeton was fought here in 1777. The borough and township merged into one municipality in 2013. About 23 percent of Princeton's homes predate 1940, and the median house was built in 1965, so the town mixes colonial and Victorian houses near the center with postwar neighborhoods farther out.

That spread shows up in chimney work. Older houses have large masonry chimneys with several flues and the wear of a century or more. Newer homes have smaller masonry chimneys or factory-built fireplaces. About 71 percent of Princeton homes heat with gas and 22 percent with electricity, so a gas furnace or boiler flue is the chimney we see most, ahead of wood fireplaces. Many houses have both. We start every visit with a free inspection of every flue, photos, and a written price before any work.

Historic districts and visible chimney work

Princeton's Historic Preservation Commission oversees 20 locally designated historic districts. The 20th, Witherspoon-Jackson, was designated in 2016 for its history as a historically segregated African American neighborhood. Inside a local district, alterations visible from the street are reviewed by the commission. Being on the state or national register alone does not trigger local review.

For chimneys, that usually means rebuilding a visible stack, changing its height or materials, or removing it needs commission review, while repairs that keep the look are simpler. We match brick and use mortar suited to old masonry. If your house is in a district, we'll plan the work around any review.

Older flues, newer appliances

When a furnace, boiler or water heater is replaced in Princeton, the construction office needs a chimney verification on New Jersey form F-370 before approving the job, and the homeowner can't sign it. In older homes the flue is often unlined or too large for a modern appliance. A furnace or water-heater liner typically runs $625 to $2,250, and a stainless liner for a fireplace $1,500 to $5,000.

Weather at the nearby Trenton-Mercer airport station averages about 97 nights a year at or below freezing and 26.6 inches of snow, according to NOAA. That's enough freeze-thaw to crack crowns and open mortar joints over time. Crown work typically costs $600 to $2,200 and repointing $500 to $2,500.

Where we work in Princeton

Western Section · Witherspoon-Jackson · Jugtown · Riverside · Littlebrook · Nassau Street · Mercer Street · Prospect Avenue · Maybury Hill