Union County
Chimney repointing in
Union, New Jersey
We repoint chimneys in Union year-round and know exactly what the Union County housing stock throws at us — the mortar, the crowns, and the flashing done badly by someone else.
The Union chimneys we work on are mostly 1950s–1970s ranches, split-levels and Cape Cods, laid in common brick, often with a softer backup wythe behind the face. We repoint them with Type N through the stack, with Type S reserved for the exposed cap, struck concave so the joint sheds rather than holds water. The usual failure pattern here: shallow, sandy joints on the short exterior stacks these houses use, and rusted flashing that has been caulked over instead of repointed.
- Free photo inspection
- Roof-level, on Union homes
- $900–$2,400
- Typical local job range
- Licensed & insured
- NJ HIC #13VH00000000
- 10-year warranty
- Transferable when you sell
Free Union estimate
Answered by a mason — usually inside one business hour.
Local conditions
Why Union chimneys lose mortar
Union County mixes industrial-era row housing with some of the state's best-preserved Victorian districts, so mortar specs here vary street to street. The bulk of Union was built in the postwar boom, which means short exterior stacks, thin crowns and mortar that was mixed fast on a busy site.
Most Union homes have a single interior chimney serving a fireplace and a heating appliance, so the only weathered section is what sits above the roofline — which keeps the job to a day for the majority of houses.
Because the stack is interior, water that gets past the joint in Union shows up as a ceiling stain in an upstairs bedroom long before anything is visible outside.
The mortar mix we use in Union
The cheap original crown is normally further gone than the joints, and sealing it is what actually stops the leak. We grind, never chisel-and-smear. Joints are cut back to at least 3/4 inch so the new mortar has something to key into. If your Union chimney has been pointed before, we test the old repair as well as the original joint — they rarely match.
Because the exposed section is short, a top-section repoint plus a proper crown seal is often all a house here needs for the next 15 years. We price Union work by the face, not by a flat guess, so a chimney with one bad side does not pay for four.
Working on Union roofs
Standard driveway access and a two-storey ladder set, so most jobs are in and out inside a day. We work Union Monday to Saturday, and we will not start a grind before 8am.
March through November, with the busiest window right before heating season in September and October.
A Downtown Union property in Union came to us after a sweep refused to certify the flue. We repointed the 3 exposed courses, recast the crown and the flue passed on re-inspection. $1,050.
What Union homeowners report first
- a chimney that looks darker on one face after every rain
- a cracked or missing crown wash on top of the stack
- rusty, caulk-smeared flashing where the chimney meets the roof
- a damp patch on the ceiling or wall next to the chimney breast
- sand and mortar crumbs collecting on the roof or in the gutters
What the free Union inspection covers
- the smoke chamber and firebox for water staining
- every joint on all four faces, photographed close up
- the base of the stack for stair-step settlement cracking
- the crown wash for cracks, slope and a working drip edge
- the flue liner top for cracks and displaced tiles
Ten-year written workmanship warranty, transferable once if you sell the house.
Watch first
Why repointing matters in Union
Twenty seconds on the thing most homeowners miss: the brick is fine, the mortar between it is not. Water gets into an open joint, freezes, expands and takes the joint apart — one winter at a time.
- How the freeze–thaw cycle destroys a joint
- What waiting costs versus repointing now
- What a proper repoint actually involves
Pricing
What Union homeowners pay
- Top-section repoint + crown seal
- $900–$1,650
- Top three to five courses ground out and repointed, crown patched and sealed.
- Full stack repoint
- $1,650–$2,400
- Every joint above the roofline cut back 3/4" and repointed to profile.
- Waterproofing add-on
- $280–$450
- Vapour-permeable siloxane sealer so brick sheds water but still breathes.
Ranges reflect recent Union jobs. Your written price is fixed after the inspection.
Coverage
Where we work in Union
- Downtown Union
- North Union
- South Union
- Union County line
Same-week inspections across Union County, Mon–Sat.
Straight answers
Union chimney repointing questions
- How much does chimney repointing cost in Union?
- Most Union jobs land between $900 and $2,400. A top-section repoint with a crown seal usually sits nearer $900–$1,650; a full stack above the roofline runs $1,650–$2,400. Stack height, roof pitch and how many faces have failed are what move the number, and your written price is fixed before we start.
- What mortar should be used on a Union chimney?
- On the housing stock here, Type N through the stack, with Type S reserved for the exposed cap, struck concave so the joint sheds rather than holds water. The cheap original crown is normally further gone than the joints, and sealing it is what actually stops the leak.
- Why do chimneys in Union lose mortar faster than the rest of the house?
- Most Union homes have a single interior chimney serving a fireplace and a heating appliance, so the only weathered section is what sits above the roofline — which keeps the job to a day for the majority of houses. Because the stack is interior, water that gets past the joint in Union shows up as a ceiling stain in an upstairs bedroom long before anything is visible outside.
- How long does a Union repoint take?
- A 3-course top-section repoint on a typical Union home is a single day, including crown work. A full stack with flashing replacement runs two to three days. Standard driveway access and a two-storey ladder set, so most jobs are in and out inside a day. We work Union Monday to Saturday, and we will not start a grind before 8am.
- Do I need repointing or a rebuild?
- If the brick is sound and only the joints are soft, repointing is the right fix. We recommend a rebuild only when brick faces have spalled through or the top courses are out of plumb — and either way you get the roof-level photos that show why.
- When is the best time to repoint in Union?
- March through November, with the busiest window right before heating season in September and October.
- Are you licensed and insured to work in Union County?
- Yes — New Jersey Home Improvement Contractor registered, fully insured for roof-level masonry, and working across Union County every week. Ten-year written workmanship warranty, transferable once if you sell the house.
Book your free Union inspection
Send the form or call (973) 555-0142. Licensed, insured, and on Union roofs every week.
10-year transferable workmanship warranty.