Chimney Service in Princeton, NJ

What is locally relevant in Princeton

Princeton's land use code says no one in a historic preservation zoning district or buffer district may construct, alter, move, demolish or elevate a structure, among other acts, except in conformance with an approved preservation plan, when the result is visible as the code describes.

Visibility depends on the district type. In a Historic District Type 1, the test is visibility from a public way or place, or from another property in the district. In a Type 2 district, it is visibility from a public way.

The code also provides a shorter path: if the Historic Preservation Officer finds that a plan conforms and will not have a significant impact, the Commission chair can approve it without a full Commission hearing.

The standards behind a decision

The approval criteria in the code favor keeping and repairing original material. They say existing original materials should be maintained and repaired rather than replaced, that a copy of the original is preferable when an element must be replaced, and that roofing material should be maintained or replaced with the same material and size.

The code does not mention chimneys by name. Applied to a chimney, the same thinking points toward repairing original brick and stone, matching anything replaced, and keeping the chimney's form.

How this affects chimney projects

A Princeton chimney project tends to fall into one of three groups:

1. Inside the flue or fireplaceCleaning, relining, smoke chamber parging and firebox repair change little or nothing that can be seen from outside.
2. Visible but like-for-likeRepointing or replacing brick to match. Ask the municipality how it treats these in your district.
3. Visible and differentA rebuild in new materials, a new crown shape, removal or a large cap. Plan on preservation review before scheduling.

Services Princeton homeowners often look for

• Chimney inspection with photo findings you can use in a preservation application.
• Chimney liners and flue repair, both largely out of sight.
• Smoke chamber parging for older masonry fireplaces.
• Chimney crown repair.

For background, see flue vs. liner.

How to request service in Princeton

Send a request through our Book Now page with your address, the appliance you use and what you have noticed. If the property is in a historic district, tell us which type if you know. A team member contacts you to confirm a time; the request itself is not a confirmed appointment.

Our office hours are Sunday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM. We are closed on Saturday.

Local questions

Sources

1. Municipality of Princeton Code, § T10B-378: Acts for which preservation plan approval is required (eCode360)
2. Municipality of Princeton Code, § T10B-379: Review of applications (eCode360)
3. Municipality of Princeton Code, Division 5: Standards governing preservation plans (eCode360)