Pennsylvania's Trusted Chimney & Masonry Contractor

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 211) recommends that chimneys, fireplaces, and vents be inspected at least once a year, and swept whenever deposits warrant. For wood-burning fireplaces used regularly, an annual sweep before each heating season is the standard. In Pennsylvania, where cold winters mean heavy fireplace use, we recommend an inspection every fall to remove creosote buildup and identify any masonry deterioration before it worsens through freeze-thaw cycles.

Tuckpointing is the process of grinding out deteriorated, cracked, or crumbling mortar joints between chimney bricks and filling them with fresh mortar. You need tuckpointing when you see mortar that is recessed more than ¼ inch, is soft or powdery, has visible cracks, or is missing entirely in sections. Left untreated, open mortar joints allow water to penetrate the chimney structure — a leading cause of full chimney failures in Bucks County due to Pennsylvania's freeze-thaw winters. Tuckpointing costs significantly less than a full rebuild and can extend chimney life by 20+ years.

Spalling — the flaking, chipping, or crumbling of brick faces — is primarily caused by water infiltration combined with freeze-thaw cycles. When water saturates brick and then freezes, it expands roughly 9%, fracturing the brick face from the inside. Pennsylvania's climate, with temperatures swinging between -10°F and 90°F seasonally, is particularly aggressive on masonry. Additional causes include poor original mortar mix, missing chimney caps allowing direct rain entry, failed crowns, and the natural weathering of older lime-mortar chimneys common in Bucks County's historic housing stock.

Pennsylvania follows the International Residential Code (IRC), which requires a listed chimney liner for all new and significantly altered flue systems. If you are converting a fireplace to a gas insert, installing a wood stove, or if your existing clay tile liner is cracked or deteriorated, a stainless steel liner is typically required by code and by your appliance manufacturer's warranty. Beyond code compliance, a properly sized stainless liner corrects draft problems, reduces creosote accumulation, and dramatically improves heating efficiency. Right Deal Construction installs UL-listed flexible and rigid stainless steel liner systems in Bucks and Montgomery County.

The chimney crown is the concrete or mortar slab that covers the top of the chimney structure, surrounding the flue tile and sloping outward to direct water away from the chimney. A properly poured concrete crown is one of the most important waterproofing components on any chimney. When the crown cracks — which is extremely common on chimneys older than 15 years in Pennsylvania — rainwater flows directly into the chimney structure, accelerating brick spalling, mortar deterioration, and eventually causing major structural damage. We pour custom concrete crowns that overhang the chimney by at least 2 inches and include a drip edge to channel water away.