The question we are asked most in Hoboken is short: “Can we use it?” It refers to the fireplace in the parlor, with the marble or cast-iron surround, that came with the row house or the condo. AM Chimney Sweep inspects, cleans and repairs chimneys and fireplaces in Hoboken, and the answer takes a little unpacking.
A city of attached buildings
Census Bureau estimates show that only about one percent of Hoboken homes are detached houses. Roughly a third of the housing was built before 1940, and about a third since 2000. The older third is where the fireplaces are: row houses and small apartment buildings, many since divided into condominiums.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 five-year estimates.
What those fireplaces were built for
A great many row-house fireplaces of the late 1800s were not designed for log fires. They were built to burn coal in a small grate, or to hold a gas heater. The giveaways are a firebox that is shallow and narrow, often only a foot or so deep, and a correspondingly small flue. A wood fire needs more depth and more flue area than these provide, and burning logs in a coal firebox tends to put smoke in the room and heat where it should not be.
What has happened to the flue since
- It may have been taken over by a boiler or water heater during a past renovation.
- It may have been closed at the top when the roof was redone, or the chimney may have been cut down below the roofline.
- It may be unlined brick, in whatever condition a century or more has left it.
- In a building divided into apartments, it may run through the units above, past their own fireplaces.
None of this is visible from the living room.
How we answer “can we use it?”
With a Level 2 inspection. We measure the firebox, find where the flue goes and whether it is open to the roof, run a camera through it, and check what else is connected. From that we can tell you which of three situations you have:
- Usable for wood after repair. The firebox and flue are large enough, and the flue can be lined or repaired to make it safe.
- Not suitable for wood. Too small or too compromised. It can stay as a decorative feature, or you can look at an appliance designed for a small opening. That is a conversation to have with a fireplace appliance dealer, and the flue still needs to be right for whatever is chosen.
- Out of service. The flue is blocked, removed or in use by heating equipment. We can confirm it is safely sealed.
Practical matters in a row house
Shared chimneys
Chimneys usually sit on the party wall, and a single stack can hold your flues and your neighbor’s. Exterior repairs affect both owners.
Condominiums
If you own a unit in a converted building, the chimney is likely a common element. Check your association’s rules before arranging work, and expect that flues serving other units will need to be considered.
Roof access
Most roofs here are flat and reached by a hatch or a fire escape. Let us know the arrangement when you book.
Flat-roof chimneys
Short stacks on flat roofs sit in standing water and snow more than chimneys on pitched roofs. The base flashing, the crown and the masonry joints need regular attention, and every open flue should have a cap.
If it is already in use
A working fireplace in a row house needs the same yearly cleaning and inspection as any other. The heating flue does too.
Book an inspection in Hoboken
Call (862) 225-6529 or send a request online with the building type and floor. We already serve neighboring Jersey City, where you can read about a liner installation and crown repair we completed. Other projects are in Our Work.