Chimney & Fireplace Services in Oakmont, PA

Chimney and fireplace care in Oakmont

Homes in Oakmont feature river-valley boroughs and surrounding neighborhoods with older and newer homes. The Allegheny-Kiskiminetas valley communities mix older river-town masonry with newer suburban housing.

The crown is the first thing to go

On chimney after chimney across Oakmont, the crown — the sloped surface at the very top — is where trouble starts. Exposed concrete crowns crack over time, and in our freeze-thaw climate those cracks widen every winter until water is running straight down into the masonry. Catching a cracked crown early, and sealing or recasting it before the damage spreads, is one of the best-value repairs we do for Oakmont homeowners.

Trees, debris and uncapped flues

Many Oakmont properties sit among mature trees, which look wonderful and drop a steady supply of leaves and twigs onto the roof. On an uncapped or poorly capped chimney, that debris ends up in the flue, where it blocks the draft and holds moisture. A properly fitted cap is one of the simplest, most cost-effective things a Oakmont homeowner can do — it keeps out debris, rain and the birds and squirrels that readily nest in a warm flue.

Why Western Pennsylvania weather is hard on chimneys

The single biggest challenge for chimneys across Oakmont and the wider Pittsburgh area is water combined with cold. Rain and snow soak into exposed masonry; then, when temperatures drop, that trapped water freezes and expands. Repeated over many winters, this freeze-thaw cycle cracks crowns, washes out mortar joints and pops the faces off brick.

Serving Oakmont and nearby communities

Lincoln Chimney Services works throughout Oakmont and the surrounding area. If you're in a neighboring community, we likely serve you too — a few nearby areas are linked from this page, and you can find the full list on our service areas page.