Baychester Brick Pointing
Brick Pointing in Baychester, Bronx
Failed mortar cut out and replaced on Baychester brick houses and apartment buildings so rain stays out of the wall.
- Crumbling mortar removed to a safe depth
- New joints matched to the brick
- Written estimate after a free visit
Why Does the Mortar on Baychester Brick Walls Fail?
Mortar gives way first because it is meant to. In Baychester, rain, freeze and thaw cycles and age break it down in houses and apartment buildings alike. Once joints open, water enters the wall, bricks loosen and damage spreads behind the surface.
Brick is one of several materials in the neighborhood. Much of the housing here is detached or semi detached, some of it faced in brick, and there are apartment buildings and garden style complexes with brick walls as well.
- Mortar that crumbles when scratched
- Gaps around window and door openings
- Loose or shifted bricks
- Damp patches on interior walls
- White powder, called efflorescence, on the brick face
- Cracked or missing mortar on the chimney
Walls that face the prevailing weather break down fastest. Look at the lowest courses and below windowsills, where water collects and splashes back from the ground.
Buildings along busy roads such as Boston Road pick up soot and spray that settle on lower courses. Dirty brick does not mean failed mortar, but you can see joint problems more easily once the wall is cleaned.
Can You Scrape Mortar Out With a Key?
That is a simple sign the joints have failed. A photo or a short visit will settle it.
How We Fix It
How Is Brick Repointed in Baychester?
We remove the old mortar to a depth about twice the joint width, clean out the dust and pack new mortar in layers. Each joint is then tooled to shed water. The mix is chosen to be no harder than the brick, so it protects the wall instead of damaging it.
Before any grinding starts, we test a small area to see how the mortar behaves. Old lime based mortar and harder cement mortar react differently, and that test tells us how deep to cut and which mix to use.
Damaged bricks come out and are replaced before the joints are finished. Pointing over a cracked brick only hides the problem.
On chimneys and parapets, which stand in the open and take wind and rain from every side, we check the cap and flashing too. Failed flashing can let in more water than failed mortar.
We protect windows, doors and landscaping while we work, and we brush down the wall at the end so the new joints are clear.
What Rules Apply to Brick Work in Baychester?
Pointing a house wall usually does not involve the DOT. Work that needs a sidewalk shed or scaffold over the public way does, and the city may require permits. Facade inspection rules apply to taller buildings. Confirm current rules with the city.
Buildings over six stories fall under Local Law 11, the facade inspection program. Many Baychester buildings are lower than that, but owners of larger complexes should check. No historic district that we can confirm covers Baychester, so landmark approval is not usually a factor.
If your brick job also touches the sidewalk or a stoop, we can coordinate the pieces. Our guide on sidewalk violations helps if the walk below the wall is damaged as well.
Why Us
Why Choose Us for Brick Pointing in Baychester
The right mortar
We match strength and color to your wall and say what mix we use.
Clear estimates
Wall areas and repairs are listed in writing.
25+ years in NYC
We have repointed brick on houses and apartment buildings for decades.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near Baychester
Brick in the areas around Baychester gets the same careful repointing.
FAQ
Baychester Brick Pointing Questions
Well done repointing can last for decades. Life depends on the mortar mix, the exposure of the wall and the condition of the brick.
Not always. We replace joints that are loose, cracked or eroded. Joints that are firm and tight can stay.
That is efflorescence, left behind when water carries salts through the wall. It signals moisture, so we look for where the water enters.
We keep dust under control and protect nearby surfaces. We also plan access so the work stays on your property.
We do. Call (718) 468-8803 and we will set a time to see the wall and give you a price in writing.
Free on site estimate
Seal Up Your Baychester Brick Wall
Free visit, written price, careful work.
Contact
Request Your Baychester Brick Pointing Estimate
Tell us which wall is affected and how high it is. Photos of the joints help.
- Call us(718) 468-8803
- HoursMon to Sat, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Free on site estimate with a written price
- Licensed and insured, 25+ years in business
- We handle DOT sidewalk permits
- Serving Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx
Get Your Free Estimate
Takes about a minute. No cost and no obligation.