Mott Haven Brick Pointing
Brick Pointing in Mott Haven, the Bronx
Mortar repair for the row houses of Alexander Avenue, the pre war walk ups of the East 130s and the older buildings near the Harlem River.
- Failed joints cut out and filled again
- Mortar matched to the age of your brick
- Written price after a free visit
Why Does the Brick in Mott Haven Lose Its Mortar?
Mott Haven has some of the oldest brick in the Bronx. Row houses and tenements here were built with soft lime mortar that wears away over a century of rain, frost and traffic vibration. Once joints open, water reaches the brick itself and the damage speeds up.
Many buildings here sit on blocks that carry heavy truck traffic toward the bridges and the Bruckner Expressway. That constant shaking works on old joints. On the waterfront side, wind driven rain off the Harlem River soaks the faces of exposed walls.
- Mortar washed out of the joints and sandy to the touch
- Bricks that spall, with faces flaking off after frost
- Stair step cracks running along the joints
- Bulging sections of wall near parapets and chimneys
- Damp patches or peeling paint on interior walls
- Old cement patches that crack away from the brick
A few of these signs can be cosmetic. Others point to water getting into the wall, and that is the case we want to catch early. Open joints near the roofline are especially worth a look.
Sandy Mortar on Your Front Wall?
Rub a joint with a key. If it crumbles, tell us. We will look at how far it runs.
How We Fix It
How Is Brick Pointing Done on a Mott Haven Row House?
The crew cuts out the old mortar to a set depth, cleans the joints, wets the brick and packs in fresh mortar in layers. The joints are then tooled to match the original profile. Done this way, the wall sheds water again and the brick is not damaged.
On row house fronts, the mix matters. Hard modern cement can crack old soft brick because it does not move the way the wall does. We choose mortar that is softer than the brick it holds, so the joint wears before the brick does.
We work from scaffolding or a lift where the height calls for it, and we protect the stoop, windows and sidewalk below. Loose or broken bricks are cut out and replaced with matching units before the joints are filled.
Small repairs, such as a chimney or a single wall section, are quoted separately from a full facade. Your estimate lists exactly which walls are included.
Do Mott Haven Historic Districts Affect Brick Work?
They can. Mott Haven is home to the Mott Haven Historic District, the Mott Haven East Historic District and the Bertine Block Historic District. Buildings inside them may need Landmarks Preservation Commission approval for facade work, so check your address with the city before work begins.
Even when a building is not landmarked, the principle is the same. Mortar color, joint width and tooling should match what is already on the wall. A repair that looks different from the rest of the row is easy to spot from the street.
Scaffolding on a facade facing the sidewalk can require a permit from the city, and we tell you what your job needs. Repairs on private property do not use the DOT sidewalk permit, but larger structural work can involve the Department of Buildings. Confirm current rules with the city.
If your building is taller than six stories, it falls under the Local Law 11 facade inspection program. Pointing is often part of fixing the items an inspector lists, and we can work from that report.
Should I repoint the whole wall or just the bad part?
Patching the worst section saves money today. If the rest of the joints are the same age, they will fail soon after. We show you both options in writing so you can decide.
Why Us
Why Do Mott Haven Owners Hire Us for Brick?
Mortar that suits old brick
We match the mix to your wall so the repair lasts and does not harm the brick.
25+ years in NYC
Older row houses and walk ups are work we have done many times.
Clear written estimates
Each wall, repair and finish is listed before you agree to anything.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near Mott Haven
Nearby neighborhoods where we also repair brick and mortar.
FAQ
Mott Haven Brick Pointing Questions
Pointing means filling joints with new mortar. Tuckpointing adds a thin contrasting line over the joint for a crisp look. Most repair jobs on older buildings are plain repointing.
Yes. We test a small sample against the existing wall before we start so the new joints blend in.
Bricks with flaking faces, bulges or long stair step cracks may need replacement or rebuilding. We mark these at the visit.
We can. Approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission may apply, so check your address and we will work to the approved scope.
We do. Call (718) 468-8803 and we will set a time to look at your walls and send a written price.
Free on site estimate
Protect Your Mott Haven Brick
A site visit, a written price and mortar work done to last.
Contact
Schedule Your Mott Haven Brick Visit
Give us the building type and the walls that worry you. 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.