Van Nest Brick Pointing
Brick Pointing in Van Nest, Bronx
Failed mortar joints repaired on the brick houses, stoops and small apartment buildings of Van Nest so water stays out of the wall.
- Failed joints raked out before new mortar goes in
- New mortar matched to the wall
- Free written estimate on site
What Does Failing Mortar Look Like on a Van Nest Home?
Failing mortar looks sandy, cracked or recessed, and bricks near it may feel loose. Many Van Nest houses are older brick, so decades of rain and freeze have worn the joints. Once mortar opens, water enters the wall and damages the bricks and the plaster inside.
The neighborhood has attached and semi detached brick houses, and brick stoops and garden walls on many lots. Each of these gets weather from several sides, and the joints on the south and west faces tend to go first.
- Mortar that crumbles when scratched
- Joints recessed deeper than a fingertip
- Hairline cracks that follow the brick pattern
- White powder, called efflorescence, on the face
- Bricks that have loosened or shifted
- Water stains on the inside wall below a window
Brick stoops and low walls are often the worst. They have no roof above them, so rain and snow sit on the top courses all winter. When the water freezes, it pushes the bricks apart.
The Amtrak line along the edge of the neighborhood and the traffic on Morris Park Avenue send steady vibration through the ground. It will not break sound mortar, but it speeds up the failure of joints that are already weak.
Seeing Loose Bricks or Damp Walls?
Open joints let water in. We can look at the wall and tell you how much needs repointing.
How We Fix It
How Is Brick Pointing Done in Van Nest?
The crew cuts out the old mortar to a consistent depth, brushes out the dust, wets the joints and packs in new mortar. Joints are tooled to shed water. We match the mortar color and strength to the brick, because mortar that is too hard can damage old bricks.
Loose bricks are removed and reset, and badly spalled faces are replaced with matching ones. We work in sections so the wall stays sound while the job moves along.
A good pointing job lasts for years because the new mortar bonds to clean, deep joints. Shallow pointing over weak mortar fails quickly, so we do not cut corners on depth.
Stoops and low walls often need repointing and a cap or coping repair together, since water enters from above. We check the top courses first.
Does Brick Pointing in Van Nest Need a Permit?
Repointing a low rise house usually does not need a Department of Buildings permit, though scaffolding, sidewalk sheds and structural work can. No historic district in Van Nest is known to us, so landmark approval is not a usual step. Confirm current rules with the city.
Most Van Nest buildings are houses and low rise apartments. If yours is taller than six stories, the Local Law 11 facade program applies and an inspector may need to be involved.
If we set up scaffolding over the public sidewalk, a permit and protection for pedestrians apply. We handle that part and tell you what it adds to the schedule.
If repointing shows that a wall is bulging or a lintel has failed, we stop and tell you. That kind of damage is structural and may call for an engineer.
How often does brick need repointing?
It depends on the original mortar, the weather exposure and past repairs. A visual check every few years catches problems early.
Why Us
Why Van Nest Owners Hire Us for Brick Work
Joints cut to depth
We cut deep enough for new mortar to bond properly.
Matched mortar
Color and strength are chosen to suit your brick.
Written estimates
The wall area and scope are listed before you commit.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near Van Nest
Nearby neighborhoods where we repoint brick.
FAQ
Van Nest Brick Pointing Questions
The terms overlap. Repointing means removing old mortar and filling the joints with new mortar, and that is what we do.
It will look fresher at first. We match color as closely as we can, and it weathers over time.
Yes. We often repoint the worst wall or a stoop first and leave sound areas for later.
Usually not for exterior work. We tell you when we need access to a yard or a gate.
We do. Call (718) 468-8803 and we will book a visit, look at the wall and send you a written price.
Free on site estimate
Protect Your Van Nest Brick From Water
A free visit, a written price and joints repaired to last.
Contact
Request Your Van Nest Brick Pointing Estimate
Tell us which walls show damage and roughly how high they are. Photos 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.