Clinton Hill Repointing
Brick Pointing in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
Failing mortar cut out and replaced on 19th century facades, chimneys and garden walls across Clinton Hill, matched to the original brick.
- Mortar joints cut out and repointed
- Facades, chimneys and parapets
- Free visit with a written price
What Mortar Problems Do Clinton Hill Buildings Show?
Older Clinton Hill buildings show crumbling, recessed and open mortar joints. After more than a century of rain and freeze and thaw, the soft lime mortar wears away first. The result is water reaching the brick and the wall behind it, then stains, damp and spalling faces.
The neighborhood has 19th century mansions, brownstone and brick row houses, pre war apartment buildings and college buildings. All of them are masonry, and all of them need joint maintenance on a schedule that depends on exposure.
- Joints recessed deep behind the brick face
- Crumbling mortar on chimneys and parapets
- Open gaps around window lintels and sills
- Failing joints on garden and porch walls
- White powder on the brick from moisture
- Loose or cracked bricks at the cornice
Mansion facades are tall and detailed, with projecting bays, porches and chimneys that take rain from several directions. Heavy tree cover leaves some walls damp most of the year.
Crumbling Mortar on Your Clinton Hill Building?
Send a photo of the wall. We will tell you whether pointing will fix it.
How We Fix It
How Does Repointing Work on an Older Clinton Hill Facade?
The crew cuts out failing mortar to a sound depth, cleans the joints and repacks them with new mortar in layers. Each joint is tooled to follow the profile the mason originally cut. The mortar is chosen to be softer than the brick, so the wall can breathe and the brick does not crack.
Matching matters more than speed. A mortar that is too hard traps water and damages soft historic brick. A mismatch in color or joint style stands out on a facade people see every day.
Height decides the setup. A porch wall is worked from the ground. A parapet or an upper facade on a mansion or apartment building needs scaffold or a lift, and we tell you what the access requires before pricing.
The work is done in sections so the wall is never left open long. Debris is cleared as the crew goes.
Do Historic District Rules Apply to Repointing in Clinton Hill?
They can. Much of Clinton Hill is in the Clinton Hill Historic District, with the Wallabout Historic District at the northern edge. Repointing methods and materials on landmarked facades can be reviewed by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Confirm current rules with the city before starting.
Matching mortar is usually central to the approval. The Commission cares about the color, the joint profile and the method used to remove old mortar, since aggressive cutting can damage historic brick.
Buildings taller than six stories fall under Local Law 11, the facade inspection program, which requires inspections every five years. Some larger pre war apartment buildings here may be covered. If your building is, repointing often follows an inspection report.
We can work from your inspector or engineer report and price the repairs it lists.
What Affects the Cost of Brick Pointing in Clinton Hill?
Cost depends on the wall area, the height and the scaffold or lift required, the depth of the joints, mortar matching and the condition of the brick. A porch wall and a full mansion facade are far apart, so you receive a written price after a free visit.
Decorative facades take more time than plain walls, because detail work slows the crew. Brick that has failed and must be replaced adds to the scope.
Access adds cost when a lot is tight or a wall is far from the street.
How Long Does Repointing Last on a Clinton Hill Building?
Properly done repointing can last for decades. The life of the work depends on the mortar mix, how well the old mortar was removed, the exposure of the wall and the state of the brick. Lime based mortars matched to old brick generally outlast harder cement mixes.
The prep matters more than the mortar. Joints must be cut to a sound depth and cleaned before new mortar goes in. Shallow cutting is the most common reason repointing fails early.
Exposure changes the schedule. Parapets, chimney tops and walls that face the weather need attention more often than sheltered walls. Shaded walls under big trees stay damp and may need a closer look.
A quick walk around the building once a year, looking at joints and stains, catches trouble early. Small repairs done early keep the larger job from growing.
Process
What Are the Stages of a Clinton Hill Pointing Job?
After a site visit and written price, the crew sets up access, cuts out failing mortar, cleans the wall and repoints in sections. The work is checked at the end and the site is cleaned each day.
Inspection
We look at joints, brick faces, chimneys and parapets.
Written price
A scope in writing, with any approvals noted.
Access set up
Scaffold or lift is arranged where the wall calls for it.
Cut and repoint
Old mortar is removed and new mortar packed and tooled.
Final check
Debris is cleared and the wall is checked at the end.
Why Us
Why Clinton Hill Owners Choose Us for Pointing
25+ years in business
We have repointed brick across Brooklyn for more than 25 years.
Licensed and insured
Construction, injury and workers compensation insurance cover our crews.
Plain answers
We tell you if a wall needs pointing, brick replacement or something more.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near Clinton Hill
We also repoint brick in the neighborhoods around Clinton Hill.
FAQ
Clinton Hill Brick Pointing Questions
There is no fixed schedule. Exposure, mortar type and age decide. Checking the joints every few years shows when the time has come.
People use the terms loosely. Both mean cutting out old mortar and replacing it. We describe the exact method in the written scope.
We match color and joint profile as closely as we can, and choose a mix that suits the brick. New mortar looks lighter until it weathers.
Yes. They are exposed on every side. We plan the lift or scaffold and check the caps and flashing as well.
It can. The Commission may review methods and materials in the historic districts, so confirm with the city first.
Buildings taller than six stories need facade inspections every five years. We can price repairs from your inspector report.
Yes. An inspection of your walls, parapet and chimney is free, and the estimate is written. Phone (718) 468-8803 to arrange a visit.
Free on site estimate
Repoint Your Clinton Hill Brick
A free visit, a written scope and mortar matched to your wall.
Contact
Request Your Clinton Hill Pointing Quote
Tell us which walls, chimneys or parapets need attention. Photos of the mortar 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.