Repointing in East Flatbush
Brick Pointing in East Flatbush, Brooklyn
Worn joints, leaking parapets and open chimney mortar repaired on attached brick houses and prewar apartment buildings from Nostrand Avenue to Utica Avenue.
- Mortar cut out and repointed by hand
- Row house fronts, parapets and chimneys
- Written price after a free visit
What Mortar Problems Do East Flatbush Buildings Have?
Old brick buildings here show the same failures: mortar worn back from the face of the brick, cracks stepping across the wall, loose bricks at parapets and open joints on chimneys. Water gets in through each of these and then works on the wall from inside during freeze and thaw.
East Flatbush has attached brick row houses, many built as two family homes, plus semi detached houses and prewar apartment buildings. Each has thousands of joints exposed to weather, and the top of the wall gets the worst of it.
- Mortar recessed deep in the joint
- Cracks stepping across the brick
- Loose bricks at the parapet
- Open joints on chimney tops
- Damp patches inside upper floors
- Sand and grit on the sidewalk below
A parapet is the short wall above the roof line. It has no roof over it, so water enters from both sides. On row houses, a failed parapet often shows up first as a stain on the top floor ceiling.
Stains on the Top Floor Ceiling?
Failing brick at the parapet is a common cause. A visit can confirm it.
How We Fix It
How Is a Row House Front Repointed?
The crew cuts out old mortar to a set depth, cleans the joints and packs in new mortar in layers. Joints are tooled to match the wall. Mortar strength and color are chosen to suit the brick, since a mortar harder than the brick can split it in winter.
Work on a two or three story front is done from a lift or scaffold. On the upper section and parapet, access matters most. We plan it with you so entrances stay usable and the sidewalk is protected.
Loose bricks are reset as the wall is opened, and badly damaged units are replaced with matching brick. We also check the coping on the parapet, since a cracked cap sends water into the wall no matter how good the mortar is.
Do Local Rules Apply to Brick Pointing in East Flatbush?
Some do. Local Law 11, the Facade Inspection and Safety Program, applies to buildings taller than six stories, which includes some prewar apartment buildings. Lower row houses generally are not covered. We know of no historic district in East Flatbush. Confirm current rules with the city.
Scaffold or a sidewalk shed over the public sidewalk can require permits. If your building needs a facade inspection or a filed repair, the engineer or architect leads that process, and we carry out the masonry work they specify.
Is Pointing the Same as Masonry Repair?
No. Pointing renews mortar joints in a wall that is otherwise sound. Masonry repair replaces damaged brick, rebuilds sections of wall and fixes lintels or parapets. Many jobs begin as pointing and turn into masonry when we find brick that has failed behind the mortar.
We tell you honestly which one your building needs. If a wall is bulging, joints alone will not cure it. Our page on masonry work in East Flatbush explains the larger repairs.
Wall condition drives the choice. A tap test and a close look at the joints show us whether the brick has kept its bond. Where it has not, the bricks come out and are laid again.
What Determines the Price of Repointing?
The area of wall, the height and the scaffold or lift needed, the mortar matching required and the condition of the brick set the price. We give a written price after a free visit. Height matters most, since taller walls need more access equipment.
A short chimney is a small job. A three story front with a parapet is larger and needs staging. On older brick, testing mortar mixes before the work starts adds a little time and prevents a poor match.
Why Do Row House Parapets Fail First?
A parapet stands above the roof with air on both sides and nothing to shed water off its top. Rain and snow soak it from three directions. The mortar there erodes faster than anywhere else on the building, and small failures let water run down inside the wall.
On the attached brick houses of East Flatbush, the parapet also shares a line with the neighbors. When one owner repairs and the next does not, the joint between the two becomes a weak point. If your neighbor is planning work, ask whether the crews can coordinate.
Flashing where the roof meets the wall matters just as much. Torn or lifted flashing lets water bypass any new mortar. We check it at the visit and tell you if a roofer should handle it.
Why Us
Why East Flatbush Owners Hire Us for Pointing
Right mortar for old brick
We match the mortar to your brick so the wall lasts.
Insured crews
Licensed and insured, with injury and workers compensation coverage.
Clear scope
You get a written price that lists what will be repointed.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near East Flatbush
We also repoint buildings in the neighborhoods around East Flatbush.
FAQ
East Flatbush Brick Pointing Questions
Look for loose bricks, cracked cap stones and open joints along the top. Stains on the top floor ceiling also point to it.
Yes. Many owners start with the front and the chimney, then do other walls later.
We plan the setup to keep entry usable. Where a sidewalk shed is needed, we explain the permit steps.
We test mixes on your wall. Fresh mortar looks lighter and weathers toward the older tone.
We are one call away. Dial (718) 468-8803 for a free visit.
Free on site estimate
Repoint Your East Flatbush Brick
A hands on inspection, a written price and mortar matched to your wall.
Contact
Ask About Brick Pointing in East Flatbush
Tell us which wall, parapet or chimney concerns you, and attach a photo if you have one.
- 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.