Repointing for Brick Buildings
Brick Pointing in East New York, Brooklyn
Crumbling mortar cut out and replaced on brick row houses, parapets and chimneys before water gets behind the wall.
- Old mortar removed properly
- Joints matched to the wall
- Free visit and written price
How Do I Know My East New York Brick Needs Pointing?
Look for mortar that is sandy, cracked, recessed deep between the bricks or missing in places. If you can push a key into a joint, or see daylight through it, the mortar has failed and water can now get into the wall behind the brick.
East New York has many attached brick row houses and two family brick homes, along with brick small buildings on the avenues. Many were built long ago with soft lime mortar that weathers away in time. Decades of rain and freeze and thaw have left the joints loose on plenty of these walls.
Other signs are damp patches inside on an outside wall, bricks that have lost their face, and white powder on the wall. Bricks that shift or bulge are more serious, and we look at them carefully, since they can point to a problem larger than mortar.
Pointing is maintenance. Catching it early keeps a small repair from becoming a rebuild.
What Is the Difference Between Pointing, Repointing and Tuckpointing?
Pointing and repointing mean cutting out old, failing mortar and packing in fresh mortar. Tuckpointing is a related finish that uses two colors of mortar to imitate fine joints. On most East New York row houses the job is plain repointing to match the existing joint.
| Where | What we do |
|---|---|
| Front facade | Cut out loose mortar and repoint to match the wall |
| Parapet | Repoint and reset loose bricks, then cap to shed water |
| Chimney | Repoint the shaft and check the crown |
| Stoop cheek wall | Repoint and reset loose bricks |
| Side wall | Repoint the joints where rain hits hardest |
We remove the old mortar to a proper depth without damaging the brick edges, then pack new mortar in layers. Doing it well is slow, careful work. Rushing it is how bricks get chipped.
Mortar Falling Out of the Wall?
Call and we will look at the wall, from the street or from a ladder.
Why Do Parapets and Chimneys Fail First?
Parapets and chimneys sit at the top of the building and take the most weather. They have no roof over them, they get wind, sun and rain from every side, and water can enter from the top and both faces. Their mortar wears out first.
On a row house, the front parapet above the roof line is a wall that stands on its own. If the joints go and the cap leaks, bricks loosen and could fall to the sidewalk below. That is a safety issue for anyone walking past on Pennsylvania Avenue, Liberty Avenue or a side street.
Chimneys on older East New York homes may no longer be used, but the brick still stands. Repointing and a good cap keep water out and slow the decay. If a chimney leans or bricks have shifted, we tell you it needs more than pointing.
Work at height needs proper access, so we plan the ladders, lifts or scaffold needed and list that in your estimate.
Does Brick Pointing Need a Permit or an Inspection?
Simple repointing on a low house often does not need a permit, but work that needs scaffold on the street, a sidewalk shed or structural repair can involve the city. Buildings taller than six stories fall under Local Law 11, the facade inspection program. Confirm current rules with the city.
Most East New York homes are low rise, so the facade inspection program does not apply to them. If you own a taller apartment building, ask a licensed professional about your five year filing and tell us what the report calls for.
We are not aware of a historic district in the neighborhood, so landmark review is unlikely for most jobs. Tell us if your building has any special status.
Mortar matching is worth attention. Mortar that is too hard for old brick can damage the bricks themselves, since the wall then cracks through the brick instead of the joint. We choose a mortar suited to the wall.
Should I Point the Whole Building or Only the Worst Wall?
Point the walls in the worst shape first, and plan the rest over time if budget matters. Front walls and any wall facing the weather usually come first. A partial job still helps, provided the repaired area is finished correctly and the rest is watched.
On a row house, only the front and rear walls are exposed, since the side walls are shared. That keeps the scope smaller than a detached house. On a corner building along Atlantic Avenue or Linden Boulevard, you have a second long wall to think about.
We can price the job in stages so you can see the cost of each wall and choose. The written estimate lists each area separately.
How Long Does Repointing Last?
A properly done repointing job can last many years, and how long depends on the wall, the mortar, the exposure and how well the roof and gutters carry water away. We do not promise a number. We do explain what we found and what should be done next.
Gutters and leaders matter more than most owners think. A leaking gutter that soaks one section of wall will ruin the new joints there first. We point that out and suggest a fix. Brick that stays wet is brick that fails.
Sealing the wall is sometimes suggested as a shortcut. A coating on brick that traps moisture can do more harm than good. We usually advise against it unless the wall suits it.
Job Steps
How a Pointing Job Runs
Inspect
We look at the wall, the parapet, the chimney and the roof line.
Set up
Access is arranged and the work area is protected.
Cut and point
Old mortar comes out and new mortar goes in, joint by joint.
Clean up
The wall is cleaned and the debris hauled away, about one to two weeks for a full job.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near East New York
We repoint brick buildings in the nearby neighborhoods too.
FAQ
East New York Brick Pointing Questions
Yes. Many owners start with the wall that takes the most rain. We tell you which walls need the work first.
We mix and test mortar to suit the brick and the joint style. A perfect color match is not always possible on old brick, but we get close.
If bricks have shifted, the wall may need to be taken down and rebuilt. We look at it and tell you honestly what it needs.
It depends on the wall size and height. A full job with any permits usually runs one to two weeks.
Yes. Call (718) 468-8803 and we will visit and write the job up.
Contact
Get a Brick Pointing Quote in East New York
Tell us which wall, parapet or chimney worries you. A close up photo of the joints is helpful.
- 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.