Greenpoint Repointing
Brick Pointing in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Failing mortar cut out and replaced on Greenpoint walk ups, brick row houses, parapets and chimneys.
- Mortar matched to the existing brick
- Facades, parapets and chimneys
- Free visit with a written price
Why Do Greenpoint Brick Walls Need Repointing?
Mortar is the sacrificial part of a brick wall. Rain, freeze and thaw and decades of wear wash it out of the joints. Once the joints open, water gets into the wall, rusts hidden steel and pushes bricks loose. Repointing replaces the worn mortar before that damage spreads.
Greenpoint has a lot of older brick. Brick walk ups with storefronts line Manhattan Avenue and the cross streets. Brick row houses fill many side blocks, sitting beside wood frame houses that have siding on the front. The brick buildings carry a lot of age in their joints.
Look at the wall from the sidewalk. Sandy mortar that crumbles under a fingernail, gaps you can slip a coin into, and brick faces that flake are all signs the joints have failed.
Storefront buildings on Manhattan Avenue add another layer. The walls above the shops are often ignored while the ground floor gets the attention. Water then enters at the upper courses and runs down inside the wall, so the damage shows up far from the source. Repointing at the top of the wall can solve a stain you see two floors below.
The Method
How Is Brick Pointing Done on a Greenpoint Building?
The crew grinds or cuts out the loose mortar to a proper depth, cleans the joints, then packs in new mortar in layers and tools it to match the surrounding wall. Working carefully matters, because cutting into the brick itself does permanent damage.
| Where the damage is | What we do |
|---|---|
| Storefront walk up facade | Repoint the joints and reset loose brick |
| Parapet at the roofline | Repoint and repair the coping and joints |
| Chimney above the roof | Repoint the joints and check the top courses |
| Side wall next to a lot | Repoint and seal open joints |
Height decides the equipment. A two story front can be reached from a ladder or a small lift. A taller walk up needs staging or a lift, and that goes into the written price.
Parapets deserve a note of their own. They stand above the roof with weather on both faces, and the coping on top often leaks. We repoint the joints, check the coping and tell you when a section should be taken down and rebuilt rather than patched. Those top courses are the bricks most likely to fall, so they get the first look.
Does the Greenpoint Historic District Affect Repointing?
It can. In a historic district, work on the visible face of a building may need Landmarks Preservation Commission approval, and the mortar mix and joint style may be reviewed. Part of Greenpoint sits in the Greenpoint Historic District, so ask the city before you start.
Matching matters even without a landmark rule. A mortar that is much harder than the old brick traps water and cracks the brick faces. We match the mortar to the wall and the age of the building, and we explain the choice in the estimate.
Buildings taller than six stories fall under Local Law 11, the Facade Inspection and Safety Program, which requires facade inspections every five years. Some of the newer towers on the waterfront may fall under it. Repointing is one way owners resolve findings from that report.
Joints Open on Your Greenpoint Building?
We can look at the wall from the ground and tell you how much needs work.
What Affects Brick Pointing Cost in Greenpoint?
Cost is driven by wall area, height, the condition of the brick and how the crew reaches the work. A short frontage costs less to reach than a tall wall needing staging. We give a written price after seeing the wall in person.
- How many square feet of wall need repointing
- Ladder, lift or scaffold access
- Mortar matching to old brick
- Loose or spalled brick that must be reset
- Sidewalk shed or permits for taller jobs
Work over a public sidewalk generally means protecting pedestrians. Depending on the building, a permit or a shed may be part of the job. We tell you what applies.
Weather affects timing. Mortar cures best in mild, dry conditions, so pointing work is mostly a spring to fall job. We plan the schedule with you and avoid the days when a freeze or a hard rain would spoil fresh joints.
Timeline
How a Greenpoint Repointing Job Moves
Survey
We look over the wall and mark the failed joints.
Set up
Access equipment goes up and the sidewalk is protected.
Cut out
Old mortar is removed to a proper depth.
Repoint
New mortar is packed and tooled to match.
Clean up
Debris is hauled away and the wall is cleaned down.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near Greenpoint
We also repoint brick in the neighborhoods around Greenpoint.
FAQ
Greenpoint Brick Pointing Questions
Look for crumbling or sandy mortar, gaps in the joints, water stains under windows and brick faces that flake. If a coin slips into a joint, the mortar has failed.
People use the terms loosely. Both mean cutting out old mortar and replacing it. We talk through the exact joint style you want in the estimate.
Yes. Parapets and chimneys take the most weather, so they often fail first. We handle the joints and check the top courses for loose brick.
Yes. We are licensed and insured with more than 25 years in NYC. Call (718) 468-8803 for a free visit.
Work over a public sidewalk can need protection and a permit, and taller buildings have facade rules. Confirm current requirements with the city. We tell you what applies on your job.
Contact
Request Greenpoint Brick Pointing
Tell us which wall or roofline worries you. Photos from the street help us plan.
- 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.