Kensington Repointing
Brick Pointing in Kensington, Brooklyn
Failing mortar cut out and replaced on the pre war apartment buildings, row houses and chimneys of Kensington.
- Mortar matched to the brick
- Facades, parapets and chimneys
- Free visit with a written price
Why Do Kensington Pre War Buildings Need Repointing?
Pre war brick buildings have mortar that is many decades old. Rain, freeze and thaw and exposure have eaten it away, leaving open joints that let water into the wall. Repointing replaces the lost mortar before that water rusts steel and pushes bricks loose.
Kensington has a strong set of these buildings along Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue. Many are apartment buildings of several stories, with parapets, decorative brick and large facades. Their owners face regular upkeep, and mortar is the first thing to wear.
Brick row houses and older houses on the side streets have the same issue on a smaller scale. Chimneys, porch walls and lower courses take the worst of it.
Signs are easy to spot from the sidewalk. Crumbling or missing mortar, water stains under sills, efflorescence and bricks that look loose all mean the wall wants attention.
The Method
How Is Brick Pointing Done on a Tall Building?
The crew sets up access, cuts out old mortar to a proper depth, cleans the joints and fills them with new mortar in layers, then tools the surface to match. Taller buildings need scaffold or a lift, and work over a sidewalk generally needs pedestrian protection and permits.
| Where the damage is | What we do |
|---|---|
| Apartment building facade | Repoint the failing joints from a lift or scaffold |
| Parapet at the roofline | Repoint, check the coping and reset loose brick |
| House chimney | Repoint the joints and check the top courses |
| Row house front wall | Repoint from ladders or a small lift |
Matching matters. A mortar harder than old brick traps water and cracks the brick face, so we match the mix to your building.
Does the Facade Inspection Program Apply to Kensington Buildings?
It applies to buildings taller than six stories. Local Law 11, the Facade Inspection and Safety Program, requires those buildings to have their facades inspected every five years. Some of Kensington's larger pre war buildings may fall under it. Confirm your building's status with the city.
If an inspection report lists unsafe or defective conditions, repairs must follow. Repointing is one of the most common fixes for open joints, and masonry repair covers loose or cracked brick. We work with owners and managers to complete the repairs a report calls for.
Smaller buildings and houses do not fall under the program, but the same weather affects them. Regular repointing keeps small problems from growing into expensive ones.
We cannot confirm a historic district here. A specific building can still be landmarked, and work on its visible parts can need Landmarks Preservation Commission approval.
Mortar Failing on Your Kensington Building?
A look from the ground gives us a first read on how much work is needed.
What Affects the Cost of Brick Pointing in Kensington?
Wall area, height, access equipment, brick condition and mortar matching drive the price. A house chimney is a small job compared with the facade of a multi story apartment building. We write up the price in detail after a free visit and never quote by phone.
- Square footage of wall to repoint
- Ladder, lift or scaffold setup
- Loose or spalled brick to reset
- Sidewalk protection and permits
- Mortar color and hardness match
Timing helps the mortar. Mild, dry weather lets it cure well, so we plan pointing work from spring through fall wherever we can.
Can You Repoint Without Scaffolding on a Kensington Building?
On low buildings, yes. Ladders or a small lift can reach two and three story fronts and most chimneys. Taller facades need scaffold or a swing stage. We look at the height, the sidewalk below and the wall to choose safe, practical equipment.
Equipment shapes the schedule. Scaffold takes days to put up and take down. A lift moves along the wall quickly. Ladders suit small repairs but not long runs of joints.
Pedestrians below matter as well. Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue see steady foot traffic, so a shed or barricade may be part of the setup. Permits can apply for work over a public sidewalk, and we tell you what your building needs.
We also plan around residents. Open windows, air conditioners and balconies get covered or cleared before work reaches them, and we explain the plan to building managers so tenants are not surprised.
Process
How a Kensington Repointing Job Moves
Survey
We look over the wall and mark failing joints.
Set up
Access equipment goes up and pedestrians are protected.
Cut out
Old mortar is removed to a proper depth.
Repoint
New mortar goes in and is tooled to match.
Clean down
Debris leaves the site and the wall is cleaned.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near Kensington
We also repoint brick in the neighborhoods around Kensington.
FAQ
Kensington Brick Pointing Questions
Look for crumbling mortar, gaps in joints, stains under windows and loose or flaking brick. If a coin slips into a joint, it has failed.
Yes. We handle facade repointing with a lift or scaffold and protect the sidewalk below.
Yes. Parapets take the most weather. We repoint the joints, check the coping and reset 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.
Contact
Request Kensington Brick Pointing
Tell us which wall 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.