Midwood Repointing
Brick Pointing in Midwood, Brooklyn
Failing mortar replaced on Midwood brick houses, chimneys, entry walls and apartment buildings along Ocean Avenue.
- Houses, chimneys, walls and apartment buildings
- Mortar matched to the brick
- Written price after a free visit
How Do You Know a Midwood Brick House Needs Pointing?
The joints tell you. Mortar that is sandy, crumbling, cracked or set back from the brick face has failed. Loose bricks, stains under sills and damp patches inside near an outside wall point the same way. Water gets in through the joints and freezes.
Midwood has many brick houses in Tudor and Colonial styles, along with semi detached homes and apartment buildings on Ocean Avenue and the main avenues. Brick is common on fronts, porches, chimneys and garden walls.
Mortar on older houses is often lime based and softer than the brick. Over decades it wears away. Freeze and thaw speeds it up, and roots or settlement crack it in lines.
Chimneys need attention first, and we cover them in the visit. They stand tall, catch wind and rain and are hard to see from the ground. A chimney with open joints leaks into the house and drops brick.
How Is Brick Pointing Done Properly?
A mason cuts out failed mortar to a set depth, cleans and wets the joint and packs in new mortar in layers. The joint is tooled to match the wall. The mix should be softer than the brick, so the mortar wears and the brick is protected. The reverse is a common mistake in older walls.
Mortar matters as much as labor. A hard, gray patch on an old brick wall traps water and can spall the brick. We test the mix on a small patch, check color and texture and adjust before we start on the whole wall.
Cutting out old mortar must be done carefully. Grinding too wide chips the brick. We use methods that suit the wall, and we tell you what to expect for dust and noise. Windows on that side of the house may need to stay closed for a few days.
After pointing, we brush the wall down and clean up. The mortar needs time to cure, and we avoid pointing in freezing weather.
Chimney checks
On a chimney, we look at more than the joints. The crown, the flashing at the roof and the liner top all decide whether water gets in. If the crown is cracked, we tell you, since new mortar below a leaking crown will not last.
Crumbling Mortar on Your Midwood Home?
Let a mason look at the joints before winter.
Do Landmark or Facade Rules Apply to Midwood Pointing?
Possibly. Parts of Midwood lie in the Fiske Terrace-Midwood Park Historic District, where visible facade work can need Landmarks Preservation Commission approval. Buildings taller than six stories fall under Local Law 11 facade inspections. Check which applies to you with the city.
| Problem | What we do |
|---|---|
| Sandy, recessed joints | Cut out and repoint to the right depth |
| Loose or shifting bricks | Reset or replace the units |
| Stains below a sill | Check the sill and joints, then repoint |
| Chimney with open joints | Repoint and check the cap and flashing |
| Hard gray patch in an old wall | Grind out and replace with a matching mortar |
Most Midwood houses are low rise, so the six story rule covers only some apartment buildings. If you manage one, ask about your inspection cycle. Scaffold or a sidewalk shed on the public sidewalk is a separate permit matter that we plan for.
Brick and Mortar
Matching Old Mortar Takes a Test Patch
Old brick and old mortar age together, so new mortar that looks fresh can stand out. We test a small area, let it dry and compare it in daylight. Then we adjust the color and the finish before doing the whole wall.
On Tudor style houses with brick and detail work, the joint style is part of the look. We copy the existing profile, whether it is flush, concave or raked.
If your wall was patched before with the wrong mortar, we tell you what we find and how it affects the plan.
What Affects Brick Pointing Cost in Midwood?
Cost depends on the wall area, height and access, how deep the mortar must be cut, the mortar match and any loose brick. Scaffold or a lift is needed for a chimney or an upper wall. The written price follows a visit where we measure the wall. There are no phone quotes.
A single porch wall is a small job. A whole house front, with a chimney, is larger. Apartment buildings need scaffold across long areas. We scope each job and offer stages if you prefer to spread the cost out.
Timeline
How Long Does Repointing Take?
Small walls take a few days. A full house may take one to two weeks, weather permitting. We give you the schedule before we start.
Inspection
We probe the joints and note loose brick.
Written price
A scope listing walls, height and mortar.
Access
Ladders, scaffold or a lift go up.
Pointing
Old mortar is cut out and new mortar packed in.
Clean up
The wall is brushed and debris cleared.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near Midwood
Repointing work also happens on the neighboring blocks.
FAQ
Midwood Brick Pointing Questions
Well done pointing can last decades. Exposure, brick condition and mortar quality all matter.
Yes. Chimneys are often done first, since they are the most exposed.
At first it may. We test and adjust the color, and it blends as it weathers.
Not by itself. Scaffold on the sidewalk or higher work can involve DOT or DOB, and landmark rules may apply in the historic district.
It helps when open joints are the cause. We also check flashing, sills and copings.
Call (718) 468-8803. A visit and a written price are free.
Contact
Request Your Midwood Pointing Quote
Send a photo of the wall or chimney and tell us how high it is.
- 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.