Brick Pointing in Civic Center, Manhattan

Which Civic Center Buildings Need Brick Pointing?

The older commercial buildings do. Many were built as offices or lofts well over a century ago, and their brick and stone facades have taken decades of weather and traffic grime. Some are now apartments. Mortar joints on these walls fail from the top down.

Government landmarks around City Hall and Foley Square are managed by their agencies. We work on privately owned buildings, from older office blocks to loft conversions and the residential tower near Park Row.

A building that fronts a wide street takes wind and rain on its face. A building tucked between others has damp rear and side walls. Each pattern of wear points to a different part of the facade.

How Does Repointing Work on a Taller Building?

Crews cut out loose mortar to a sound depth, clean the joints and pack in a new mix in layers. Bricks that have moved are reset first. On taller buildings the work is done from scaffolding or a swing stage, set up under the proper approvals, with protection for people below.

The new mortar should be no harder than the brick. A mix that is too hard traps water and cracks the brick faces. We match the mix to the age and type of masonry we find.

After pointing, we look at flashing, sills and copings, which are the most likely entry points for water.

Tall facades are done in sections from the top down, so new mortar is never splashed by work above it. Each section is cleaned and checked before the stage moves on.