Gramercy Park Brick Pointing
Brick Pointing in Gramercy Park, Manhattan
Failing mortar on row house fronts, areaway walls and pre war co op facades repointed by hand, with joints and color matched to the original.
- Joints cut out and repointed by hand
- Mortar matched to the old brick
- Free on site written estimate
How Do You Know Gramercy Park Brick Needs Repointing?
Look for crumbling mortar, gaps between bricks, stains running down the wall and white salt on the surface. In a neighborhood of historic row houses and pre war buildings, these signs often mean the mortar has outlived its job and water is working into the wall.
The brownstone and brick townhouses around the park were built generations ago with lime based mortar. That mortar is softer than brick on purpose. It takes the movement and weather so the brick does not have to.
- Mortar that rubs away as sand
- Joints recessed deep behind the brick face
- Cracks stepping through the joints
- Loose or shifting bricks
- Moisture stains below windows
- Plants rooting in open joints
Once water gets behind a brick, freeze and thaw can push the face off. That turns a mortar repair into a brick replacement.
Mortar Falling From Your Wall?
Send a photo and we will tell you whether a visit makes sense.
How We Fix It
How Is Historic Brick Repointed Properly?
Failed mortar is cut out to a sound depth, the joints are cleaned and new mortar is packed in layers and tooled to match the original profile. The mix is chosen to be softer than the brick. The aim is a wall that sheds water and looks like it always did.
We begin by testing the old mortar for color, sand and hardness. A sample joint is done first so you and any review board can see the match before the full wall.
Hand tools suit historic work. Power grinders can chip brick edges and widen joints, so we use them with great care, if at all, on old fronts.
Cracked and spalled bricks are cut out and replaced with matching units. The wall is brushed down at the end and walked through with you.
What Landmarks and City Rules Touch Brick Pointing Here?
The Gramercy Park Historic District covers many blocks, and the Stuyvesant Square Historic District lies to the southeast. Landmarks Preservation Commission review can apply to visible facade work, including mortar color and joint style. Confirm your address with the city.
We write material details into the estimate so they are easy to submit with an application. Matching what is there is usually easier to approve than changing it.
Pre war co ops taller than six stories come under Local Law 11, the facade inspection program. A licensed professional inspects and files, and pointing can be one of the repairs that follows. Co op boards usually approve scaffolding and schedules too.
Scaffolding and sheds can bring in DOT and DOB filings, which our office prepares.
Will repointing change how my house looks?
It should not. The goal is to restore the existing look. New mortar can look slightly lighter for a season and then settles as it weathers.
Why Us
Why Gramercy Park Owners Hire Us for Pointing
Mortar matched, not guessed
We test the old mortar and do a sample joint before the full wall.
Clear written scope
The estimate names the area, the mortar and the method.
25+ years in NYC
Older brick in Manhattan and the other boroughs we serve is work we know well.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near Gramercy Park
Nearby neighborhoods where we also repoint brick.
FAQ
Gramercy Park Brick Pointing Questions
Scrape a joint with a house key. Mortar that turns to powder is finished, and gaps or loose bricks tell the same story.
Yes. We test the old mortar and choose a mix that matches its color, texture and softness. A sample joint comes first.
It can for visible facades in a historic district. Confirm your address with the city and we will give you the scope for your application.
No. That law is the facade inspection program for taller buildings, and repointing is one repair that may follow an inspection.
Call (718) 468-8803 and a free visit and written quote will follow.
Free on site estimate
Restore Your Gramercy Park Brick
Matched mortar, careful hands and a wall that keeps water out.
Contact
Book Your Gramercy Park Pointing Visit
Describe the building, the wall and its height. Photos of the joints help.
- 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.