Lower East Side Brick Pointing
Brick Pointing on the Lower East Side, Manhattan
Mortar repair for old law and new law tenements, and for the brick towers and co op buildings that fill the streets east of the Bowery.
- Joints raked out and refilled
- Mortar chosen to suit the brick
- Written price after a free visit
What Mortar Damage Shows Up on Lower East Side Brick?
Tenement fronts here lose mortar in recognizable ways. Joints turn sandy and recede, cracks run along bed joints under windows, and water stains streak down from parapets. Co op buildings from the postwar years show the same trouble in larger walls, with failing joints across wide stretches.
Old law tenements were built in the 1800s and early 1900s with soft lime mortar. New law tenements followed with somewhat different practices. Both types are brick walls that have been standing through well over a century of weather, and mortar is the sacrificial part of the wall.
- Mortar that crumbles under a fingernail
- Joints receded half an inch or more
- Hairline cracks tracing the joints
- Efflorescence, a white crust on brick
- Water stains beneath windowsills and parapets
- Patches of cement mortar that no longer match
Brick on the Lower East Side often carries years of paint, signs and old anchors. We remove loose paint and abandoned fasteners before pointing, since each leaves a hole that water can use. Where graffiti or old posters were scraped away, the brick face may be rough, and we say so before you choose a finish.
Cement patches are common. Past owners filled joints with hard cement because it was cheap and quick. That hard mortar can damage the soft brick around it, and we often remove it before pointing.
Mortar Dropping From Your Facade?
Tell us the address and the number of floors. We will arrange a site visit.
How We Fix It
How Do You Repoint Old Brick Properly?
We remove the failing mortar to a consistent depth, clean the joint, wet the brick and pack new mortar in thin layers. The mix is chosen to be softer than the brick, so the wall flexes through winters without cracking the faces. Joints are then tooled to match the original profile.
Depth matters. Mortar raked out too shallow will not hold, and too deep can weaken the wall. We check as we go and adjust where a joint has eroded more than its neighbors.
On four or five story fronts, we use scaffolding or a lift. On the Lower East Side the sidewalk is often busy, so a protected walkway under the scaffold is part of the plan.
If bricks are cracked or spalled, we replace them first. They are listed separately in your estimate.
What Rules Apply to Brick Pointing on the Lower East Side?
The repointing is a repair, but the scaffold or shed over the public walk generally needs a permit. Buildings taller than six stories are in the Local Law 11 facade program, which includes several of the newer towers and co op buildings. Confirm current rules with the city.
Under that program, a qualified inspector reports on the facade, and the owner repairs unsafe conditions. We price work against the inspector's findings so you can compare quotes on equal terms.
Our notes show no historic district here. Landmark status for an individual building would still need city review before you change how the wall looks.
Sidewalk sheds and scaffolds share the frontage with the pavement. If the walk below is also damaged, see our page on sidewalk violations and plan both jobs together.
Why Us
Why Owners Hire Us for Brick Pointing
Right mortar for the wall
We match mortar strength to old brick so repairs do not cause new damage.
Clear scope
Area, access method and replacement brick are each written out in the estimate.
Licensed and insured
Twenty five years working on New York masonry.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near the Lower East Side
We also repoint buildings in the neighborhoods nearby.
FAQ
Lower East Side Brick Pointing Questions
It depends on the wall and the water it sees. Good pointing with sound brick behind it usually lasts for many years, though we do not promise a number.
It is the white crust left when water carries salts through brick. It signals moisture and is worth tracing.
Yes. We cut them out carefully so the soft brick beside them stays intact.
Yes, with the right access and permits. We coordinate with the managing agent.
We do. Call (718) 468-8803 to arrange a visit.
Free on site estimate
Keep Water Out of Your Brick Wall
A site visit, a written scope and a plan for scaffold and permits.
Contact
Get Your Lower East Side Brick Pointing Quote
Share the address, the number of floors and photos of the mortar damage.
- 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.