Midtown South Brick Pointing
Brick Pointing in Midtown South, Manhattan
Mortar joints cut out and repointed on loft and garment buildings around Herald Square, Penn Station and the avenues of the Garment District.
- Failed mortar removed and replaced
- Mortar chosen to suit older brick
- Free visit and written estimate
Why Does Brick on Garment District Buildings Need Pointing?
The loft and garment buildings of Midtown South were built with brick and lime based mortar that has now been exposed for a century or more. Rain, traffic vibration and freeze and thaw cycles wear the joints away, and open joints let water into the wall.
Many of these buildings stand tall and plain, with long brick faces and few ornaments to break up the weather. That means joints on the upper floors take wind driven rain with nothing to shelter them. Pointing is how you keep the wall watertight.
- Mortar recessed deep behind the brick face
- Sandy, crumbling joints that wash out in rain
- Hairline cracks that follow the brick pattern
- Bricks that have loosened in the wall
- Stains below windows and parapets
- Old patches in a hard gray mortar
That last item matters. Older brick is often softer than modern cement mortar. When a hard mix was used for a past repair, it can pull faces off the brick. Matching the mortar to the wall is a big part of doing this right.
Seeing Mortar Dust at the Base of Your Wall?
That is often the first sign. Let us look at the joints before water finds a way in.
How We Fix It
How Is Brick Repointed on a Commercial Building?
The crew grinds or chisels out the old mortar to a set depth, cleans the joint and packs in fresh mortar in layers. The joint is tooled to match the original profile, and loose bricks are reset first. Work above the street is done from scaffold or swing stage.
On a taller building the access is the largest part of the job. A swing stage or a sidewalk shed may be needed, and either one needs the right permits. We lay out the access plan in the estimate so you see it up front.
We test mortar mixes against the existing wall. The new joint should be softer than the brick, so moisture leaves through the mortar and not through the face of the brick.
After the joints cure, we clean off the work area. If sections of the wall show deeper trouble such as bulging, we tell you and talk through masonry options.
What Rules Apply to Facade Work Here?
Buildings taller than six stories fall under Local Law 11, the facade inspection program, and repairs the inspector calls for must be done. Scaffolds and sheds on the sidewalk need approvals. Confirm current rules with the city for your building, since requirements change.
Local Law 11 inspections are done by a qualified professional, not by a contractor. If a report lists unsafe conditions, we can carry out the repointing and brick repairs it calls for. We do not file the report ourselves.
A sidewalk shed over your frontage affects the sidewalk too. If the flags underneath are cracked, it is cheaper to repair them before the shed goes up than after it comes down. Our page on sidewalk repair in Midtown South covers that side.
We do not know of a historic district in Midtown South. If your building has a special status, confirm it with the city before choosing materials.
Why Us
Why Midtown South Owners Choose Us for Pointing
Mortar matched to the wall
We pick a mix that suits older brick and does not damage it.
25+ years in NYC
Loft and commercial brick are work we know well.
Access plan in writing
The estimate says how the crew reaches the work and what permits are involved.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near Midtown South
Nearby neighborhoods where we also repoint brick.
FAQ
Midtown South Brick Pointing Questions
Look for recessed or crumbling mortar, cracks along the joints and loose bricks. A key tip is to scrape a joint with a screwdriver. If it comes out easily, the mortar has failed.
In everyday use, the words overlap. Repointing means replacing failed mortar. Some people use tuckpointing for a style with a contrast stripe, and we can discuss that if it matters to you.
Yes, with the right access. That can be scaffold or a swing stage, and the estimate covers it.
It can. If the inspection report lists open joints as an unsafe or repair needed condition, they must be fixed. Your inspector tells you what applies.
Call (718) 468-8803 or use the form below. We look at the wall and write up the work.
Free on site estimate
Keep Water Out of Your Midtown South Brick
A visit, a mortar plan and a written price.
Contact
Ask About Brick Pointing in Midtown South
Give us the building height and name the walls that show damage. Street level photos 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.