Stuyvesant Town Brick Pointing
Brick Pointing in Stuyvesant Town, Manhattan
Mortar joints cut out and refilled on red brick buildings, garden walls and entrance piers, so water stays out of the wall.
- Failed mortar removed to a proper depth
- Joints matched to the existing brick
- Written estimate after a free visit
Local Conditions
Why Does Red Brick From the 1940s Need Repointing?
Mortar is softer than brick on purpose. It wears away first and is meant to be renewed. Buildings put up in the late 1940s have now gone through many decades of freezing, thawing and rain, and joints that were once tight have eroded, cracked or fallen out in places.
Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village are red brick post war apartment buildings run as one complex. Facade work on the complex itself is the owner’s decision and is the type of project a large owner handles through its own program. We do not claim that work here. We do pointing for owners of smaller brick buildings nearby, for garden walls and for retaining walls along the grounds when an owner hires us.
Open joints do real damage. Water gets in behind the brick face, freezes and pushes bricks outward. Over time, the bricks spall and a section of wall can loosen. Repointing is the cheaper fix that comes before bigger masonry work.
The eastern side near the FDR Drive sees wind off the East River and wetter conditions. Walls that stay damp in that exposure lose mortar sooner on the weather side than on a sheltered face.
How Is Repointing Done Correctly?
The old mortar is ground or raked out to about the depth of the joint width, the gaps are cleaned, and new mortar is packed in layers. The new mix must be softer than the brick and match its color. A hard modern mortar on soft old brick damages the brick.
We test the existing mortar when the age of a wall is unclear. The mix, joint profile and tooling should match what is already there so the wall looks like one piece of work and not a patchwork.
Do you replace bricks too?
Yes. Cracked and spalled bricks are cut out and replaced before pointing. Sound bricks stay.
Is any filing required?
Pointing a low wall at ground level rarely involves permits, but facade work on taller buildings can. Taller buildings, those above six stories, sit under the Local Law 11 facade inspection program. We do not know of a historic district here, so Landmarks approval is unlikely, though the city can tell you what applies to your block.
Cost Factors
What Goes Into a Repointing Estimate?
Wall area
We measure the wall surface that needs work, since repointing is priced by area and depth.
Joint depth
Deep erosion takes more material and more passes than surface wear.
Height and access
Higher walls need staging or lifts, which changes the plan.
Brick repair
Spalled or loose bricks must be replaced before joints are filled.
The written estimate lists the area, the depth and any bricks to be replaced. It reflects your wall, not an average one.
Get a Free EstimateProcess
How Does a Repointing Job Unfold Here?
Wall survey
We check the joints, tap the bricks and note the weak areas.
Mortar match
We choose a mix and color that suits the old brick.
Cut out
Failed joints are cleared and dust is cleaned from the gaps.
Point and tool
Fresh mortar is packed in and shaped to the wall profile.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Around Stuyvesant Town
Nearby neighborhoods where we repoint brick buildings.
FAQ
Stuyvesant Town Brick Pointing Questions
Work on the complex is up to its owner. We repoint nearby buildings, garden walls and entrance piers when their owners hire us.
Look for gaps, crumbling edges, sand in the joint or bricks that move when pushed. Water stains below a joint are another clue.
Done well, it should look like the original. We match color and joint shape and avoid wide, flat repairs.
Cracked or flaking bricks are replaced with a close match before the joints are filled.
Call (718) 468-8803 or fill in the form below with the building address.
Contact
Schedule Your Stuyvesant Town Pointing Visit
Tell us the wall, its height and what you see in the joints.
- 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.