Brick Pointing in Washington Heights, Manhattan

Why Do Washington Heights Buildings Need Repointing?

Brick buildings here are decades old, and the mortar between the bricks wears out before the bricks do. Open joints let water into the wall. In a freeze, that water expands and pushes bricks loose. Pointing replaces the failed mortar so the wall stays dry.

The neighborhood is full of pre war five and six story buildings, many with Art Deco detail around the entrances and parapets. Brick here faces wind off the Hudson on the western side and weather from the Harlem River on the east. The high ground gets full exposure, and parapets take the worst of it.

Signs that a wall needs pointing include sandy mortar that crumbles under a fingernail, hairline gaps around windows, white deposits on the brick and bricks that have shifted out of line.

How Does Local Law 11 Affect Brick Pointing in Washington Heights?

Local Law 11 sets up facade inspections on a regular cycle for buildings taller than six stories. If an inspector reports unsafe conditions, the owner must fix them. Many buildings here sit below that height, but the larger ones along Riverside Drive may fall under the program. Confirm current rules with the city.

Brick pointing is one of the standard repairs after an inspection. Failed joints near the top of a wall can let bricks work loose, and the city treats loose masonry high above a sidewalk seriously. We repair the work that falls within our trade and can coordinate with your engineer or filing representative.

Scaffolding and sidewalk sheds often go with facade work, and sheds on public sidewalks fall under city rules. We explain what the job needs when we price it.

Do the historic districts apply?

Jumel Terrace Historic District and Audubon Terrace Historic District are both inside Washington Heights. Work visible from the street can need Landmarks Preservation Commission approval. We ask before we start so the joint color and profile are acceptable.