Astoria Brick Pointing
Brick Pointing in Astoria, Queens
Failing mortar cut out and replaced on the brick houses, walk ups and apartment buildings that give Astoria its streets, from street level to the parapet.
- Brick houses, parapets and stoops
- Mortar matched to the brick
- Free on site estimate in writing
Why Does Brick Need Pointing in Astoria?
Mortar wears out. Astoria brick houses and pre war buildings have decades of rain, freezing and heat behind them, and the joints between the bricks crumble first. Open joints let water in, which swells the brick, rusts steel and damages interior walls.
The area has a lot of attached and semi detached two family brick houses, along with pre war walk ups and elevator buildings. Many were built long enough ago that their original mortar is due for replacement.
You can see the signs from the street. Joints recessed deep enough to cast a shadow, sandy powder at the base of a wall and bricks that have lost their faces are all clues.
- Joints deeply recessed
- Crumbling mortar at the base
- Bricks with broken faces
- Damp patches inside the wall
Buildings near the East River take more wind and moisture. The rest of Astoria sits inland, but rain and freeze and thaw are the same for every wall.
Brick that is painted needs a closer look. Paint can trap moisture and hide the condition of the joints, so we check what is under it before we quote.
Mortar Falling Out of Your Brick?
Send a photo of the wall. We will tell you how deep the problem goes.
How We Fix It
What Happens During Repointing?
Repointing means grinding or chiseling out old mortar to a proper depth, cleaning the joints and packing in new mortar, then tooling it to shed water. Done well, it keeps moisture out and holds the bricks together. Done badly, it hides the problem for a year and fails.
Mortar has to be softer than the brick. A hard modern mix on old soft brick cracks the brick faces. We choose a mix that matches the original in strength and, where it matters, in color.
We do not smear new mortar over old cracks. The old joint is cut out first, which is slow work, and it is why good pointing lasts.
Height sets the equipment. A stoop wall needs a ladder, while a full facade or a parapet calls for scaffold or a lift.
After the mortar sets, the wall is brushed down and the site cleaned. We leave the brick as we found it, minus the failed joints.
What About Parapets and Chimneys on Astoria Buildings?
Parapets and chimneys take the most weather because they stand fully exposed above the roof. Their mortar fails first, and loose bricks up high can fall. We check them early in any pointing visit and tell you what is safe to leave and what is not.
A leaning parapet is not a pointing job. It may need rebuilding, and we say so. Pointing a wall that is moving only covers the problem.
Water that gets in at a parapet often runs down inside the wall and shows as stains on the top floor ceiling. If you see that, mention it during the visit.
Flashing and coping stones sit on top of these walls. We look at them as well, since failed flashing sends water straight into the mortar joints.
Roofers and masons often share a job at a parapet. We can coordinate with your roofer so the flashing and the pointing are done in a sensible order.
Do Tall Astoria Buildings Need Facade Inspections?
Buildings taller than six stories fall under the city facade inspection program, Local Law 11, which requires inspections every five years. Repairs that come out of those reports often include pointing. Confirm the current requirements with the city or your engineer.
Astoria has elevator buildings and newer towers near the avenues and the waterfront. If yours is on the list, the report tells you what has to be repaired and by when.
We work from the report and what we see on the wall, and schedule around your residents and any sidewalk shed.
Even without a facade report, an annual look at your walls from the sidewalk pays off. Binoculars help.
How Much Does Brick Pointing Cost in Astoria?
Price depends on the wall area, the height, how deep the mortar has failed, how well the new mortar must match and what access equipment the job needs. A stoop wall and a full facade are different jobs. We give a written price after a free visit.
Ask us to separate the brick replacement from the pointing. Some bricks will need to come out, and that is a different kind of work.
Older brick may need a test patch before the full job. Matching color takes a sample or two.
If you own a semi detached house, the shared wall may need a shared plan. We can look at both sides and explain what makes sense.
Why Us
Why Astoria Owners Call Us
25+ years of experience
Long experience with old brick and lime mortar.
Licensed and insured
Construction, injury and workers compensation insurance are in place.
Honest scope
If a wall needs rebuilding, we say so and price it apart.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near Astoria
We also point brick in the neighborhoods around Astoria.
FAQ
Astoria Brick Pointing Questions
Look for crumbling, deeply recessed or missing mortar. Loose bricks and damp spots inside are also signs. Worn joints that are still firm can wait.
The words are used for related work. Repointing replaces failing mortar with new mortar. We explain the exact scope in the estimate so you know what is included.
We match color and strength as closely as we can and often use a test area first. Perfect matches take a little time as new mortar weathers.
Yes. We check the mortar, the coping and the flashing and tell you if the parapet needs rebuilding instead.
Yes. We look at the wall and give a written price at no cost. Call (718) 468-8803 to set a visit.
Free on site estimate
Get Your Astoria Brick Pointed
A wall survey, a written price and mortar matched to your brick.
Contact
Request Your Astoria Pointing Quote
Tell us what needs pointing and how high it is. A photo of the joints helps.
- 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.