Forest Hills Brick Pointing
Brick Pointing in Forest Hills, Queens
Failing mortar cut out and replaced on Tudor style houses, pre war apartment buildings, chimneys and parapets across Forest Hills.
- Mortar matched to the old joints
- Chimneys, parapets and full facades
- Free visit with a written price
Why Does Brick in Forest Hills Need Repointing?
Mortar is the soft part of a brick wall, and it wears out first. After decades of rain, freeze and thaw and sun, the joints crack, crumble and recede. Water then gets behind the bricks, and small leaks turn into damaged plaster and loose masonry.
Forest Hills has a great deal of brick. Pre war and postwar apartment buildings and co ops line Queens Boulevard and the streets near it. Tudor style and brick houses fill Forest Hills Gardens, and other brick homes sit throughout the neighborhood.
Older buildings often used lime based mortar that is softer than modern cement. That matters, because a mortar that is too hard can damage old brick. We pay attention to the mix before any joint is cut.
Some signs are easy to spot from the sidewalk: gaps between bricks, sand under the wall, stains below a window sill or a chimney that looks eroded at the top.
The Method
How Do You Repoint a Brick Wall Properly?
We cut out the failed mortar to a consistent depth, clean the joints, and pack in new mortar in layers. The joint is then tooled to match the original profile. Done properly, it seals the wall and looks like it always belonged there.
Cutting is the step that decides the result. Joints that are not deep enough will not hold, and careless grinding chews the brick edges.
Color matching takes patience on older Forest Hills buildings. We test mixes against the existing wall so the new joints do not stand out as patches.
Which Parts of a Forest Hills Building Get Pointed Most?
Chimneys, parapets and areas beneath windows take the most weather, so they usually go first. Full facade pointing is common on apartment buildings and older houses. The table lists the areas we see and the work each one gets.
| Area | What we do |
|---|---|
| Chimney top | Repoint and rebuild loose bricks at the crown |
| Parapet wall | Repoint joints and reset loose coping |
| Wall under a window sill | Repoint and check for water paths |
| Full facade | Repoint all failed joints in sections |
| Stoop and porch walls | Repoint and reset loose bricks |
| Garden wall | Repoint and rebuild damaged sections |
Height changes the plan. A chimney or a taller wall needs scaffold or a lift, which adds setup time and cost.
Does Local Law 11 Affect Forest Hills Buildings?
Yes, for taller buildings. Under Local Law 11, known as FISP, any building above six stories needs a facade inspection every five years. Repointing is a common repair that comes out of those inspections. Confirm current requirements with the city.
Some of the larger apartment buildings and co ops near Queens Boulevard may be tall enough to fall under the program. Their boards and managers often need brickwork done on a schedule tied to an inspection report.
One and two family houses are not covered by that rule, but the same wear applies to them. A house that leaks through the wall after heavy rain is telling you the joints have failed.
No city historic district covers Forest Hills, as far as we can confirm. Forest Hills Gardens follows its own private rules, so owners there should ask the association about exterior work first.
Water Getting Through Your Brick Wall?
Send a photo of the joints or the stain. We will explain how much pointing you need.
How Long Does Brick Pointing Take?
A chimney can be done in a few days, while a full building facade may take weeks. The timeline depends on wall area, height, weather and access. The written estimate gives you a schedule for your specific building.
Mortar should not be applied in freezing conditions or during hard rain. That is why most pointing happens in spring, summer and early fall, and why booking an inspection before winter helps.
If scaffold is needed on a street facing wall, the work may involve a sidewalk shed or permits. We tell you about that up front.
The Stages
Steps in a Forest Hills Pointing Job
Wall check
We look at joints, brick condition and water stains.
Written price
The scope lists areas, access needs and mortar type.
Setup
Scaffold or lift goes up where the height calls for it.
Cut and point
Failed mortar is cut out and new mortar packed in.
Tool and clean
Joints are tooled, then the wall is cleaned.
What Should You Watch for Between Pointing Jobs?
Look at your brick after heavy storms. Fresh water stains, loose brick near a chimney, plant growth in joints and sand at the base of a wall all show that mortar is letting go. Catching these early keeps a repair small.
Ivy and other climbing plants pull at mortar as they grow. On some Forest Hills brick houses they look attractive, but their roots work into joints and hold moisture against the wall.
Gutters matter more than most owners expect. An overflowing gutter runs water down the same brick again and again, and the joints below it fail first.
Look at the wall from across the street with binoculars if you have to. Chimney tops and parapets cannot be checked safely from a ladder.
Keep a note of what you find and when. If a problem returns in the same place after a repair, it usually means the water source, such as a bad flashing or gutter, was never fixed.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near Forest Hills
We repoint brick buildings in the nearby neighborhoods as well.
FAQ
Forest Hills Brick Pointing Questions
In everyday talk both mean replacing failed mortar joints. The estimate spells out what is done to which walls.
Look for crumbling or missing mortar, gaps you can slip a coin into, and water stains inside the wall. A visit gives a clear answer.
It often stops leaks through the joints. If the crown or flashing is failing, those need repair too, and we point that out during the inspection.
A little, at first. We test mixes on your wall and choose the closest match, and weathering blends the joints within a season or two.
Yes. We inspect the walls and give a written price at no cost. Call (718) 468-8803 to set a visit.
Contact
Request Your Forest Hills Pointing Quote
Tell us which walls concern you. Photos of the joints, chimney or stains help us plan.
- 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.