Glendale Repointing
Brick Pointing in Glendale, Queens
Crumbling mortar joints cut out and repointed on Glendale brick houses, chimneys, parapets and garden walls before water gets inside.
- Joints cut out and filled by hand
- Mortar matched to the old brick
- Written price after a free visit
Why Does Brick in Glendale Need Repointing?
Mortar wears out long before brick does. Rain, freeze and thaw and decades of sun break down the joints, and once they open, water gets behind the brick. Glendale has many older brick houses, so repointing is one of the most useful repairs an owner can schedule.
The housing is a mix of attached and semi detached brick and frame homes, plus detached houses and a few industrial buildings. Where brick faces the street, you can see the joints from the sidewalk. Sandy, recessed or cracked mortar is the sign to look for.
Frame houses often have brick only on the front, on a chimney or around the base. Those partial brick faces are easy to forget, and they get the same weather as everything else.
Industrial and commercial brick buildings along the corridors have larger walls. The same logic applies, but the height changes the access plan.
The Method
What Does Brick Pointing Involve?
Pointing means cutting out the damaged mortar to a proper depth, cleaning the joints and packing in new mortar that matches the old in strength and color. Done correctly it keeps water out and lets the wall breathe. Smearing mortar over old joints does not hold.
We cut out the old mortar without chipping the brick edges, brush and rinse the joints, and fill them in layers. Then we tool the joints so they shed water.
The mortar mix matters. Old brick can be softer than new brick, and a mortar that is too hard can crack the face of the brick when the wall moves. We choose a mix to suit the wall.
Which Parts of a Glendale Building Need Pointing First?
Start with the parts that take the most water: chimneys, parapets and the tops of walls, then the brick below windows and next to downspouts. These areas dry slowly and soak up the most weather. Mortar damage on the front face often shows up last.
| Location | What we look for |
|---|---|
| Chimney above the roof | Open joints, loose bricks, cracked crown |
| Parapet and cornice | Missing mortar, leaning courses |
| Wall below window sills | Washed out joints and staining |
| Front face of the house | Sandy or recessed joints |
| Garden and boundary walls | Open joints and bulging sections |
If a chimney or parapet leans or bricks have shifted, we tell you it needs rebuilding, not just pointing. That belongs under masonry work.
Do Glendale Buildings Need Facade Inspections?
Local Law 11, the Facade Inspection and Safety Program, applies to buildings taller than six stories and requires inspections every five years. Most Glendale houses are far lower, so it usually does not apply to them. Owners of taller or mixed use buildings should confirm the rules with the city.
Low rise houses still deserve a yearly look. Walk the outside in spring and note any brick that has moved, any mortar that crumbles when you scrape it and any stains that run down from a joint.
There is no city historic district in the neighborhood that we can confirm, so Landmarks Preservation Commission approval is not usually the issue. Structural work and some scaffold setups can involve Department of Buildings rules, and you should check with the city.
Mortar Crumbling Under Your Fingers?
Send photos of the wall. We will say how deep the damage goes and what the repair takes.
What Raises or Lowers the Cost of Repointing?
The wall area, the height and the access it needs, how deep the mortar has decayed and how closely the new mortar has to match the old. We give no prices here. After a free visit you get a written estimate that spells out the area and the method.
Working at a chimney or parapet needs a ladder, lift or scaffold, and that is a cost. A ground floor front wall is simpler.
Brick fronts on attached houses often run the full width of the lot, so the work is a clean rectangle with a clear start and end. That makes it easy to price and easy to inspect before and after.
Matching matters more on a visible front wall than on a back wall no one sees. Tell us how you feel about the look, and we will show you sample colors before starting.
The Schedule
A Glendale Repointing Job Step by Step
Examine
We check the joints, the brick faces and the water paths.
Estimate
You receive a written scope and price.
Set up
Access and protection go in place.
Cut and fill
We rake out the weak mortar and pack in fresh mix.
Tool and clean
We shape each joint to shed water, then wash the wall down.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near Glendale
We repoint brick buildings in the neighborhoods around Glendale too.
FAQ
Glendale Brick Pointing Questions
Scratch a joint with a key. If the mortar crumbles, sits deep behind the brick face or has cracks, it is time. Stains below a joint also point to water getting in.
People use the words loosely. In most homes it means cutting out bad mortar and refilling the joints. We explain exactly what your wall needs in the estimate.
Yes. We can price the front wall, the chimney or any section you pick. We also tell you if a section on another side is worse.
A small chimney can take a day or two, and a full house front takes longer. Weather matters, since mortar needs mild conditions to cure.
Yes. Those are among the first places water gets in. If the masonry is leaning or loose, we recommend rebuilding.
Yes. Call (718) 468-8803 and we will visit, look at the wall and give you a written price at no cost.
Contact
Request Your Glendale Pointing Quote
Tell us which wall or chimney concerns you. Photos of the mortar help us plan the visit.
- 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.