Brick Pointing in Malba, Queens

Where Does Brick Pointing Apply in Malba?

Brick pointing applies wherever Malba homes use brick. That includes chimneys, garden walls, driveway piers, front steps and brick facades. The area is mostly large detached one family homes, so pointing here is more often chimney and wall work than whole row house facades.

A chimney top is a common request in this part of Queens. The brick sits above the roofline, with no shelter from sun, rain or wind, and the flue gases add moisture from inside. The mortar in the upper courses often fails years before the rest of the house shows any wear.

We want to be straight about scope. Malba does not have the long brick rows found in older city neighborhoods. Pointing jobs here are usually a chimney, a wall or a set of steps, not a block of attached houses.

Waterfront weather matters. Wind and damp from the East River work on exposed brick, and chimneys on tall houses take the brunt of it.

Why do chimneys lose mortar first?

A chimney stands in full weather. Rain, wind and heat from the flue all hit the mortar, and a cracked crown lets water into the joints. We check the crown as part of every chimney job.

How Is Repointing Done Right?

The crew removes old mortar to a set depth, cleans the joints and packs in new mortar in layers. The mix must match the brick. Mortar that is too hard cracks the bricks. We pick a blend that suits the age of your wall and tool the joints so they shed water.

Chimney work often needs ladders or a lift, and tall houses need scaffold. If that equipment sits on a public sidewalk, city approvals apply. We tell you what your job needs.

No historic district is confirmed for Malba, so matching the look is mostly a matter of taste. We copy the joint look you already have unless you ask for a change.

Buildings taller than six stories have facade rules under Local Law 11. Houses in Malba are generally far lower, but ask the city if you manage a larger building.