Brick Pointing in Ridgewood, Queens

Why Does Brick in Ridgewood Need Repointing?

Mortar is the softest part of a brick wall, so it wears out first. Ridgewood has long rows of attached brick houses, many a century old. After decades of rain and frost, the mortar in their fronts, stoops and parapets has often crumbled and let water reach the brick behind it.

Water is the main enemy of old brick. It enters at a failed joint, freezes, and pushes a face off the brick or loosens the wall. A repointing job stops that path before it gets worse.

Many Ridgewood houses are in yellow and tan brick. Matching those shades and the joint style matters, because a mismatch stands out on a continuous row where every house is read against the next.

How Is Old Ridgewood Brick Repointed Without Damaging It?

The crew removes the old mortar carefully, to a sound depth, and packs in new mortar in layers. The new mix must be no harder than the brick. Mortar that is too hard traps stress in the brick faces and chips them, which is why the mix matters on old walls.

We match color and joint profile to the existing wall as closely as we can. Fresh mortar looks lighter at first and darkens as it weathers.

Loose or broken bricks are reset or swapped during the same visit. If a wall bulges or shows cracks through the bricks, the cause may be structural. We tell you, and a licensed engineer may need to review it.

Do the historic districts affect brick pointing?

They can. Four historic districts cover parts of the neighborhood. Inside one, the Landmarks Preservation Commission may review exterior masonry work, and rules often favor mortar that matches the original. Ask the city what applies to your address.

Is a permit needed?

Scaffolding on the street, work at height or structural repair can involve the city. Taller buildings, those over six stories, come under the Local Law 11 facade inspection program. We explain the permit picture for your building at the visit.