Whitestone Brick Pointing
Brick Pointing in Whitestone, Queens
Worn mortar replaced on brick homes, chimneys and apartment buildings so water stays out of the wall.
- Failed mortar cut out and replaced
- Color and joint style matched
- Free written estimate on site
What Are the Signs Your Whitestone Brick Needs Pointing?
Look for mortar that is crumbling, recessed or missing, bricks that move when pressed and damp spots inside the wall. Whitestone has attached homes, co op and garden apartment buildings and some waterfront houses, and their brick takes wind, rain and frost year after year.
Near the East River, exposed walls get wind driven rain and salty air. Those walls tend to lose mortar faster than sheltered ones inland.
- Mortar that crumbles when touched
- Joints sunk back from the brick face
- Hairline cracks following the mortar lines
- Loose or shifting bricks
- White powder on the wall
- Damp patches on interior walls
Chimneys on older homes near 150th Street and Willets Point Boulevard take the most weather of all. Their joints often fail first.
Co op and garden apartment buildings in Whitestone have large areas of brick, and the joints fail in patches, not all at once. A building manager can often budget the work in phases, starting with the worst elevation.
Brick pointing is not the same on every house. Older homes may have soft lime mortar, while newer ones used a harder cement mix. We test a small sample of what is in your wall before we choose the repair mix.
Because many Whitestone homes are brick on the front and siding on the sides, the front often takes the weather and the cost. We focus the work where the damage is.
Mortar Falling Out of Your Wall?
We will inspect the joints and bricks and quote the repair in writing.
How We Fix It
How Is Brick Repointed?
We cut out loose mortar to a consistent depth, clean the joints and pack in new mortar in layers. Every joint is shaped to echo the old profile. After it sets, the wall is cleaned.
Mortar strength is chosen to suit the brick. A mix that is harder than the brick can damage its faces, so we match the mix to the age and type of your wall.
Cracked or loose bricks are replaced before pointing. Pointing around a failed brick only hides the problem.
We test a color sample so the new joints sit close to the old ones. New mortar starts pale and darkens in the weather.
Do Brick Repairs in Whitestone Need Permits?
Pointing on a private home usually does not need a city permit, though scaffolding over the public sidewalk generally needs a DOT permit. We found no historic district in Whitestone. Confirm current rules with the city.
Buildings taller than six stories must follow Local Law 11, the facade inspection program. Pointing is a common repair that follows an inspection report, and we can work with your engineer on the scope.
If scaffolding or work damages the sidewalk below, the owner keeps the duty to repair it. Learn how notices work on our sidewalk violations page.
Structural cracks in brick are a separate matter. We tell you when a wall should be seen by an engineer before pointing.
After pointing, keep sprinklers off the wall and trim back plants that touch the brick. Both keep the new joints dry and extend their life.
Scaffolding or a lift is sometimes needed for upper walls and chimneys. We plan access in advance and tell you what will be on your lot or over the sidewalk, so nothing surprises you or your neighbors.
Cleaning with harsh acid can damage old brick and fresh mortar. We choose gentler methods and test a small patch first.
Why Us
Why Whitestone Owners Pick Us for Pointing
Mortar matched to brick
We pick a mix that suits the age of your wall.
25+ years in NYC
We know how city brick ages and where it fails.
Written estimates
Area, scope and price are on paper before work starts.
Nearby
Brick Pointing Near Whitestone
We repoint brick in these nearby neighborhoods.
FAQ
Whitestone Pointing Questions
The words are often used together. Pointing renews the outer mortar, while tuckpointing adds a fine contrasting line on top.
It can reduce water through open joints. A leak from a roof or flashing needs a different fix.
Yes. We assess the stack, the mortar and the crown and include them in the estimate if needed.
Mild weather helps new mortar cure well, so spring and fall work best.
We do. Phone (718) 468-8803 and ask for a brick visit.
Free on site estimate
Protect Your Whitestone Brick Walls
A visit, a written price and joints that hold.
Contact
Request Your Whitestone Pointing Quote
Name the walls or chimney that need work.
- 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.