Gowanus Masonry Contractor
Masonry in Gowanus, Brooklyn
Brick, block and stone repair for the old warehouses, lofts and row houses around the canal, from lintels to parapets and yard walls.
- Walls, lintels and parapets repaired
- Rebuilding where repair will not hold
- Written price after a free visit
Local Conditions
What Masonry Problems Are Common Around the Canal?
Old brick and block walls near the canal suffer from water, rusting steel lintels, failing parapets and settlement. Buildings a century old have had many winters, and metal parts inside the masonry expand as they rust, cracking the brick around them.
Gowanus is full of masonry buildings. Some are converted warehouses with thick brick walls and steel above the windows. Others are row houses with brick fronts and stone details. Each has parts that fail on a schedule.
Lintels are a good example. A rusting steel beam above a window or door swells and pushes the brick out. The first sign is a stepped crack in the wall over the opening. Left alone, brick can drop, so it is a job to schedule early.
Parapets, the walls that rise above the roof line, are exposed to weather on every side. Loose brick there can fall to the sidewalk, which is why we treat parapet cracks seriously.
Union Street, Carroll Street and Nevins Street all mix old masonry with new construction. Owners of the older buildings often ask us to look at the walls when a large project begins next door, and that early look is a sensible habit on any block that is changing.
When Does a Wall Need Rebuilding Instead of Repair?
Rebuild when brick has bulged, the wall has moved off plumb, a lintel has failed or the cracks keep growing. Repair works when the wall is stable and the damage is local. Movement is the deciding factor, and we check for it first.
A bulging wall means the outer layer has separated from what is behind it. Repointing does not fix that. The section has to be taken down and laid again with proper ties.
On buildings next to new construction, vibration and excavation can add stress. If cracks appear after work begins next door, photograph and date them, and let us look.
Cracks Over a Window or Loose Brick?
Send a photo and the address. We will visit and tell you what the wall needs.
Cost Factors
What Affects the Cost of Masonry Work in Gowanus?
The size of the wall, the material, structural needs, scaffold and permits set the price. A small lintel job and a parapet rebuild are far apart, so we inspect first and write down the exact scope.
Size and height
Tall walls need staging and take longer.
Material matching
Old brick and stone need suitable replacement units.
Structural work
Lintels, ties and rebuilds may need engineer input.
Permits
Facade and retaining wall work may involve city approvals.
Schedule
How Long Do Masonry Jobs Take?
A lintel or short wall repair takes days, and a parapet or facade rebuild takes weeks. Permits and weather affect the dates. Sidewalk related permits usually take two to three business days. We give a schedule with the written price.
Site visit
We check the wall, steel and drainage.
Written price
Repair or rebuild, permits noted.
Permits
We file what the work needs.
Build
Failed masonry comes down, new work goes up.
Finish
Caps, coatings and cleanup completed.
What Kinds of Masonry Work Do You Handle Here?
We repair and build with brick, concrete block and stone: facade walls, parapets, chimneys, lintels, sills, yard walls, planters and retaining walls. We also finish block with parging and coatings. The work ranges from a small patch to rebuilding a whole wall section.
Yard walls behind row houses hold soil and separate lots. Along the canal, water in the ground pushes on them, so they need drainage. Retaining walls of any height can involve Department of Buildings permits and sometimes an engineer.
| Problem | What we do |
|---|---|
| Cracked brick over a window | Replace the lintel and rebuild the brick above |
| Loose parapet brick | Take down and rebuild the failed section |
| Bulging wall face | Rebuild the section with new ties |
| Leaning yard wall | Rebuild on a firm base with drainage |
| Failed wall cap | Replace it so water sheds off the wall |
What Permits Apply to Masonry in Gowanus?
Small repairs often need none, while structural work, retaining walls and facade repairs can need Department of Buildings permits. Buildings over six stories fall under the facade inspection rules of Local Law 11. Confirm current requirements with the city before work begins.
Work above the sidewalk needs pedestrian protection, and a scaffold or shed may need a permit. Where we do the work, we file the permits it needs and explain them in the estimate.
If your building is landmarked or in a historic district, additional approval may apply. We cannot confirm one within Gowanus itself, but neighboring Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and Boerum Hill have historic districts, so check your address.
How Does the Canal Affect Masonry Work?
Damp air and low ground keep masonry wet, and heavy rain can flood streets. Walls that never dry out deteriorate faster. For any job we look at drainage and at what the ground has held in the past, since the canal is an EPA Superfund site.
If work involves digging near the canal, tell us what you know about past use of the property. That affects how we dig and where soil goes.
Above ground, we choose materials that tolerate moisture and add caps, flashing and drainage where a wall would otherwise trap water.
Nearby
Masonry Near Gowanus
We also do masonry work in the neighborhoods around the canal.
FAQ
Gowanus Masonry Questions
Yes. We support the brick, remove the old steel, install a new lintel and rebuild the masonry above it. Some lintels are large and may need engineer input.
Yes. We take down loose sections and rebuild them, and we check the coping so water sheds off. Work above the sidewalk includes pedestrian protection.
Yes. We work with brick, block and stone and finish block with parging or coatings.
Sometimes. Structural work, tall retaining walls and some facade repairs may. We tell you at the visit.
Yes. We visit and give a written price at no cost. Call (718) 468-8803 to set a time.
Repeated cracks mean movement or water. Patching alone does not cure either, so we find the cause first.
Contact
Request Your Gowanus Masonry Quote
Describe the wall or lintel, where the damage is and how tall the building is. Photos help us prepare.
- 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.