Greenpoint Masonry Contractor
Masonry in Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Brick and stone repair and rebuilding for Greenpoint walk ups, row houses, garden walls, chimneys and lintels.
- Walls, facades, chimneys and parapets
- Structural jobs planned with the right permits
- Free visit and a written price
What Masonry Work Do Greenpoint Buildings Need?
Most Greenpoint masonry work is repair to older brick: rebuilding bulging or loose sections of wall, replacing failed lintels over windows and doors, repairing chimneys and parapets and fixing garden or side yard walls. Some of it overlaps with repointing, but masonry goes further and rebuilds the brick itself.
The neighborhood is a mix. Brick walk ups with storefronts have large openings that depend on lintels. Row houses have party walls and rear walls that age quietly until a crack shows. Even wood frame houses often have brick chimneys and foundations with a masonry face.
New towers on the waterfront have facades as well, but their work runs through building managers and engineers, not through a homeowner calling a contractor. Our focus here is on the older buildings that make up most of the neighborhood.
A short walk from the G train shows what we mean. Chimneys with crumbling tops, brick sills that have lifted and side walls with stair step cracks appear on nearly every block. Some of it is cosmetic. Some of it is the first sign that water has been working on the structure behind the brick. A look from a mason tells you which is which.
Lintels and Walls
What Is a Lintel and Why Does It Fail?
A lintel is the beam over a window or door that carries the brick above it. In older buildings it is often steel. When water reaches that steel, it rusts and swells, which pushes the brick above out of line and opens a crack that follows the opening.
The signs are stair step cracks above windows, brick that has shifted outward and rust stains on the wall. Replacing a lintel means supporting the wall, removing the rusted beam, installing a new one and rebuilding the brick above it. It is skilled work, and structural work like this can need Department of Buildings approval, so confirm current rules with the city.
| Sign on the wall | Likely work |
|---|---|
| Crack above a window | Inspect and replace the lintel |
| Bulging section of brick | Rebuild that section of wall |
| Crumbling chimney top | Rebuild the top courses |
| Leaning garden wall | Rebuild with a proper footing |
Is Masonry Different From Brick Pointing?
Yes. Brick pointing replaces mortar in the joints and leaves the brick in place. Masonry covers the bigger work: taking down and rebuilding sections of wall, replacing lintels, rebuilding chimneys and building new walls. Many jobs start as pointing and grow when the crew finds loose brick behind the joints.
A good contractor tells you which one you need. If a wall only has open joints, repointing is the honest answer and it costs less. If bricks are loose, cracked through or bulging, the wall needs rebuilding.
You can read more about the lighter option on our Greenpoint brick pointing page.
Stone work comes up too. Some older buildings have stone sills, steps and foundation bases next to the brick. We repair those with matching material where we can, and we tell you when a piece is beyond repair and should be replaced.
Garden and side yard walls
Greenpoint's smaller lots mean garden walls, rear yard walls and low retaining walls carry much of the load of the yard. When one leans or cracks, it can move soil toward a neighbor. Retaining walls can need DOB permits, and the owner should confirm that before work starts.
Crack Above a Window in Greenpoint?
A quick look at the wall will tell us whether a lintel is behind it.
Does Masonry in the Greenpoint Historic District Need Approval?
It can. Work on facades and other visible parts of buildings in the Greenpoint Historic District may need Landmarks Preservation Commission approval. That includes changing brick, mortar style or openings. Confirm the current process with the city before ordering materials or starting work.
Buildings taller than six stories also fall under Local Law 11, the Facade Inspection and Safety Program, which calls for facade inspections every five years. Owners who receive an unsafe condition report often turn to a masonry contractor for repairs.
Cost depends on the size of the repair, the brick you need to match, structural work, scaffold or lift access and the permits the job requires. We price in writing after a free visit.
Timing depends on the scope. A single lintel can be finished in a few days once the material is on site, while a full wall rebuild or a chimney takes longer. Access also matters on tight Greenpoint lots, where materials often come in through the building. We give a schedule with the written price so you know what to expect.
Process
How a Greenpoint Masonry Job Proceeds
Assess
We look at the wall, the lintels and the roofline.
Plan
You get a written scope, price and a note on permits.
Support and remove
Failed sections are supported and taken down.
Rebuild
Brick goes back in to match the existing wall.
Finish
Joints are tooled, debris hauled and the area cleaned.
Nearby
Masonry Near Greenpoint
We also do masonry work in the neighborhoods around Greenpoint.
FAQ
Greenpoint Masonry Questions
Stair step cracks, cracks wider at one end, bulging brick and cracks above windows deserve a professional look. We inspect the wall and tell you what it needs.
Yes. We rebuild chimney tops and repair the joints below. Bigger structural work can need permits, which we discuss in the estimate.
We repair and rebuild garden and retaining walls. These can need Department of Buildings permits, so confirm the rules with the city and we will plan around them.
Yes. We are licensed and insured with more than 25 years in NYC. Call (718) 468-8803 for a free visit.
We match brick, mortar and bond pattern as closely as the materials allow, and we show you the options before the work begins.
Contact
Request Greenpoint Masonry Work
Describe the wall, lintel or chimney and add photos if you can.
- 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.