Kensington Masonry Contractor
Masonry in Kensington, Brooklyn
Brick and stone repair and rebuilding for Kensington pre war buildings, row houses, chimneys, lintels and garden walls.
- Facades, parapets and lintels
- Chimneys and garden walls
- Free visit with a written price
What Kind of Masonry Work Do Kensington Buildings Need?
The main jobs are rebuilding damaged sections of brick wall, replacing rusted lintels, rebuilding parapets and chimneys, repairing stoop walls and fixing garden walls. Kensington has pre war apartment buildings, brick row houses and houses, so each type brings its own list.
Pre war apartment buildings along Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue have tall facades, parapets and lintels over many windows. After decades, steel lintels rust, brick shifts and parapets loosen. That is where a lot of the neighborhood's serious masonry work sits.
Row houses and older houses have chimneys, front walls and side walls that age with weather. Detached and semi detached houses with driveways often have low walls, piers and planters that need attention too.
Lintels and Parapets
How Do You Fix a Rusted Lintel or Loose Parapet?
For a lintel, we support the wall above, remove the rusted beam, install a new one and rebuild the brick. For a parapet, we take down the loose courses and rebuild them with proper bonding, then finish the coping. Both are structural work that can need permits.
Signs of trouble are cracks following the edge of a window, brick pushed outward, rust stains and a parapet that leans or has shed bricks. These are safety issues on a public street, so waiting is a poor plan.
| Sign on the wall | Likely work |
|---|---|
| Crack above a window | Inspect and replace the lintel |
| Leaning parapet | Take down and rebuild the courses |
| Bulging brick | Rebuild that section of wall |
| Crumbling chimney top | Rebuild the top courses and crown |
What Permits and Inspections Apply to Kensington Masonry?
Structural masonry, parapet and lintel replacement and retaining walls can need Department of Buildings permits. Buildings taller than six stories fall under Local Law 11 facade inspections every five years. Work over a sidewalk needs pedestrian protection. Confirm current rules with the city.
If a facade inspection report lists an unsafe condition, the owner must fix it. Masonry repair is how most of those conditions get resolved, and we work with owners and their engineers on the scope.
We cannot confirm a historic district here. Landmarked buildings need Landmarks Preservation Commission approval for visible work, and that is building specific.
When the wall only has open mortar joints, repointing costs less. Read about that on our Kensington brick pointing page.
Crack Above a Window or a Leaning Parapet?
That deserves a professional look. We can visit and explain what it needs.
What Affects Masonry Cost in Kensington?
Size of repair, brick matching, structural work, access equipment and permits decide the price. A single lintel is a modest job. A parapet along the whole roofline of a building is much larger. We write up the price in detail after a free visit, so you can compare scope and not just a number.
- How much wall comes down and goes back
- Matching pre war brick and mortar
- Steel lintels, supports and engineer drawings
- Scaffold, lift and sidewalk protection
- DOB and other permits
Garden and yard walls at houses are simpler, but they still need a proper footing and drainage. We build to last, not to look neat for a season.
How Do You Match Old Kensington Brick?
We compare color, size, texture and bond pattern against the existing wall, then source brick that comes as close as possible. When a section comes down, good bricks are cleaned and reused. New brick is blended in where needed, so the repaired section does not stand out as a patch.
Pre war brick often has a range of colors and a slightly irregular face. Matching it exactly is hard, so we place reused and new brick to spread the difference out, not stack it in one patch.
Mortar matching matters as much as the brick. Old lime rich mortar is softer than modern mixes, and a harder mortar damages the brick. We choose a mix that suits your wall and explain it.
Ask us to show you options before we start. A small sample section, or photos of similar repairs, helps you decide.
Process
How a Kensington Masonry Job Goes
Assess
We look at the wall, lintels and roofline.
Plan
You get a written scope, price and note on permits.
Support and remove
Failed sections are supported and taken down.
Rebuild
Brick goes back in to match the wall.
Finish
Joints are tooled and the site is cleaned.
Nearby
Masonry Near Kensington
We also do masonry in the neighborhoods around Kensington.
FAQ
Kensington Masonry Questions
Very. A parapet that leans or drops brick is a hazard to people below. Call us promptly, and keep people away from the area.
Yes. We support the wall, replace the beam and rebuild the brick. Structural work can need DOB permits.
Yes. We rebuild from the top down to sound brick and add a new crown.
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 pattern as closely as materials allow and show you options first.
Contact
Request Kensington Masonry Work
Describe the wall, lintel or parapet 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.