Upper West Side Masonry Contractor
Masonry on the Upper West Side, Manhattan
Stone and brick repairs for brownstones, limestone fronts, pre war co ops and tenements, including facade work after a Local Law 11 report.
- Facades, parapets and stoop walls
- Areaway walls and cheek walls
- Free visit and written estimate
What Masonry Problems Do Upper West Side Buildings Have?
The housing stock is old and detailed. Row houses show cracked cornices, spalling stone, damaged stoop cheek walls and bulging areaway walls. Pre war co ops need facade repairs, parapet work and lintel repairs. Tenements along Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues need brick and parapet attention.
Brownstone and limestone are handsome and soft. Brownstone in particular takes up water and sheds layers when it freezes. A small area of spalling that is left alone grows steadily.
- Brownstone surfaces flaking in layers
- Cornices and window hoods with cracked pieces
- Stoop cheek walls leaning or open at the joints
- Areaway walls bulging under wet soil
- Parapets loose at the coping
- Steel lintels rusting and cracking the brick above
Retail frontages with cellar doors add one more detail: the masonry around the opening and the vault space below.
Did an Inspector Flag Your Facade?
Send us the report and we will price what it calls for.
How We Fix It
How Do We Repair Stone and Brick That Old?
We repair what can be saved and replace only what cannot. Sound stone is patched, reset and repointed. Failed pieces are replaced in matching material. Parapets and walls that have moved are taken down and rebuilt course by course, with new flashing at the top to keep rain out.
Patching brownstone takes the right mortar. Repair mixes for brownstone are formulated to match its color and softness, and they are applied in thin layers. A thick hard patch will crack off within a couple of winters.
Areaway walls get a drainage review as part of the work. A wall that holds wet soil will bulge again if the water has nowhere to go, so we plan weep paths or a drain behind it.
Cornice repairs often need access from a stage or scaffold. We plan sidewalk protection and tell you which permits it needs.
Which Rules Apply to Masonry Work on the Upper West Side?
Many blocks are in historic districts, so Landmarks approval can apply to visible masonry work. Buildings taller than six stories must meet Local Law 11. Structural masonry and facade work may involve Department of Buildings permits, and scaffolding over the sidewalk generally needs a DOT permit. Ask the city to confirm.
Districts here include Upper West Side/Central Park West, Riverside West End, West End Collegiate, West 71st Street and two Riverside Drive districts. Repairing what exists, using matching material, is the usual path to approval.
We file DOT permits and work with your engineer on filings. If something looks structural, we recommend a licensed engineer and promise no outcome on structural repairs.
Loose masonry above the sidewalk is a safety concern and can bring notices. Our guide to sidewalk violations explains what happens next, and owners must keep the adjoining sidewalk in repair under Admin Code 19-152.
Why Us
Why Upper West Side Owners Hire Us
Repair first, replace last
We save original stone and brick wherever it is sound.
Approvals explained
You hear early when Landmarks or Buildings review may apply.
25+ years in NYC
Old Manhattan masonry is work we know.
Nearby
Masonry Contractor Near the Upper West Side
Masons from our crews also take jobs in the areas next to this one.
FAQ
Upper West Side Masonry Questions
Much of it can be repaired with matched patching mixes. Badly decayed pieces are replaced.
Yes. We rebuild the wall and address drainage so the soil behind it stops pushing.
Yes. We do the repairs the report lists and stay in touch with the engineer who filed it.
Visible changes may. Like for like repairs are often simpler. The city can confirm for your address.
We are. Call (718) 468-8803 for a free estimate.
Free on site estimate
Repair Your Upper West Side Masonry
You get a visit at no charge, a straight diagnosis and the price on paper.
Contact
Request an Upper West Side Masonry Estimate
Describe the building and the damage. An inspection report, if you have one, is a useful attachment.
- 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.