Masonry in Utopia, Queens

How Do We Repair Masonry Walls?

We find why the wall moved, remove the damaged material and rebuild with brick, block or stone that suits the original. New work is tied in, set in matching mortar and cleaned. The goal is a sound wall that blends in.

For a bowed retaining wall, drainage comes first. Water pressure behind the wall is usually the cause, so we look at weep holes and grade before laying a single brick.

Retaining walls and structural masonry can need DOB permits. We explain what applies and file the paperwork when the job calls for it.

We tell you when a wall needs an engineer. A wall that is leaning because the ground has moved should not simply be rebuilt without a plan.

Entry piers and gate posts deserve a quick check each spring. Push on them gently. A pier that moves, or a cap that rocks, has lost its bond and should be reset before winter.

Natural stone and brick veneer on a house front can loosen where the backing has rusted or shifted. A hollow sound when tapped is a sign. We test these areas and tell you what is cosmetic and what needs a rebuild.

Planters and garden steps built in block often have no footing at all. They sink and tilt over a few years. Rebuilding them with a proper base costs more at first and saves repeated repairs.

Sloped lawns are common near Utopia Parkway, and a slope creates the need for steps, terraces and short walls. Each of those has to hold soil that wants to move downhill, so the footing and drainage behind them matter as much as the brick on the face.

If a wall cracks in a stair step pattern, follow the crack with your eye. A crack that is wider at the top than the bottom often means one end has settled. We note the direction, since it tells us where to look for the cause.

Seasonal care is simple. Clear leaves from the base of walls, keep gutters running clear of the brick and look over caps after winter.