Mortar joint restoration
Brick Pointing and Tuckpointing in the Bronx
Bronx brick pointing and tuckpointing specialists. We cut out failed mortar and repoint to match. Free estimates. Call (347) 515-8989.
Crumbling mortar is the most common problem we get called for, and it is the one most likely to be done badly. Pointing is not smearing new mortar over old joints. The failed mortar has to be cut back to sound material, the joint cleaned, and new mortar packed in and tooled to match the profile of the original.
Done properly, a repointed wall lasts decades and stops water reaching the brick behind it. Done cheaply, it fails within two or three winters and traps moisture in the wall. We do it the first way.
What this service covers
- Full and spot repointing
- Mortar color and profile matching
- Historic lime mortar work
- Water testing before and after
- Joint raking to correct depth
- Chimney and parapet pointing
Get a price on brick pointing and tuckpointing
- Phone
- (347) 515-8989
- License
- NYC HIC 2037327-DCA
- Hours
- 7 days, 7:30am to 9pm
- Estimate
- Free and on site
When to call us
Signs you need brick pointing and tuckpointing
If you recognise any of these, it is worth having someone look before it gets more expensive.
- Mortar crumbling when you press it
- Gaps or holes in joints
- White powder staining on the brick face
- Interior damp on an exterior wall
What causes it
Why this happens
Mortar is designed to be softer than the brick around it, so it wears first and protects the brick. That is deliberate. The problem starts when the mortar wears past the point of shedding water, or when somebody repoints with a mix that is harder than the brick. A hard mortar traps moisture and forces the brick face to spall instead. We match the mix to the wall, which on a prewar Bronx building usually means a softer lime based mortar.
Budget guidance
What brick pointing and tuckpointing costs in NYC
Spot pointing on a small elevation typically starts around 1,200 dollars. A full elevation on a two or three story building more commonly runs 4,000 to 12,000 including access equipment. Price is driven by square footage, height and whether the joints need cutting back by hand or can be ground. Anyone quoting a flat rate without seeing the wall is guessing.
These are indicative ranges to help you budget, not a quote. Every building is different and we price after seeing the job.
What we work with
Materials and systems
- Colour matched mortar mixes
- Lime mortar for soft historic brick
- Concave, weathered and flush joint profiles
- Breathable water repellent where needed
How it works
Straightforward from the first call
You call or send photos
Photos of the wall help us judge scale before we arrive, though we come out either way.
We look at the whole elevation
Not just the damage you called about. Water usually enters above where it shows.
Written scope by elevation
Priced by area so you can stage the work across seasons if you want to.
Matched materials, then the work
Mortar mixed and tested against your existing joints before we work across the wall.
Where we do this work
Brick Pointing and Tuckpointing across NYC and Westchester
We carry out brick pointing and tuckpointing throughout the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Westchester County, on residential and commercial property.
Related services
Often needed alongside this
Most exterior problems have more than one cause. These are the services we most often carry out on the same building.
All servicesQuestions
Brick Pointing and Tuckpointing questions
How much of my wall needs repointing?
Rarely all of it. South and west facing walls take the most weather and usually fail first. We survey the whole elevation and quote by area so you are not paying to repoint sound mortar.
What is the difference between pointing and tuckpointing?
In everyday NYC usage they are used interchangeably for mortar joint repair. Traditional tuckpointing is a decorative technique using two mortar colors to fake fine joints. Tell us which you mean and we will price accordingly.
How long does repointing last?
On a properly raked and packed joint with the right mortar mix, twenty five years and up. Mortar that is too hard for the brick will fail much sooner and can damage the brick itself.
Free on site estimate
Need brick pointing and tuckpointing in the Bronx or NYC?
Call us or send a message and we will arrange a free on site estimate at a time that suits you.