Brick that stays dry, repaired where it fails
Old Boston brick takes a beating from freeze and thaw. We repoint failed joints, replace spalled bricks, repair or replace rusted lintels, reset loose parapet courses and renew failed sealant at windows and joints. Mortar is matched to the old brick, because a mortar harder than the brick damages the brick.
Not included
Whole-facade restoration and cleaning are capital projects, and structural repair that needs an engineer's drawing is priced after the drawing.
On the scope sheet
Mortar joints sounded and photographed
Mortar matched to the brick, not to a catalog
Lintels and sills checked for rust and movement
Sealant at windows, joints and flashing
Staging and sidewalk permits noted on the sheet
What moves the price of masonry work
The scope sheet names each of these for your building. No figure is printed here; the sheet carries the price.
Height and access
Work above two stories needs staging or a lift, and a city permit for the sidewalk.
Condition of the mortar
Pointing a joint that is worn costs less than cutting out one that is open or hollow.
Brick and mortar match
Soft old brick needs a softer mortar. Matching color and texture takes sample panels.
Season
Mortar needs temperatures above freezing and no rain for days, so pointing runs from May to October.
How a masonry job goes
Step 1: Hands-on survey
We sound the walls from a lift or ladder and map each defect on the elevations.
Step 2: Scope sheet by elevation
One sheet per wall, so the board can approve the street side first.
Step 3: Approval, notice and permits
Owners get notice; we file for staging and the sidewalk.
Step 4: Work and close-out
We work down each elevation and photograph the finished joints.
Questions about this work
Does repointing need a permit?
Repointing alone usually doesn't. Lintel replacement, parapet rebuilds and staging over a sidewalk usually do. We check with the building department and write the answer on the sheet.
Why not just seal the brick?
A coating on a wall that can't dry traps water. We repair joints and flashing first, and tell you if a breathable water repellent is worth discussing.
How do you match old mortar?
We look at the brick, test the mortar in place and choose a mix no harder than the brick. A small sample panel goes up first for the board to see.
Is stucco repair in scope?
Patches are. Recoating a whole wall is a capital scope sheet.
Brick on the list for this year?
The first walk-through is one visit of up to two hours and ends with a photo list of what we saw.