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Serving Mount Pleasant, NY and surrounding areas. (845) 286-8783
Cracked mortar, spalling bricks, and damaged chimneys get worse with every freeze-thaw cycle. We match the repair to your existing masonry so the fix lasts and the wall looks right.
Brick repair in Mount Pleasant covers everything from repointing worn mortar joints to replacing cracked or spalled bricks entirely - most single-wall or chimney jobs are completed in one to two days and stop water from working deeper into your home before the next hard winter.
The goal of any brick repair is to restore the wall so it sheds water properly and holds together the way it was designed to. On older Mount Pleasant homes, that usually means some combination of both - removing damaged material and replacing it with a close match. The key detail most homeowners do not know: new mortar that is harder than the surrounding bricks forces the bricks to crack over time as the wall expands and contracts. A good mason evaluates the existing mortar before mixing anything new. If your chimney has similar joint wear, our tuckpointing service addresses that work in the same visit.
Many homes in Pleasantville, Valhalla, and Hawthorne were built between the 1920s and 1960s with original brick chimneys and facades that are now 60 to 100 years old. These homes need a mason who understands how to work with softer, historic materials - not someone who reaches for a modern mortar mix by default.
Walk up close to your chimney, exterior wall, or brick steps and look at the lines between the bricks. If the mortar looks sandy, is pulling away from the brick edges, or crumbles when you press it, it needs to be replaced. In Mount Pleasant's climate, this kind of wear is common on homes built before 1970 and tends to accelerate once it starts.
A chalky white residue on your bricks - called efflorescence - means water is moving through the wall and carrying mineral salts to the surface. It does not always mean the wall is failing, but it does mean water is getting in somewhere. In Westchester's wet winters and springs, this is a reliable early warning sign worth having a mason look at.
Tap a few bricks with your knuckle. A solid brick sounds dense; a damaged one sounds hollow or dull. Bricks that are visibly flaking on the surface - a condition called spalling - have been absorbing water and are breaking down from the inside. This is especially common on older Mount Pleasant homes after a hard winter.
Hairline cracks in mortar joints are normal on older homes, but cracks wider than a credit card or running diagonally across multiple bricks can signal movement in the wall or foundation. If you see stair-step cracks along the mortar lines, have a mason look at it before the next freeze season - water will find those cracks and make them worse.
We handle the full range of residential brick repair in Mount Pleasant - from repointing worn mortar joints on garden walls to replacing cracked or spalled bricks on chimneys, facades, and exterior walls. We assess the condition of your existing masonry before recommending anything, and we tell you plainly whether the problem requires mortar work, brick replacement, or both.
When mortar wear is the primary issue on a chimney or exterior wall, we often pair brick repair with our tuckpointing service so everything is addressed at once. When the damage extends to a driveway surround or adjoining masonry elements, we coordinate with our driveway pavers team to handle the full scope in one project. The National Park Service Preservation Brief on repointing masonry outlines the best practice standards we follow for mortar matching and joint preparation, particularly for pre-1960 homes.
Best suited for homeowners with worn or crumbling mortar joints on walls, chimneys, or steps that are otherwise structurally sound.
Best suited for walls where individual bricks are cracked, spalling, or hollow-sounding and need to come out and be replaced with a close match.
Best suited for chimneys showing mortar deterioration, missing cap sections, or water staining - especially common on older Westchester homes.
Mount Pleasant winters regularly bring temperatures that drop below freezing and climb back above it multiple times throughout the season. Each cycle forces water that has seeped into open mortar joints to expand and contract, widening cracks a little more each time. Brick damage here tends to get worse faster than in milder climates, and waiting until spring to address visible cracks often means a bigger repair bill. The clay-heavy glacial soils common throughout Westchester also hold water near foundations and masonry bases longer than sandy soils, keeping brick surfaces damp and accelerating joint wear.
Mount Pleasant's housing stock - particularly in Pleasantville and Tarrytown - includes a large share of homes built before 1960 with original brick chimneys and facades. These older bricks and mortar formulations require a different approach than modern construction. Using a too-hard mortar mix on an older home is one of the most common mistakes contractors make, and it causes new cracking within a few years. The Brick Industry Association recommends matching new mortar to the existing wall composition to avoid this problem.
Call or submit a form and we respond within 1 business day. Expect a brief conversation about what you are seeing and where the damage is. We want to come out and look at the work in person before giving you a price - be cautious of anyone who quotes a firm number without seeing the job.
We walk the area with you, check mortar joint condition and brick integrity, and look for signs of water damage or structural movement. We will tell you on the spot whether you need repointing, brick replacement, or both - and explain why in plain terms.
You receive a written estimate that breaks down what work will be done, what materials will be used, and how long the job is expected to take. If a permit is required for your job, the estimate will note who is responsible for pulling it.
The crew grinds out damaged mortar, cleans joints, and packs in fresh mortar in stages. If bricks are being replaced, they are carefully removed and new ones set in place. Most single-wall or chimney jobs are completed in one to two days, followed by a curing period of at least 24 to 48 hours before the area gets wet.
We respond within 1 business day. There is no obligation after the estimate. We come out, look at the damage with you, and give you a clear written price - no surprise fees and no pressure to decide on the spot.
(845) 286-8783We test mortar samples against your existing wall before mixing anything for the full repair. A repair that looks patchy on a visible front wall affects your home's curb appeal and resale value - we take the time to get the blend right rather than rushing past this step.
Many Mount Pleasant homes were built with lime-based mortar designed to flex with the building. Using modern high-strength mortar on older brick is a common contractor mistake that causes bricks to crack within a few years. We evaluate existing mortar and match the new mix so the repair actually lasts, following guidance from the National Park Service on historic masonry work.
New York State requires home improvement contractors to hold a valid license, and you can verify ours directly through the state. As a Westchester County-based contractor, we know the local housing stock, the local building department requirements, and the specific conditions that drive brick damage in this part of the Hudson Valley.
You receive a written estimate covering exactly what areas are being addressed, what materials are being used, and how long the job will take. There are no surprise line items on the final invoice, and no pressure to approve extra work on the spot.
Brick repair is one of those jobs where the prep work determines whether the result lasts 25 years or fails in three. The right mortar match, proper joint depth, and thorough cleaning of old material are what separate a lasting repair from one that needs to be redone. We do it correctly the first time, and we back the work with a written warranty.
Upgrade or repair your driveway with professionally laid pavers that handle Westchester freeze-thaw cycles better than poured concrete.
Learn MoreWhen bricks are sound but mortar joints are worn, precision tuckpointing restores the wall and stops water infiltration.
Learn MoreMount Pleasant masons book up fast once the season opens - lock in your free estimate now and protect your home before the next hard freeze.