Masonry & brick repair on Staten Island
Most Staten Island masonry work is on houses: brick fronts, chimneys, front steps, and the block and retaining walls that hold up sloped yards.
Staten Island has more detached and semi-detached homes than any other borough, and many have brick veneer fronts, brick or concrete steps, and chimneys exposed to wind off the harbor. Mortar at the chimney crown and top courses usually goes first; repointing and rebuilding the crown keeps water from working down into the house.
Hilly neighborhoods like Grymes Hill, Todt Hill and Emerson Hill mean a lot of retaining and garden walls. North Shore commercial strips and the borough’s apartment buildings bring facade and parapet work; the buildings over six stories fall under Local Law 11.
Buildings we work on in Staten Island
- Detached and semi-detached homes with brick fronts
- Brick chimneys and crowns
- Block and brick retaining walls on sloped lots
- Mixed-use and apartment buildings on the North Shore
What Staten Island owners should know
General information only, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the issuing NYC agency.
Retaining walls
Larger retaining walls can have their own DOB requirements; tall or failing walls usually need an engineer’s input before repair.
Parapet observations
Attached homes and buildings with street-facing parapets generally need annual observations; detached one- and two-family homes are exempt.
Landmarks
The St. George / New Brighton historic district and individual landmarks generally require LPC permits for exterior masonry work.
Local Law 11 / FISP
Applies to the borough’s buildings taller than six stories.
Masonry services in Staten Island
- Brick pointing & repointing
- Facade restoration
- Parapet walls
- Chimneys
- Stoops & steps
- Brick & block walls
Related:
Masonry questions in Staten Island
Can you rebuild a chimney crown?
Yes. We repoint chimney stacks and rebuild cracked crowns so water sheds off instead of soaking into the brick.
Do you repair front steps on Staten Island homes?
Yes: brick and concrete steps, landings and cheek walls. See also our concrete services on Staten Island.
Can a leaning retaining wall be repaired, or does it need replacing?
It depends on the height, the cause and how far it has moved. We’ll look and tell you honestly; larger walls may need an engineer first.
Masonry in other boroughs: Brooklyn · Queens · Manhattan · The Bronx
Other services in Staten Island: Tuckpointing · Waterproofing · Concrete · Roofing
Masonry guides
Plain-English answers to the questions NYC owners ask us most, with links to the official City sources.
Local Law 11 / FISP Explained: Safe, SWARMP and Unsafe Facades
Who has to file, how Cycle 10 sub-cycles work, what Safe, SWARMP and Unsafe mean, and what happens after the report.
Read the guide →Guide7 Signs Your Brick Needs Repointing (and What Proper Repointing Involves)
Eroded and cracked joints, spalling brick, efflorescence and interior damp — what they mean and how proper repointing is done.
Read the guide →Need masonry work in Staten Island?
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll schedule a free estimate.