Brownstones & Rowhouses

Brownstones and rowhouses line whole neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Harlem, the Upper West Side and parts of Queens and the Bronx. They share walls, sidewalks and sometimes stoops with the neighbours, and much of the housing stock is a century old.

The work we do most on these buildings is stoop repair and rebuilding, sidewalk replacement across narrow frontages, brick pointing on front and rear walls, lintel replacement and parapet repair. Old brick often needs a softer mortar than modern work, and we match materials to the building.

Many brownstone blocks are in historic districts. Visible work such as stoops, front areaways and facade masonry can need Landmarks Preservation Commission approval in addition to City permits. We check your block before we quote so the job is not held up later.

Recent work

What we do for these properties

• Stoops & Steps: Concrete stoops and front steps repaired or rebuilt safely.
• DOT Sidewalk Violation Repair: Violation reviewed, permit pulled, sidewalk rebuilt to DOT spec, dismissal requested.
• Sidewalk Installation & Replacement: New sidewalks and flag-by-flag replacement poured to NYC specification.
• Brick Pointing & Repointing: Worn mortar joints raked out and repointed to keep water out of walls.
• Masonry & Brick Repair: Brick replacement, lintels and masonry repair.
• Parapet Walls & Coping: Parapet wall repair and rebuilding, coping stone repair and replacement.

Things we plan for

• Landmarks approval may be needed on historic blocks
• Old brick needs compatible, softer mortar
• Shared sidewalks and walls mean coordinating with neighbours
• Narrow frontages and tall stoops need careful access and protection

Where

We work on these properties across all five boroughs, most often in Queens, Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan.

Frequently asked questions