EM Construction provides comprehensive facade maintenance programs for commercial and residential building owners throughout New York and New Jersey. Regular, proactive facade care protects your investment, keeps your building in compliance with NYC inspection requirements, and prevents the minor deterioration that becomes major — and expensive — structural damage.
New York City’s dense urban environment is hard on building facades. Freeze-thaw cycles crack mortar and spall brick. Acid rain attacks stone. Wind-driven moisture penetrates joints, corrodes embedded metals, and damages interiors. Pollution darkens and stains masonry surfaces. Without regular maintenance, facades that could perform for decades deteriorate rapidly and require costly emergency repairs.
Our Facade Maintenance Services
Scheduled Facade Inspections
We conduct biannual or annual visual inspections of your building’s facade — typically in spring and fall — to identify mortar joint deterioration, cracked or spalled brick, failed sealants, water stains, coping movement, and any other condition requiring attention before it worsens.
Mortar Joint Repointing
Deteriorated mortar joints are repointed with the appropriate mortar type and color to restore the watertight seal between masonry units. This is the single most impactful preventive maintenance treatment for any brick or block building.
Sealant Replacement
Elastomeric sealants at expansion joints, window perimeters, coping joints, and penetrations have a finite service life — typically 10 to 15 years. We remove failed sealant, install backer rod, and apply fresh high-performance sealant to restore the building’s weathertight envelope.
Crack Repair
Hairline and structural cracks in masonry, concrete, and stucco are routed, cleaned, and repaired with the appropriate material — elastomeric sealant for moving cracks, mortar patching compound for stable cracks — to prevent water infiltration and further propagation.
Flashing Inspection & Repair
Base flashing, cap flashing, and through-wall flashing at parapets, lintels, sills, and roof-to-wall junctions are inspected and repaired to ensure they are directing water away from the wall assembly as intended.
Efflorescence Removal
White mineral deposits (efflorescence) on brick or concrete surfaces indicate moisture movement through the wall. We treat and remove efflorescence with appropriate masonry cleaners and address the underlying moisture source to prevent recurrence.
Masonry Cleaning
Periodic cleaning removes pollution deposits, biological growth (mold, algae, lichen), and environmental staining that degrade the appearance of building facades. We use low-pressure steam, mild chemical cleaners, and appropriate mechanical methods matched to the sensitivity of each masonry type.
Caulking & Weatherstripping
Window and door perimeter caulking, through-wall penetration seals, and expansion joint sealants are inspected and replaced on a regular maintenance schedule to keep the building envelope tight.
Local Law 11 / FISP Support
NYC’s Facade Inspection Safety Program requires periodic inspections by a qualified exterior wall inspector (QEWI) for all buildings taller than six stories. EM Construction partners with building owners to complete the repairs identified in FISP reports — tuckpointing, brick replacement, lintel repairs, sealant replacement, and more — in time to meet DOB filing deadlines.
Why a Maintenance Program Saves Money
The cost of preventive facade maintenance is a small fraction of the cost of emergency repairs. Consider:
– A routine repointing job costs significantly less than a full parapet reconstruction triggered by water damage from failed joints.
– Replacing caulk at window perimeters every decade costs a fraction of repairing water-damaged interior finishes and structural members.
– Routine cleaning and sealant maintenance extends the life of the masonry surface, deferring or eliminating the need for costly facade replacement.
Our Maintenance Program
We offer customized annual maintenance agreements that include:
1. Biannual inspection with written condition report and photographic documentation
2. Minor repointing, sealant replacement, and crack repair as needed
3. Priority scheduling for more extensive repairs identified during inspection
4. Annual maintenance record for DOB compliance purposes
Service Areas
EM Construction provides facade maintenance services throughout all five New York City boroughs, Long Island, Westchester County, and northern New Jersey.
Get a Free Estimate
Protect your building and your investment with a proactive facade maintenance program. Contact EM Construction today to schedule your initial facade inspection and receive a customized maintenance plan.