NYC Facade Repair and Restoration
Your facade protects everyone inside the building and everyone walking past it. We repair and restore brick, stone, terra cotta and concrete facades across NYC, including Local Law 11 repairs, with every project handled by a licensed and insured contractor.
What Facade Repair and Restoration Means for NYC Buildings
Facade repair and restoration is the work of fixing damage on a building’s exterior walls and bringing them back to a safe, sound and good looking condition. On NYC buildings that usually means repairing cracked and spalling masonry, rebuilding bulging sections, restoring decorative stone and terra cotta, fixing damaged balconies and sills, and sealing the joints where water gets in. Repair focuses on making the wall safe and watertight. Restoration goes a step further and brings back the original look, matching materials, profiles and details so the facade looks like it was never damaged.
For many NYC owners, facade work is not optional. Under Local Law 11, officially the Facade Inspection and Safety Program or FISP, buildings taller than six stories must have their exterior walls inspected every five years by a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector. The inspector files a report that classifies conditions as Safe, Safe With a Repair and Maintenance Program (SWARMP), or Unsafe, and each classification comes with deadlines. We work with your inspector’s report, repair every condition listed, and give your team what it needs to close out the filing. For smaller buildings that fall outside FISP, the same kind of damage still needs attention before it turns into falling masonry or water damage inside.
Facade Repair Services for Buildings Across NYC
Every facade is built a little differently, and prewar buildings especially tend to hide problems behind the surface. These are the facade repairs we handle most often.
- Local Law 11 and FISP repairs. Every SWARMP and Unsafe condition in your report repaired to the inspector’s requirements.
- Masonry crack and spall repair. Cracked and spalling brick and stone repaired or replaced so the wall is sound again.
- Bulging facade stabilization. Loose outer wythes pinned, re-anchored or rebuilt where wall ties have failed.
- Terra cotta restoration. Cracked and broken terra cotta patched, pinned or replaced to match the original.
- Stone facade repair. Limestone, granite and cast stone patched and repaired with matched restoration materials.
- Cornice and decorative element repair. Loose or damaged cornices and ornaments secured, repaired or rebuilt.
- Balcony and concrete facade repair. Cracked balcony slabs, exposed rebar and spalling concrete repaired and protected.
- Window sill and joint sealant replacement. Failed caulk and sealant around windows and expansion joints cut out and replaced.
- Facade repointing and cleaning. Worn joints repointed and dirt and staining removed with methods that will not damage the masonry.
Whether your building needs a few scaffold drops of repair or a full exterior restoration, we scope the work around what your facade actually needs.
Facade Restoration in NYC Built Around Safety, Compliance and Craft
Facade work is where safety rules, building age and craftsmanship all meet. A repair has to satisfy your inspector, protect the public during the work and still look right when the scaffolding comes down.
Repairs Aligned With Your FISP Report
Masonry Matched to the Original Facade
Public Protection Set Up the Right Way
Licensed and Insured Facade Crews
How We Take a Facade From Report to Repaired
Review the Report and Inspect
We go through your FISP report or inspect the facade ourselves, confirm every condition and plan access, protection and repair methods.
Protect, Repair and Restore
With sidewalk protection and scaffolding in place, our crews repair each condition using materials matched to your building.
Close Out and Document
We walk the finished work, remove debris and provide documentation of completed repairs to help your inspector close out the filing.
Facade Restoration Projects Across NYC
Where We Handle Facade Repair in NYC and Westchester
We repair and restore facades on residential and commercial buildings in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Westchester. Select your area for local facade repair details.
Facade Damage Signs NYC Owners Should Not Ignore
Facade problems grow slowly and then fail suddenly. These are the signs that your building’s exterior needs a professional look.
- Cracks running through brick, stone or around windows
- Bulging or bowing sections of the exterior wall
- Spalling masonry or chunks of stone and terra cotta breaking off
- Rust stains or cracked masonry above windows and at balconies
- Water leaks on interior walls along the exterior side of the building
If any piece of your facade has already fallen or looks ready to, protect the sidewalk below and have it inspected right away.
Facade Repair and Local Law 11 FAQs
Local Law 11, also called the Facade Inspection and Safety Program (FISP), is the NYC rule that requires buildings taller than six stories to have their exterior walls and attached elements inspected every five years. The inspection is done by a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector, who files a report with the Department of Buildings.
Safe means no repairs are needed. SWARMP, or Safe With a Repair and Maintenance Program, means the facade is safe for now but has conditions that must be repaired before the next inspection cycle. Unsafe means a condition poses a danger to the public and needs immediate protection and repair.
When a condition is filed as Unsafe, the owner must put up public protection such as a sidewalk shed right away, and repairs generally have to be completed within 90 days of the filing. Extensions can be requested in some cases. Fines can add up quickly if deadlines are missed, so it is best to line up a contractor early.
No. The FISP inspection has to be done by a Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector, who is a licensed architect or engineer. Our role is the repair side. We work from the inspector’s report, complete the repairs and provide documentation so the inspector can file the updated report.
Buildings six stories or shorter are not covered by Local Law 11, but their facades still crack, bulge and leak over time. Cracked brick, loose stone and rusted lintels can still fall and cause damage, so regular checks and timely repairs matter for every building.
Yes. Many NYC prewar buildings have terra cotta, carved stone and cornices that need careful work. We repair damaged pieces with matched restoration materials, pin loose units back to the structure, and replace pieces that are too far gone with matching units.
A sidewalk shed stays up until the facade repairs are finished and the building is safe. The faster and better planned the repair work is, the sooner the shed comes down, which saves you rental costs and gives your building its street presence back.
Most facade repair work in NYC needs DOB permits, especially structural repairs, rebuilding and anything involving scaffolding or a sidewalk shed. Buildings in landmark districts also need LPC approval for exterior work. We confirm permit needs and coordinate them before work starts.
Facade repair cost in NYC depends on the height and size of the building, the number and type of conditions, the materials involved, and how much scaffolding and sidewalk protection the job needs. A few spot repairs cost far less than a full facade restoration. We review your report or inspect the building and give you a written estimate.