Keyport is a small borough on the Raritan Bay with a long history as a working waterfront. Its older streets near the harbor and downtown hold Victorian and early twentieth century homes, many with brick foundations, chimneys and stoops, and some with full brick facades. Further from the water, later homes fill in. On the older blocks, the bay wind and more than a century of freeze and thaw have done steady work on the mortar.
Repointing walls, foundations and chimneys
Brick usually outlasts its mortar. When joints wash out, water soaks in, freezes and pushes brick faces off. Our tuckpointing and repointing work cuts joints back to sound material and refills them with a mortar suited to the brick. On older homes that often means a softer mix than modern mortar, so the joint takes the wear rather than the brick. We match color and tooling so the repair blends in.
Restoring older details
Victorian and early twentieth century houses have masonry details worth keeping: corbelled chimneys, brick piers and decorative steps. Our historic masonry restoration approach is to repair what can be saved and replace only what has failed. Chimneys are rebuilt above the roofline when the top courses are loose, with a new crown to keep water out.
Stoops on the sidewalk
Many homes near downtown have stoops that sit close to the public sidewalk. Settled brick, broken treads and rusted railings are common. We rebuild stoops on proper footings in brick with bluestone treads, which suit older homes and stand up to winter salt. Work that touches the public walk may have its own requirements, which we check in advance.
What to look for
- Mortar joints that are recessed or sandy to the touch
- Brick faces flaking or popping off
- White staining on walls or chimneys
- Stoops leaning or separating from the house
Keyport borders Union Beach, Hazlet and Aberdeen, with Matawan close by. Browse every town we cover in Monmouth County.
Is the brick on your older home showing its age? Request a free estimate and we will assess the masonry.
