Needing to redo the front of a brownstone but….

I have a brownstone that needs to have the front totally redone. I’ve gotten a few quotes to redo the way it is but increasingly see some really cool “brownstones” that look like they were done with maybe another material and then painted various colors. Has anyone had a good experience doing that and recommend a contractor who does that work? And any recommendations (or warnings) on anyone who’s redone a brownstone front (front, stoop and the cast iron railings) with any of the local companies? Thanks!!

sashak1

in General Discussion 2 months ago

7

Please log in, in order to post replies!

7 replies

Newest Oldest

joshuaneuman | 4 days ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4944 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4931 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "227497"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(12) "joshuaneuman"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(63) "$wp$2y$10$56KPTMW7h9ZOGVH1q/nHp.zjldqdl3bRNZHWhixU5aS38SPwIA3Ai"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(12) "joshuaneuman"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(29) "joshua@nichewaterproofing.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2025-05-14 20:11:01"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "Joshua Neuman"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(227497)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

A few very important things to consider:

1. Is your building landmarked? This will limit what you can do

2. Is the material warrantied and specified to coat brownstone?

You want the contractor to have the manufacturer provide you with a letter saying: what material, how to prepare the surface, how to apply the material and at what temperatures or constraints, how long it needs to cure without rain, and how long of a warranty the manufacturer will provide. They will also test a patch to make sure it adheres properly.

3. Have the contractor(s) do a mockup see if you like the colors.

4. Level the bid – see if the contractors are offering you the same service you are looking for, the materials that are right for the job and the same number of applications, surface preparation etc.

Joshua
Niche Waterproofing, Roofing and Facade Restoration

Brownstone Home Inspection | 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4942 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4945 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "191038"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(26) "Brownstone Home Inspection"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(63) "$wp$2y$10$2Dh.tVTWca7o8G2o2QDdSeR1sOPSrs2w3wRCKLoxX3NZi3rnCHU0S"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(26) "brownstone-home-inspection"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(29) "stevehomeinspection@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2021-01-20 15:12:39"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(26) "brownstone home inspection"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(191038)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["participant"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [1]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["participant"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

That pink house was on garfield. I had a customer who lived a few doors from that place and they explained to me that the people who painted it that way had bought that house in the late 1930’s or 40’s and painted it that way and it was done simply because the owners liked that color. I do think it has been sold out of the family and has reverted back to something else.

BobMarvin | 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4943 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4946 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "802"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "BobMarvin"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(63) "$wp$2y$10$vXcETAGfbklfbxLqBuZOwe9SvZukjLn11bfJ4K5tk7sYEGuWi6OGW"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "bobmarvin"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(17) "marvbej@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(31) "http:///forums/users/bobmarvin/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2006-09-08 23:16:42"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(10) "Bob Marvin"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(802)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

That pink color predated the Historic District designation and was grandfathered in.

opoddubnaya.bootsoft | 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5114 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5115 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "194931"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(20) "opoddubnaya.bootsoft"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B0KLn0wD06yqfoNsYcAPGW5PMKxaT71"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(20) "opoddubnaya-bootsoft"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(30) "opoddubnaya.bootsoft@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:11:36"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(17) "Olga Pod Olga Pod"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(194931)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(3) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Anybody remembers peptobismol house in Park Slope?
I recall first reaction of my 3 years old daughter. Stunned. She did not want to move.

BobMarvin | 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5117 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5116 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "802"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "BobMarvin"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(63) "$wp$2y$10$vXcETAGfbklfbxLqBuZOwe9SvZukjLn11bfJ4K5tk7sYEGuWi6OGW"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "bobmarvin"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(17) "marvbej@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(31) "http:///forums/users/bobmarvin/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2006-09-08 23:16:42"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(10) "Bob Marvin"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(802)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I think you could only do this if your house is not in an Historic District.

Brownstone Home Inspection | 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4944 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5118 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "191038"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(26) "Brownstone Home Inspection"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(63) "$wp$2y$10$2Dh.tVTWca7o8G2o2QDdSeR1sOPSrs2w3wRCKLoxX3NZi3rnCHU0S"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(26) "brownstone-home-inspection"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(29) "stevehomeinspection@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2021-01-20 15:12:39"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(26) "brownstone home inspection"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(191038)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["participant"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [1]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["participant"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

the landmarks preservation commission has mortars they recommend. the LPC has a facade restoration guide you can download.

Steve

Brownstone Home Inspection | 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#5116 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#5114 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "191038"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(26) "Brownstone Home Inspection"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(63) "$wp$2y$10$2Dh.tVTWca7o8G2o2QDdSeR1sOPSrs2w3wRCKLoxX3NZi3rnCHU0S"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(26) "brownstone-home-inspection"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(29) "stevehomeinspection@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2021-01-20 15:12:39"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(26) "brownstone home inspection"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(191038)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["participant"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [1]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["participant"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

You mention “painted”. many of these have been painted because the mortar coat that had been applied was failing and they repaired it and then painted it because the newer repairs did not match. It is often done prior to a sale to hide repairs and damage. Painting mortar is considered bad because it traps moisture. even paints that are recommended for this because they “breath” are discouraged by some experts.

Steve
brownstonehomeinspection.com