100 Henry Street

100 Henry Street is a pre-war residential building in Brooklyn Heights with a brick masonry facade that had been experiencing progressive deterioration over several years. The building's management company was dealing with persistent water infiltration complaints from upper-floor residents, and the DOB had issued multiple violations related to the facade's condition.

The water infiltration was not limited to a single point of entry. Residents on multiple floors reported water damage during rainstorms, and the pattern of leaks suggested that deteriorated mortar joints across large sections of the facade were allowing water to penetrate the wall assembly. This ongoing moisture exposure was causing interior damage to finished spaces and raising concerns about hidden structural deterioration within the masonry walls.

The open DOB violations carried escalating fines, and the building needed a coordinated approach that would identify the root causes of the water infiltration, execute the necessary repairs, and provide documentation sufficient to clear the outstanding violations with the Department of Buildings.

We began with a comprehensive leak investigation that combined interior moisture mapping with an exterior facade survey. Our team used infrared thermography and controlled water testing to identify every point of water entry across all elevations. This diagnostic approach pinpointed the specific areas where deteriorated mortar, cracked bricks, and failed flashing were allowing water penetration, rather than relying on guesswork that would lead to incomplete repairs.

Our licensed engineers produced detailed repair specifications for each identified condition. The scope included full-depth brick repointing on the most deteriorated sections, selective brick replacement where individual units had spalled beyond repair, installation of new through-wall flashing at critical transitions, and application of a breathable masonry waterproofing system to protect the restored facade without trapping moisture inside the wall assembly.

We coordinated closely with the DOB throughout the process, filing the required documentation at each milestone and scheduling inspections to clear each outstanding violation as the corresponding repair work was completed. Our team managed the entire process from violation research through final sign-off, ensuring nothing fell through the cracks in the administrative process.

The facade restoration was completed in 6 months. All water infiltration issues were resolved, with no recurrence of leaks in the months following completion. The repaired and waterproofed masonry facade restored the building's weather envelope to full integrity.

Every outstanding DOB violation was cleared, eliminating the accumulating fine exposure that had been a significant financial concern for the building's ownership. The clean violation history also improved the building's profile for insurance renewals and potential refinancing.

The building management received comprehensive close-out documentation including the leak investigation report, repair specifications, progress photography, and all DOB correspondence. This documentation package serves as both a record of the completed work and a reference for the building's ongoing maintenance program.