What This Project Is
We own a solid red brick perimeter wall built around 1960. The structure is sound — firm foundation, level capstone, no cracks or sagging anywhere. The problem is on the surface: the outer face of the brick has weathered and is beginning to crumble. Some mortar joints have also broken loose. We want a skilled contractor to restore and protect the surface so the wall lasts many more decades.
Rome, New York — ZIP code 13440. Oneida County. Site visit by appointment before you submit a bid.
Solid red brick, approximately 1960. Cavity brick construction. Mortar joints partially failing in places. Surface eroding uniformly.
Sound throughout. No structural repairs needed. This is surface and mortar restoration only.
Late May through June 2027. We are advertising early to find the right person — not to rush. There is no pressure on timing.
We are private property owners, not a construction company. We have done our research carefully. We know what materials are required and what methods are correct. We will verify every product specification before work begins.
The Right Contractor for This Work
We are not looking for the largest company or the lowest price. We are looking for the right person. Read this section carefully before deciding to bid.
- One person working alone, or with one helper
- Genuine masonry experience — brick and mortar work
- Knowledge of lime mortar and breathable masonry products
- Valid New York State contractor license
- Current general liability insurance
- Workers' compensation if using a helper
- Ability to supply your own tools and all equipment
- Ability to source and supply all materials
- Willingness to provide two references from prior masonry work
- Willingness to visit the site before bidding
- Large contracting companies with many subcontractors
- Contractors unfamiliar with lime mortar
- Anyone who proposes cement render or acrylic sealers
- Anyone who cannot provide proof of license and insurance
- Anyone who cannot name specific breathable products
- Anyone who submits a bid without visiting the site first
- Anyone who cannot provide prior masonry references
Before anything else, we will ask: "What mortar mix do you use to repoint a pre-1980 brick wall?" The correct answer involves hydraulic lime and sand. If you know this answer without hesitation, you likely have the knowledge this project requires.
A Note on Background and Experience
We welcome bids from contractors of all backgrounds and nationalities. Many countries and regions of the world — including Eastern Europe, South Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and West Africa — have strong living traditions of lime masonry and hand-craft brickwork. This experience is exactly what this project needs. If you have trained in these traditions, your skills are directly relevant here.
We are building a working relationship based on competence, honesty, and a well-written contract. We will treat every bidder with equal respect and evaluate bids on quality of specification, not on any other basis.
Exactly What the Work Involves
All work must be performed in the correct sequence. Each stage builds on the one before it. No stage may be skipped or combined unless noted. This sequence is written into the contract.
| Stage | Work | When | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Repoint all failing mortar joints across full wall | April–May 2027 | Hydraulic lime mortar only. No Portland cement. |
| Stage 2 | Fill cavity brick holes with lime mortar — backing material required | April–May 2027 | Foam backer rod or wire mesh backing. Fill in layers of max 10mm. |
| Stage 3 | Cure period — lime mortar must cure before any surface treatment | May–June 2027 | Minimum 7–10 days. Keep damp. Do not rush. |
| Stage 4 | Efflorescence removal — mild acid wash, rinse, full dry | Late May–June 2027 | Dilute white vinegar or citric acid solution. Rinse well. Wall must be fully dry before next stage. |
| Stage 5 | Penetrating consolidant applied to full wall surface | June 2027 | Silane or ethyl silicate consolidant. Minimum two coats, wet-on-wet. Vapor permeable confirmed on product data sheet. |
| Stage 6 | Silane-siloxane breathable water repellent applied to full wall | June 2027 | Minimum two coats, wet-on-wet. Applied in cool overcast conditions. Not in direct sun or rain. Temperature minimum 10°C. |
Application Conditions — You Are Responsible for These
The contractor is responsible for monitoring weather conditions and scheduling work accordingly. No mortar work may proceed if temperature is below 5°C or if frost is forecast within 48 hours. No consolidant or repellent may be applied in direct sunlight, rain, temperatures below 10°C, or if rain is forecast within 48 hours. If conditions are wrong, work stops until conditions are correct.
Optional Extension — House Exterior
The house brick exterior, approximately 2,000 sq ft, may be included in the same contract. The work and materials are identical to the wall scope. Please price this separately as a second line item in your bid. We will decide independently whether to include it.
The wall must breathe at all times. Every product applied must be vapor permeable — meaning moisture inside the wall can still escape as vapor. Any product that seals moisture inside the wall will cause faster and deeper damage than no treatment at all. We will verify this on every product data sheet before work begins.
What Materials Are Required
The contractor supplies all materials. We do not supply materials. You must name every product in your bid and submit the manufacturer's product data sheet for each one. We will verify that each product is penetrating and vapor permeable before accepting any bid.
| Material | Required Type | Forbidden Alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Repointing mortar | Hydraulic lime + sharp sand. Mix ratio approximately 1 part lime : 2.5 parts sand. No high Portland cement content. | Standard premix mortar. High-cement mortar. Ready-mix bags without lime specification. |
| Hole fill mortar | Same lime mortar as repointing. Applied in layers, maximum 10mm per layer. | Single thick application. Expanding foam as final fill. Cement-based patching compound. |
| Penetrating consolidant | Silane-based or ethyl silicate consolidant. Must be penetrating — not film-forming. Must be vapor permeable. Confirmed on product data sheet. | Acrylic consolidants. Any product described as a coating or sealer. Any film-forming product. |
| Water repellent | Silane-siloxane breathable water repellent. Penetrating. Vapor permeable. Not a waterproof coating or barrier. | Acrylic sealers. Elastomeric coatings. Any product described as waterproof barrier. Cement-based waterproofing. |
Before purchasing full quantities, the contractor must perform a test area absorption check on a small section of wall. Weathered brick absorbs more product than new brick. Test results determine actual quantities needed. This is standard professional practice.
Requirements for a Valid Bid
We will only consider complete bids. A bid is complete when it includes all of the following. Incomplete bids will not be evaluated.
- 1Site visit completed. You must visit the property before submitting a bid. Contact us to arrange an appointment. We will show you the full wall condition so you can price accurately.
- 2License number provided. Your valid New York State contractor license number must appear in your bid. We will verify it independently on the NYS Department of Labor public database.
- 3Insurance certificate enclosed. A current certificate of general liability insurance must accompany your bid. We will check the expiry date. If you use a helper, workers' compensation certificate is also required.
- 4Itemized pricing. Your bid must list labor and materials as separate line items. Do not submit a single total price only.
- 5Products named. Every product you plan to use must be named by product name and manufacturer. Generic descriptions such as "masonry sealer" or "lime mortar" without a specific product name are not acceptable.
- 6Product data sheets enclosed. The manufacturer's data sheet for every product named in your bid must be submitted with your bid. We will verify vapor permeability on every sheet.
- 7Two references provided. The names and contact information of two previous clients for whom you completed comparable masonry work. We will contact these references.
- 8Separate pricing for house exterior. If you are including the optional house exterior (2,000 sq ft), price it separately from the perimeter wall (3,000 sq ft).
Bid Format — Use This Structure
- Your full name and business name
- NYS contractor license number
- Contact phone and email
- Perimeter wall (3,000 sq ft) — labor cost, materials cost, total cost
- House exterior optional (2,000 sq ft) — labor cost, materials cost, total cost
- List of all products by name and manufacturer
- Estimated number of working days
- Proposed start date within the May–June 2027 window
- Two client references with contact information
- Attached: insurance certificate(s) and product data sheets
Payment Structure
Payment is made in three stages. Full details are in the contract. The structure is as follows:
Bid Submission Deadline
Bids must be submitted by: [INSERT DEADLINE DATE]
Submit bids to: [INSERT YOUR EMAIL OR POSTAL ADDRESS]
To arrange a site visit: [INSERT YOUR CONTACT METHOD]
We will acknowledge every bid received. We will contact shortlisted contractors within [INSERT TIMEFRAME] of the deadline. We will notify all bidders of our decision.
Ready to See the Full Contract Terms?
Before submitting a bid, we encourage you to read the complete contract document. It is written in plain English. There are no hidden terms.
Read the Contract Document →The contract document opens in this browser. No download required.