For sale: one wall, many bricks
One of the more interesting aspects of doing construction in New York, I'm quickly learning, is the space constraints. No room to get equipment in, no room to store materials, everything has to be done by hand. We're actually luckier than most rowhouse renovators, because the courtyard of this house is accessible through a passageway built into the side of the front house. We don't have to move everything through the basement.
Anyway, here's a big issue: what to do with the 9,000 to 10,000 bricks that we will have on our hands when the wall of the backhouse comes down?
These are the original 1840s common brick (samples shown above)—someone suggested they're Hudson River brick. I don't know for sure what to call them, but they're that common orange color you see on early 19th century houses here.
There isn't enough room to pile them up in the courtyard because we need the space to stack the concrete block that the new wall will be made from. We'd like to sell them, but all the salvage brick companies I've contacted will only buy a minimum of 20,000 or 25,000 bricks. Plus they want the bricks on pallets, which we can't do (no room to get a pallet out from the courtyard and no space on the street to palletize them).
So…anyone wanna buy some brick? We can't let these end up being dumped! I'll give you a good deal (they can sell for as much as $2 a brick from a salvage company). We'll bag them, you transport them. They'd be great replacement brick on a renovation, or they make perfect pavers for a garden path. C'mon! They're vintage, for god's sake!! Anyone? Anyone?
Posted by Alex Bandon | Categories: Backhouse Wall Repair | Permalink
(14) Comments
I may be very interested, though it is going to depend on when they'll be available and then when you'll need them out by - I'd be coming up from DE, and it will be a good excuse to go visit my good friends and godchildren in NJ! But weather, prior commitments, and childcare for my grandchildren if needed will all factor in.
Email me to discuss the details, please - My address is tanama44 at aol.
Thanks!! We had just talked about putting in a brick walk in front of our old house, and this might be just the thing, if the price is good enough to drive 200 miles to get them!
I'd assume that any masonry contractor would be thrilled to buy them cheap, and probably send a crew to pick them up.
I don't know if he would be interested but Jim Lally is old school and an artist with masonry. You can reach him at Galway Bay Contracting: 917-523-1113.
PS: he did the masonry in the bottom pics here:
http://www.brooklynrowhouse.com/house/backyard
i need bricks for a project in park slope soon. will take them off your hands as soon as i close on building, late feb, early march.
you can reach me at nickmahedy@mac.com
I'd be very interested for my own backyard in Clinton Hill. I also have side access so that makes it a lot easierfor me.
Could take them immediately.
Price?
jgibson63@earthlink.net
I could take them all immediately, would not need help to do so. We have lots of projects at our own historic-district home in Brooklyn. How much do you want for them?
Can use a lot of bricks for a brownstone reno project in brooklyn. how much?
I can be reached at sjenki1@pride.hofstra.edu
I am a frugal small home owner who would like to find some inexpensive old bricks to use in the spring for a patio. I am a novice on Long Island and would like to find enough brick to build a 20 x30 area over time. Thanks
I HAVE BRICKS FORM OLD COTTON MILL THAT WAS BUILT IN EARLY 1900 TO 1920. HAVE AS MANY AS YOU WANT.
Hi We need some bricks to fix a stoop of a Coop in Williamsburg. We will probably need around 200 bricks. Contact me , Charlotte 718 249 7002
Hi We need some bricks to fix a stoop of a Coop in Williamsburg. We will probably need around 200 bricks. Contact me , Charlotte 718 249 7002
Hi We need some bricks to fix a stoop of a Coop in Williamsburg. We will probably need around 200 bricks. Contact me , Charlotte 718 249 7002
Hi We need some bricks to fix a stoop of a Coop in Williamsburg. We will probably need around 200 bricks. Contact me , Charlotte 718 249 7002
I have a couple of old buildings in Scooba MS. Anyone interested in tearing them down for the bricks...Probably from early 1920's
e-mail in Scooba MS is grannyhw@bellsouth.net...Maxine