Building science, not guesswork.
LANY Restoration Contractors — L.A. New York — was founded to bring methodical, science-driven restoration to NYC's commercial buildings.
Luis Labarca
Principal / Founder
I came to the United States from Chile with a degree in computing engineering — but construction is where I found my calling. I started out working for a masonry company in New York, learning the full range of exterior facade restoration. In 2003, I saw an opportunity to build something of my own and founded LANY Restoration Contractors.
It didn't take long to recognize that masonry and roofing are deeply connected — roughly 75% of masonry work touches flashing, waterproofing, or roofing in some way. So I trained, earned my certifications, and added roofing to what we offer. Today, both trades are core to the business.
In 2010, I knew that to take the company to the next level I needed to speak the language of engineers and architects fluently — not just the trade itself, but building codes, materials specifications, blueprint readings and estimation. I spent four years in night school, three evenings a week from 6 to 10 PM, with weekends reserved for homework. I never went for the degree; I went for the knowledge. That investment changed how I run projects today.
What drives me is something my father taught me growing up: be responsible, face problems, and don't disappear. Your name matters more than any contract. When I shake hands on a job, that handshake is what stays — long after the work is done. That's the standard I hold myself and my team to.
After more than 25 years in this trade, I still genuinely love what I do. Every building has a story, every project teaches me something new, and every customer deserves work that's built to last.
About LANY Restoration Contractors
LANY Restoration Contractors is a New York City–based masonry and roofing company founded in 2003 by Luis Labarca. What began as a small masonry operation has grown into a full-service exterior restoration firm serving general contractors, building management companies, private owners, and institutional clients including the Archdiocese of New York.
Three connected disciplines.
Masonry & Facade Restoration
Brick work, coining and pointing, lintel replacement, stone and precast restoration, and full facade rebuilds.
Roofing & Waterproofing
Flat and pitched roofs, liquid-applied membrane systems (including high-performance MMA), flashing, and full waterproofing details.
Local Law 11 / FISP Compliance
Facade inspection, repair, and certification for NYC buildings six stories and taller.
Whether the job is a single lintel replacement or a 12-month restoration of a 100-foot historic stone bell tower, we approach every project with the same discipline: proper engineering, careful preparation, and finishes built to last.
Most contractors chase speed. We chase understanding.
Every project starts with diagnosis — why is this failing? What's the root cause? Only when we understand the mechanism of failure do we specify the repair. A patched leak that ignores the underlying flashing detail is going to come back. A repointed wall that ignores the failed lintel above it is going to come back. We don't do work that comes back.
We use manufacturer-approved materials and methods, maintain DOB compliance on every project, and document our work thoroughly — from pre-construction conditions through final close-out. This isn't about pride. It's about precision.
"We're not prideful — we're exact."
Operational discipline that delivers.
Our operational discipline is what allows the diagnostic approach to actually deliver. Work orders go out before crews mobilize. Daily field reports drive material requests and decision points. Change orders get processed in real time, so projects don't stall. This synchronized approach is what lets us deliver complex restoration work on schedule and on budget — while keeping our crews and the public around them safe.
Safety
Every job is set up to protect our workers and the people around them.
Quality
We stand behind every repair and every installation.
Reliability
We don't disappear when the work is done; if something needs attention, we're there.
Communication
Owners, managers, engineers, and architects all stay informed throughout the project.
We are fully licensed and insured to operate in New York City — which is not a given in this industry, and matters most when something needs to be made right.
Our work speaks for itself.
Archdiocese of New York
Complete restoration of a 100-foot historic marble bell tower in New Rochelle, including custom-quarried California marble to match the original stonework, with new anchoring and waterproofing details throughout.
Manhattan High-Rise Terrace
Full roof replacement using MMA liquid waterproofing, overburden concrete pavers, integrated snow-melt cable system, and engineered aluminum railings approved by the Department of Buildings.
16-Story Local Law 11 Restoration
Stone replacement, new concrete copings, bulkhead tower repair, and lintel and window restoration.
36-Story Penthouse Facade
Precast cornice restoration with full waterproofing details and engineered structural design.
After more than two decades, our work speaks for itself — and so do the clients who keep calling us back.