What you are paying for
Repointing means removing old, failed mortar from the joints in brickwork and replacing it with new mortar. Done well, it keeps water out of the wall for many years. Done badly, it can trap moisture, damage the bricks and look patchy. Most of the cost is labour, because raking out and pointing is careful, hand-finished work.
This guide explains what moves repointing cost up or down. It does not give figures, because the condition of the wall and the access to it vary so much; a look at the brickwork and a free estimate give you a real price.
How much wall needs doing
The area of brickwork is the starting point. Repointing a house cost depends on whether every elevation needs doing or only the most exposed ones. Often the wall facing the prevailing weather, the chimney and the brickwork under leaking gutters have worn far faster than the rest. Repointing only where it is needed can save money, but the new mortar has to blend in with the old.
Openings reduce the area to point but add fiddly detail around windows, doors and arches, so a wall with lots of openings is not necessarily quicker.
Condition of the joints and bricks
How the old mortar comes out affects time. Soft, crumbling lime mortar rakes out easily. Hard cement mortar from a previous repoint is slow to remove and needs care so the brick edges are not chipped. Joints need raking to a consistent depth, typically about twice the joint height, for the new mortar to hold.
Bricks with spalled or cracked faces may need cutting out and replacing before repointing. Our brick repair and spalling guide explains why this happens and how it is fixed.
Mortar type and finish
The mortar has to suit the bricks. Older, softer bricks generally need a lime-based mortar that is weaker than the brick, so the wall can breathe and any movement happens in the joint rather than the brick. Newer, harder bricks can take a cement-based mortar. Lime work needs more care in mixing, curing and weather protection, which can affect cost.
The joint profile matters too. A flush, bucket-handle, weatherstruck or recessed joint should match what the house had originally. Matching the colour of existing mortar on a partial repoint may need trial mixes.
Access and scaffolding
Ground-floor brickwork and garden walls can often be reached from the ground or a small tower. Upper storeys, gables and chimneys need scaffolding, and that is a significant part of the cost on a whole house. If you are planning other work at height, such as roofing, gutters or windows, sharing the scaffold can make sense. Chimney stacks have their own access needs, covered in our chimney repointing guide.
Time of year
Mortar should not be laid in frost or heavy rain, and lime mortar in particular needs protecting while it cures. Work may need to be planned around the weather, which can affect how long the job takes.
Comparing quotes
When comparing repointing quotes, check that each one includes the same area, the same raking depth, the right mortar for your bricks, scaffolding, any brick replacement and cleaning down afterwards. A quote that does not mention raking depth or mortar type is hard to compare.
We give free estimates for repointing after looking at the brickwork. Our repointing service page explains how we carry out the work.
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Questions people ask
What affects repointing cost?
The area of brickwork, how hard the old mortar is to remove, the mortar type and joint finish, brick repairs, access and scaffolding.
How long does repointing a house take?
It depends on the area, the condition of the joints, scaffolding and the weather. A single wall is much quicker than a whole house. We give a timescale with your estimate.
Can I repoint just part of a wall?
Yes. Exposed areas often wear first. The new mortar should match the old in colour, strength and joint finish so the repair blends in.
Should repointing be lime or cement mortar?
Older, softer bricks usually need a lime-based mortar weaker than the brick. Harder modern bricks can take cement-based mortar. Using mortar that is too hard can damage old bricks.