How much does tuckpointing or repointing cost?

Repointing vs. tuckpointing cost

Tuckpointing costs $5 to $25 per square foot on average. Repointing brick costs $3 to $20 per square foot. Chimney tuckpointing costs $8 to $30 per square foot. Repointing a stone foundation costs $5 to $28 per square foot. Repointing prices depend on wall height, brick or stone condition, and mortar damage.

*Minimum fees of $200 to $1,500 may apply, depending on project type.

Decaying or crumbling mortar weakens the walls, causes bricks to crack, and allows water to seep in. Repointing and tuckpointing halt the deterioration of the mortar joints, preserving the home's structural stability.

• Repointing removes old, decaying mortar from the joints and replaces it with fresh mortar that matches the old mortar color.
• Tuckpointing removes old mortar and replaces it with mortar that closely matches the brick color, followed by a thin line of contrasting putty to create the appearance of crisp, fine joint lines.
• Repointing or tuckpointing walls and chimneys above 8 feet costs 20% to 40% more because masons must use scaffolding.
• Brick and stone mortar requires repointing every 25 to 30 years.

Average cost of tuckpointing or repointing brick

The following table shows the average cost to tuckpoint or repoint 100 square feet of brick.

*Based on 258 project costs reported by HomeGuide members.

Repointing brick cost

Repointing brick costs $3 to $20 per square foot for walls up to 8' and $5 to $25 per square foot for walls above 8' that require scaffolding. Repointing an 8' x 10' brick wall costs $240 to $1,600. Repointing prices depend on the brick or stone condition, mortar damage, materials, and accessibility.

*Small repointing projects cost 10% to 20% more per square foot than large projects.

Repointing costs per square foot by method

Repointing costs $8 to $15 per square foot on average. Repointing costs start at $3 to $5 per square foot when using an electric grinder for mortar joints more than ½-inch wide. Repointing by hand costs up to $25 per square foot for chiseling smaller, cement-covered joints.

Cost to repoint a chimney

Repointing a chimney costs $8 to $30 per square foot, or $500 to $2,500 on average. The cost to repoint a chimney is $20 to $50 per row, depending on the size, height, brick condition, mortar damage, roof slope, and accessibility. Repointing two-story or complex chimney stacks costs up to $5,000 to $7,000.

Chimney rebuilding costs $1,000 to $3,500 from the roofline up if the damage is too extensive to repair with repointing. Total chimney replacement costs $4,000 to $15,000 from the ground up.

Cost to repoint a brick house

Repointing a brick house costs $5,000 to $25,000 for a 2,500 square foot single-story home or $7,000 to $38,000 for a two-story house. House repointing costs depend on the materials, home's age, brick condition, amount of mortar damage, and accessibility or hard-to-access areas.

Repointing only the damaged areas in the front or sides of the house may prevent the need to repoint the entire house if the problem is discovered early enough.

Cost to repoint a stone wall

Repointing a stone wall costs $5 to $25 per square foot, depending on the height—higher walls requiring scaffolding cost more. Repointing stone costs more than brick due to the extra labor and materials needed. Masons must chisel the curved mortar joints between the stones by hand.

Repointing stone foundation cost

Repointing a stone foundation costs $5 to $28 per square foot or $3,500 to $10,000, depending on the size of stones, amount of damage, and if the mortar needs waterproofing. Basement leaks or large cracks in the foundation may indicate structural issues that require fixing before repointing or parging.

Foundation repair costs $2,300 to $6,750 on average or up to $15,000 for major repairs.

Repointing patio cost

Repointing a patio costs $3 to $15 per square foot or $450 to $2,000 for a 12'x12' brick or stone patio. Repointing is cheaper than the cost to install a new paver patio at $10 to $17 per square foot.

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Tuckpointing cost

Tuckpointing costs $5 to $25 per square foot or $400 to $2,000 for an 8'x10' wall, depending on wall height, mortar damage, brick or foundation condition, and accessibility. Tuckpointing brick walls or chimneys above 8 feet costs $8 to $30 per square foot because scaffolding is required.

Chimney tuckpointing cost

Chimney tuckpointing costs $8 to $30 per square foot or $500 to $2,500 on average, depending on the brick condition, mortar damage, height, roof slope, and accessibility. Tuckpointing prices for chimneys that are two-story or difficult to access fall at the higher end of the range.

Damaged or decaying mortar may weaken the chimney, causing other problems that are discovered when tuckpointing. Chimney repairs cost $200 to $700 to repair cracks or flashing and $1,000 to $3,500 for crown replacement, fixing a leaning stack, or rebricking the stack above the roofline.

Cost to tuckpoint a house

Tuckpointing a house costs $10,000 to $50,000 to replace the mortar on an entire 2,500-square-foot house with 2,000 square feet of wall area. Homes with difficult accessibility, decorative brickwork, or two-story walls that require scaffolding to reach are priced at the higher end of the range.

Tuckpointing cost per square foot vs. linear foot

Masons charge by the square foot rather than the linear foot for tuckpointing. Tuckpointing costs $5 to $20 per square foot for walls up to 8 feet tall and $8 to $30 per square foot for walls above 8 feet or areas that require scaffolding. Some masons charge $50 to $125 per hour for small projects.

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Tuckpointing and repointing cost factors

Tuckpointing and repointing project costs depend on various conditions:

• Labor
• Chimney and brick repairs
• Height & accessibility
• Mortar types and analysis
• Temperature & time of year
• Historic preservation standards
• Mortar joint width
• Type of brickwork

Chimney and brick repairs

Tuckpointing and repointing are only effective if the damage is limited to the mortar joints. Leaks, stair-step cracks along the mortar, loose or cracked bricks, and spalling are signs the brick needs repairs. Always identify and repair the root cause of the damage before repointing.

• Brick repair costs $500 to $2,500 on average.
• Replacing deteriorating bricks costs $20 to $30 per square foot.
• The average cost of chimney repairs is $200 to $700 to repair cracks, flashing, or cracked crown joints.
• Chimney rebuilding costs $1,000 to $3,500 to rebrick the stack above the roofline.
• Replacing the chimney crown or fixing a leaning stack costs $1,000 to $3,500.
• Chimney liner replacement costs $900 to $3,800 and protects the masonry walls from heat.
• Chimney cap replacement costs $200 to $700 on average. Masons recommend replacing the cap when repointing or repairing the chimney.
• Chimney replacement costs $4,000 to $15,000 to rebuild from ground level up.

Wall or chimney height & accessibility

Repointing or tuckpointing walls and chimneys above 8 feet costs 20% to 40% more than repointing walls at ground level because masons must use scaffolding, requiring more labor, time, and equipment. Areas that are blocked or difficult to access also cost more to repoint.

Repointing mortar cost and types

The best mortar for repointing depends on the building's age, brick or stone type, and the original mortar type. Each mortar type uses different ratios of lime, sand, and Portland cement to achieve specific hardness and strength levels. Using the wrong mortar can ruin the building:

• The mortar for repointing should be softer and more porous than the bricks. Using a mortar type with a stronger compressive strength than the brick causes cracking and spalling.
• Many homes built before 1930 used natural hydraulic lime mortar and softer bricks.
• Most homes built after 1930 used harder bricks and harder mortar with a lower lime content.

Lime mortar mix for repointing costs $30 to $70 per bag and covers 40 square feet of brick or stone mortar joints.

Mortar analysis cost

• Mortar composition analysis costs $300 to $500 and may be required for homes built before 1930 or historic buildings. Using the wrong mortar type may cause structural damage and ruin the building.
• Mortar color analysis costs $150 to $325 for a lab to color-match the new mortar to the old mortar. Most masons color-match the mortar at the job site, but homes in historic or landmark districts may be required to obtain a professional lab analysis for district approval.

Temperature & time of year

Repointing should be done between late spring and early fall when air temperatures are between 40° and 90° F for 24 hours before and 72 hours after repointing. For emergency repairs in the winter, masons take extra measures to heat the area being repointed, including:

• Using additives that increase curing speed and generate more heat during the curing process
• Covering the wall with specialized heating blankets or tarps
• Creating a warm enclosure by tarping off the work area and heating it

These measures are typically reserved for small-scale projects because of the added labor costs involved in using the heating equipment.

Historic preservation standards

The U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for The Treatment of Historic Properties provides guidelines for restoring mortar on historic buildings and homes. Recommendations include repointing with new mortar that matches the original mortar in strength, composition, color, and texture.

Many homes constructed before 1930 used lime-based mortar. Repointing with harder Portland cement mortar may damage the structure.

Additional cost factors

• Power washing costs $0.35 to $0.77 per square foot. The new mortar won't set properly if the masonry is not cleaned thoroughly before repointing.
• Tuckpointing labor is up to 90% of the total cost. Masons charge more for tuckpointing by hand instead of using an electric grinder. Power tools may only be used to grind horizontal mortar joints larger than 1/2" wide.
• Decorative tuckpointing and brickwork with extra corners, joints, or borders takes longer to repoint and requires chiseling the mortar by hand, increasing the costs by up to double.
• Waterproofing brick or stone after repointing costs $0.50 to $4.00 per square foot. Waterproofing extends the mortar's lifespan and minimizes deterioration in climates with high humidity, snow, or heavy rainfall.

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What is tuckpointing?

What is the difference between repointing and tuckpointing?

The terms "repointing" and "tuckpointing" are often used interchangeably and refer to similar processes to remove and replace damaged mortar, but the final appearance of the mortar differs:

• Repointing removes old, decaying mortar from the joints and replaces it with new mortar that matches the old mortar color.
• Tuckpointing removes old mortar but replaces it with mortar that closely matches the brick color, followed by a thin line of contrasting putty – called a "fillet"—to create the appearance of crisp, fine joint lines.
• Pointing is filling mortar joints during new construction and also refers to the spaces between the bricks in a finished wall.

How much do masons charge per hour?

Masons charge $50 to $125 per hour for repointing or tuckpointing. Most brick masons charge a minimum job fee ranging from $200 to $1,500 depending on the type of project but offer free estimates after evaluating the mortar's condition in person.

How long does repointing last?

Repointing lasts 25 to 30 years on average, depending on climate and moisture. Mortar needs repointing more often in regions with high humidity, snow, freeze and thaw cycles, or heavy rainfall.

How do I know if my house needs repointing?

Look for these signs that your house or chimney needs repointing:

• Damaged bricks
• Crumbling, flaking, or loose mortar
• Powdered mortar on the ground around the wall or chimney
• Holes or hairline cracks in the mortar
• Gaps between the brick and mortar
• Leaks or water damage

Why does a house need repointing?

Repointing halts the deterioration of mortar, preventing further damage and preserving the structural stability of brick homes. Moisture, freezing, and thawing cause mortar to crack. Repointing eliminates holes in the mortar to prevent water from seeping into the brick and leaking into the walls.

What is the purpose of tuckpointing?

Tuckpointing replaces old decaying mortar with new mortar and stops further deterioration before cracks form or bricks become loose. Tuckpointing also improves the aesthetic appeal of brick structures by creating the appearance of thinner joint lines.

How often should tuckpointing be done?

Tuckpointing should be done every 25 to 30 years on average, depending on climate. Homes in regions with high humidity, snow, or heavy rainfall require repointing more often.

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DIY tuckpointing

DIY tuckpointing is a challenging, time-consuming project that requires masonry skill, knowledge of mortar types, and special tools to remove the mortar without harming the surrounding brick or stone. Using the wrong repointing technique or the incorrect mortar type may damage the structure, requiring costly repairs.

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Hiring a brick pointing professional

Hire an experienced masonry contractor to avoid damaging the brick and ensure the correct mortar type and color are used. Before signing a contract, be sure to:

• Get at least three estimates to compare. Most masons require an onsite visit to provide an accurate estimate.
• Browse reviews and check out their previous work on HomeGuide, Google, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
• Look for masons certified by the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA), the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA), or other masonry organizations.
• Choose a mason who is a member of a local or national masonry union. Union members are required to undergo extensive training.
• Select companies that are licensed, insured, and bonded.
• Make sure the quote includes debris cleanup and removal.
• Get a detailed estimate, contract, and warranty in writing before the work begins.
• Never pay in full before the project starts. Follow a payment plan instead.

Questions to ask

• How much experience do you have tuckpointing or repointing?
• Does my brick need tuckpointing or repointing, and why do you recommend one versus the other?
• Which mortar type will you use, and why is it the best type for my project?
• Will the new mortar match the color of the existing mortar?
• Do I need to power wash or prepare the brick before the project begins?
• How much will my project cost?
• Does the estimate include debris cleanup and removal after the work is complete?
• What additional costs should I expect?
• Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
• Are you certified by the Masonry Contractors Association of America?
• Do you belong to any local or national masonry unions?
• How long will the project take?
• How do you handle unexpected project delays?
• How do you handle damages that happen on the job?
• What does your warranty policy include?
• What's your payment schedule?

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