How Much Does Repointing Brick Cost in 2025?

Average Brick Repointing Cost

Brick Repointing Cost Factors

Repointing generally costs $3 to $15 per square foot, but factors such as the project size, mortar type, and time of year can affect the total price. 

Project Size

The average homeowner pays $8 per square foot for repointing. Depending on the materials used, local rates, and the mason's experience, costs can range between $3 and $15 per square foot.

Masons generally charge by the square footage. Though other factors affect the price, the project's square footage is the most significant cost factor.

Mortar Type

The type of mortar your mason uses affects the overall cost, with prices ranging from $3 to $10 per square foot. The mason’s quote includes labor and materials, so you won’t have to pay for materials separately. 

Lime is a key component of most mortars, costing around $8 per bucket. One bucket of lime mortar covers 60 square feet. However, masons rarely use pure lime mortar because it is less strong and wears out much faster. Most masons mix mortar with part Portland and part lime. Lime provides more workability and flexibility in application, while Portland adheres better and is more durable. 

The table below explores various mortar types, their PSI (pound per square inch) ratings, and the average cost per 80-pound bag. The higher the PSI, the more pressure the mortar can withstand (and the more durable it is).

• Type M mortar costs $5 to $10 per 80-pound bag. At 2,500 PSI, it is too strong for regular brickwork. Instead, masons use it for brick foundations and retaining walls.

• Type S mortar costs $5 to $10 per 80-pound bag. At 1,800 PSI, type S mortar is common for brick walls and chimneys.

• Type N mortar costs $5 to $20 per 80-pound bag. At 750 PSI, it is more flexible; masons commonly use it for chimneys and exterior walls.

• Type O mortar costs $20 to $50 per 80-pound bag. At 350 PSI, this low-strength mortar is ideal for interior brick walls and is often used in restoration work.

Time of Year

In general, masons prefer to do outdoor repointing work in the spring and fall when temperatures are moderate. Air temperatures should be between 40 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 24 to 72 hours after the work. Emergency work in the winter or during extreme heat waves will likely increase prices.

Other Brick Pointing Cost Factors

When calculating the cost to repoint brick, it’s important to consider how accessibility, labor fees, and historic preservation affect the price.

Accessibility

The higher the project is off the ground, the more the mason will charge. If your chimney needs tuckpointing but is on a three-story roof and is challenging to access, the cost will be much higher than it would be to tuckpoint a brick fireplace inside your home.

Labor

Most masonry professionals charge between $50 to $100 per hour for repointing services. Contractors typically charge based on the size of your project and its expected completion time. If they don’t charge by the square foot, they’ll often have a minimum fee of $300 to $2,000, depending on the project. 

Historic Preservation

If your home is considered a historic property, the mason may need to adhere to certain federal, state, or local regulations regarding restoring the brick, which could add to the cost.

Brick Repointing Cost by Project Type

The average repointing brick cost ranges from $3 to $15 per square foot, but how does that translate to actual projects? A basic chimney repointing may be as low as $700, while an entire house might cost $30,000 to repoint. Other common repointing projects include stone walls, foundations, and brick patios.

Below are some basic brick-pointing costs and how repointing prices vary by project scope.

Chimney Tuckpointing Cost

Expect to pay at least $10 per square foot to tuckpoint a chimney. At this rate, a 20-square-foot chimney section would cost $200. However, you may pay as high as $25 per square foot for chimney tuckpointing, increasing the project cost to $500.

For tuckpointing above a certain height, you'll pay a minimum of $10 per square foot. Chimneys are harder to access and require additional equipment. Masons or contractors typically start charging extra past 8 feet.

Severe mortar damage affects the chimney's structure. While tuckpointing, a professional might find other issues with your chimney. If that's the case, brick repair costs between $800 and $2,600, depending on the extent of damage.

Depending on the brick condition, a mason may recommend tearing out and rebuilding the chimney. A complete chimney rebuild costs $1,000 to $3,000, or roughly $150 per linear foot.

Cost to Tuckpoint House

Assuming a two-story, 2,600-square-foot home has sides totaling 2,000 square feet, it will cost $10,000 to $50,000 to tuckpoint the entire house. However, very few homes are perfect squares. These numbers purely serve as a guide. Consider several factors when calculating the cost of tuckpointing a new house:

• House style: A ranch home will likely cost less than a two-story.

• House size: Smaller homes are less to tuckpoint.

• Chimney: Brick chimneys that need tuckpointing will increase your costs. Including an interior stone or brick fireplace can also increase costs.

• Rate changes: Many masons lower their costs after a certain point for larger projects. They'll unlikely charge exactly per square foot for an entire house.

For the best estimate, contact a masonry repair contractor in your area.

Cost to Repoint a Chimney

Repointing a chimney costs $700 to $2,200. The cost varies considerably based on the size of the chimney, the type of brick, and its accessibility from both inside and outside the home.

Cost to Repoint a Brick House

To repoint a perfectly square, 2,600-square-foot house with 2,000 square feet of brick sides, expect to pay at least $6,000 or as much as $30,000. However, most contractors will lower prices after the first 1,000 square feet.

Repointing a Stone Wall Cost

Repointing a stone wall costs $500 to $2,500. The size of the wall and whether it's ground level determines the final price.

Cost of Repointing a Stone Foundation

Homeowners may pay $3,500 to $6,500 or more to have their stone foundation repointed, while smaller basements can cost less than $1,500.

Because it's hard to see the work, many masons do this type of job on a “time and materials” basis. Masonry contractors charge an hourly rate of $70 to $110 and add on the mortar cost, which usually makes up only 10% to 20% of the total project.

Repointing Patio Cost

The price of patio repair ranges from $700 to $2,250. For a brick patio, you can expect to pay the same square foot prices (between $3 and $15 per square foot). An average 10-by-10-foot patio will average $800 to $1,200, but it could cost as little as $300.

Tuckpointing vs. Repointing

You might hear people use “tuckpointing” and “repointing” interchangeably. Even professional masons sometimes conflate the two terms in casual conversation. However, tuckpointing and repointing are slightly different, so you’ll notice a difference in the overall tuckpointing cost vs. repointing brick cost per square foot.

What’s the difference between repointing and tuckpointing?

• Repointing: Repointing refers to removing about one inch of old mortar, typically by grinding or chiseling, then laying in new mortar. Brick and stone walls and chimneys normally require repointing every 20 to 30 years as general maintenance.

• Tuckpointing: Tuckpointing also involves grinding out old mortar and filling in with new mortar, but it goes further. The mason color-matches the mortar to the brick. Then, the mason cuts a thin and straight groove in the color-matched mortar and fills it with a contrasting colored mortar to give the illusion of straight, tight joints (called “fillets”).

Note: In new construction, masons are merely brick pointing (rather than repointing) when building a brick wall. Sometimes, masons use the term “brick pointing” even when they mean repointing. 

Brick Repointing vs. Replacement

Before starting your project, consider whether repointing or replacement is best. Repointing is often sufficient if the structure has only minor damages, such as small cracks or loose mortar. However, if extensive spalling or deep cracks exist, replacement may be a better long-term solution.

The mason will remove the old bricks, clean the area, prepare new mortar, install new bricks, and repoint the joints. The average cost of new bricks ranges from $350 to $850 per 1,000. While more costly, replacement offers improved aesthetics, structural integrity, and durability. 

Does Repointing Brick Increase Home Value?

Repointing can increase home value, depending on your location and current market conditions. Cracked or damaged mortar can make your home look rundown. By repointing, you’ll enhance its curb appeal and attract potential buyers. It’ll also add structural integrity to your home and prevent further damage, which signals to buyers that they won’t have to worry about costly repairs in the near future. 

Budgeting for Brick Repointing

Brick repointing can add up depending on the size and condition of the affected area. To keep costs down, consider the following money-saving tips:

• Compare quotes from multiple contractors to find the most cost-effective option in your area.

• Schedule the project during the off-season to find reduced labor rates.

• Opt for standard mortar mixes rather than custom blends to keep the cost of materials down.

• If repointing the entire structure isn’t in your budget, focus on the area with the most damage.

• Do some prep work yourself, such as cleaning, to save on labor fees.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.