Brick repointing: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What brick repointing is

Brick repointing grinds out worn or missing mortar joints and fills them with fresh mortar that matches the original in strength and color. It restores the wall's protection from water and the look of the brickwork, and it is most often needed on older homes where the mortar has eroded over decades.

Signs you need it

  • Mortar joints are crumbling, sandy or missing, and you can push a tool into them
  • Water gets into the wall during rain and shows up as damp spots, stains or a musty smell inside
  • The brick faces are chipping or spalling near the joints, which is often a sign that water is trapped
  • The joints are recessed well behind the brick face, leaving the wall looking worn or uneven
  • A chimney, a parapet or the top of a wall shows open joints where water can soak in
  • Plants or moss are growing out of the joints, which means water is sitting in them

What the pro does

  • Inspect the joints to find where the mortar is loose, cracked or washing out, and test the brick for softness
  • Rake out the old mortar to a set depth, cutting it back to sound material without damaging the brick edges
  • Clean the joints of dust and loose material so the new mortar can bond to them
  • Mix repoint mortar to match the strength and color of the original, testing a sample on a hidden spot first
  • Pack the mortar into the joints in layers, filling each one fully so no air pockets are left behind
  • Tool the joints to match the original profile, then keep the wall damp and covered while the mortar cures

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The area of wall that needs repointing and how many joints are open or failing
  • Height and access, since upper walls and chimneys need scaffolding or a lift
  • The depth of mortar to be raked out, which can be deeper on old, weathered joints
  • Matching the mortar color and the joint profile to the original, which often needs sample testing
  • The type of brick, since soft historic brick needs a softer mortar that is harder to match and place
  • Whether the cause of the damage, such as a leaking gutter or failed flashing, must be fixed first

What a written quote should spell out

  • Areas to be repointed, with the wall sides and the heights listed
  • Mortar type, color and strength, and whether a sample was made to match the original
  • The joint profile to be tooled, such as flush, concave or V-joint
  • Rake-out depth and how the debris is cleaned up
  • Protection measures, such as scaffolding, covers and weather limits for the cure
  • Any cause repairs, such as flashing, coping or gutter work, listed separately

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What is the mortar mix, and how will it compare to the original in strength?
  • How deep will you rake out the joints, and how do you avoid damaging the brick?
  • Will the new joints match the color and profile of the rest of the wall?
  • Do you test the brick for softness before choosing the mortar?
  • What is causing the damage, and will you fix that too?
  • How long must the new mortar be kept damp and protected?

Red flags

  • Uses a hard Portland mortar on soft older brick, which can cause the faces to flake and spall
  • Cuts out the joints with a grinder across the full joint width, which chews and widens the brick edges
  • Fills the joints without raking out the old mortar first
  • Leaves the joints unprotected in heat or freezing weather during the cure
  • Does not mention the water or the flashing that is causing the failure

What you can do yourself

A homeowner can repoint a few small, low, sound joints on a sturdy wall with a matched mortar and careful tools. Call a pro for historic or soft brick, large areas, high walls, chimneys and any wall with bulges or cracks, because mismatched mortar can do more damage than the original wear. Mortar and grinding dust contain fine silica and are caustic when wet, so use a respirator rated for silica dust, eye protection and gloves.

Licenses and permits

Repointing is commonly done by licensed contractors, and it can need a permit when it is part of a larger masonry repair or a chimney job in many areas. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department before work starts.

Brick repointing questions

Why is my brick falling apart after repointing?

The most common cause is a mortar that is harder than the brick, which pushes moisture and stress into the brick faces. A matched mortar lets the brick move and breathe, which keeps the faces from failing.

How do I know when repointing is needed?

Repointing is needed when the joints are open, sandy or receding enough to let water in. A pro can test the joints by probing them and show you where the mortar has failed.

Will the new mortar look different from the old?

It can look different at first, especially on older walls where the old mortar has weathered. A good pro matches the color with a sample and softens the difference over time as the joints age.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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