How much does repointing cost in the UK?
Repointing costs £20 to £50 in the UK, typically around £32 per m². What moves the price most is total wall area in square metres, so a simpler job sits near the bottom of that range and a larger or higher-spec one near the top. Prices reviewed June 2026.
Repointing renews the mortar joints in brickwork. It is priced by the square metre of wall, and most of the cost is the slow work of raking out the old mortar, plus access to upper floors.
Repointing cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your repointing in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Repointing cost breakdown
Typical repointing costs, by the unit:
| What | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Per m², supplied and fitted | £20 to £50 per m² |
| + Scaffolding for upper floors | add £8 to £20 per m² |
| + Lime mortar (period property) | add £10 to £25 per m² |
| 20 m² | £400 to £1,000 |
| 40 m² (typical) | £800 to £2,000 |
| 80 m² | £1,600 to £4,000 |
What's included in the price?
Typical repointing prices include:
- Raking out the old mortar joints
- Mixing and applying fresh mortar
- Brushing off and finishing the joint
- Basic ground-level access
What changes the price?
The things that move repointing prices most:
Total wall area in square metres
How deep the old mortar has to be raked out
Access, and scaffolding for upper floors
Lime mortar for older or period properties
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, repointing typically costs around £40 per m², about 30% above the UK average of £32. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £30.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £20 | £30 | £50 |
| London | £25 | £40 | £65 |
| South East / South West | £25 | £35 | £55 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £20 | £30 | £45 |
Guide prices per m², scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Repointing cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £15 | £25 | £45 |
| Birmingham | £20 | £30 | £50 |
| Bristol | £20 | £35 | £55 |
| Cardiff | £20 | £30 | £45 |
| Edinburgh | £20 | £30 | £50 |
| Glasgow | £20 | £30 | £45 |
| Leeds | £20 | £30 | £45 |
| Liverpool | £20 | £30 | £45 |
| London | £25 | £40 | £65 |
| Manchester | £20 | £30 | £50 |
| Newcastle | £20 | £30 | £45 |
| Sheffield | £20 | £30 | £45 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for repointing, not quotes.
In London and the South East, figures run above the national figures, mainly on labour and access.
Common questions
How much does repointing cost?
Repointing costs roughly £20 to £50 per m² of wall in the UK, typically around £32. A single house elevation is often £1,000 to £2,500, and a full house £3,000 to £5,000 or more once scaffolding is included. The wide range reflects how much raking out is needed and how far up the wall the work goes, rather than the cost of the mortar itself.
Why is repointing expensive?
It is labour, not materials. Raking out old mortar to a proper depth by hand or with care is slow, methodical work, and then each joint is filled and finished. Add scaffolding or towers to reach upper floors and the access alone can be a large part of the bill. The mortar itself is cheap; you are paying for the hours and the access, which is why quotes are given per square metre.
Can I repoint brickwork myself?
You can repoint a small, low-level area yourself, and it is satisfying work, but it is more skilled than it looks. Getting the mortar mix, colour and joint profile to match, and raking out to the right depth without damaging the bricks, takes practice. The bigger risk is using too hard a cement mortar on soft or period brick, which traps damp and spalls the brick faces. For anything at height or on an older building, use a builder.
How much does it cost to repoint a terraced house?
For a terraced house, the front elevation alone is often £1,000 to £2,500 depending on height and condition, and doing the rear as well roughly doubles it. Full repointing with scaffolding can reach £4,000 to £6,000. Many terraces only need the exposed, weather-facing elevation done, so it is worth getting a builder to assess which walls actually need it rather than pricing the whole house by default.
Do I need scaffolding to repoint?
For anything above the ground floor, yes. Repointing is slow, two-handed work that cannot be done safely or well off a ladder, so towers or scaffolding are needed for upper walls, adding roughly £8 to £20 per m² or a separate scaffold hire cost. This is a big reason a full-house repoint costs several times a single ground-floor elevation, and why bundling it with other roofline work that needs access can save money.
Should a period house be repointed with lime mortar?
Usually yes. Older solid-wall brick and stone were built with soft lime mortar that lets the wall breathe and move. Repointing them with hard modern cement traps moisture in the brick, causing damp inside and spalling faces outside, and it is a common and damaging mistake. Lime repointing is more specialist and adds roughly £10 to £25 per m², but on a period property it is the correct and cheaper choice over the long run.
Does repointing add value to a house?
Not usually pound for pound. At £20 to £50 per m2, repointing is maintenance rather than an upgrade, so buyers expect the mortar to be sound and rarely pay a premium for fresh joints. Where it earns its keep is by stopping damp and frost damage, and by making a tired house show better for a sale. Do it because the wall needs it, not as an investment you expect to get back.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.