Chimney repointing: cost and how it is done

Updated October 2, 2026 · Every figure checked twice against its source · How we verify

Chimney repointing costs $500 to $2,500 on average, or $8 to $30 per square foot or $20 to $50 per row, according to HomeGuide's tuckpointing and repointing cost guide; Fixr gives the same $500 to $2,500 for chimney repointing. HomeGuide's chimney repair guide puts most chimney repointing projects higher, at $700 to $3,000. Repointing removes deteriorated mortar from the joints and packs in new mortar. The Brick Industry Association (BIA) says the old mortar should come out to at least twice the joint width, generally ¾ in., and that the new mortar's compressive strength must be equal to or lower than the original mortar's.

What is chimney repointing?

HomeGuide says chimney repointing replaces deteriorated mortar between bricks or stones with fresh mortar, maintaining the chimney's structural integrity and preventing water infiltration. BIA's Technical Note 46 defines repointing as removing damaged or deteriorated mortar to a uniform depth and placing new mortar in the joint.

The sources do not use "tuckpointing" the same way. BIA says repointing is sometimes referred to as tuckpointing, and Preservation Brief 2 from the National Park Service calls "tuck pointing" a somewhat inaccurate name for it. HomeGuide says tuckpointing uses mortar that closely matches the brick color plus a thin line of contrasting putty, while repointing matches the old mortar color. Fixr's chimney repair guide says repointing restores the chimney stack's mortar and brickwork, and that tuckpointing can be an important repair to improve the chimney's strength but may be used purely for aesthetic reasons. Fixr's 2022 brick tuckpointing guide says it two ways: its FAQ calls repointing a utility maintenance project and tuckpointing more of an aesthetic upgrade, while another section says tuckpointing occurs before repointing as a preventative measure, and repointing is required when the brick is at risk of serious damage or collapse.

Cost to repoint chimney

HomeGuide's tuckpointing guide says two-story or complex stacks cost $5,000 to $7,000 (its summary table says up to $7,000). Chimneys above 8 feet cost 20% to 40% more because masons must use scaffolding, and minimum fees of $200 to $1,500 may apply.

HomeGuide's chimney repair guide contradicts itself: its price table lists repointing and tuckpointing at $500 to $2,500, but its repointing section says $700 to $3,000 for most chimney projects, with labor about 90% of the cost. Fixr's 2022 tuckpointing guide puts labor at 50% or more of the total cost.

Fixr's chimney repair guide lists a cheaper chimney mortar repair, re-mortaring, at $150 to $500, in which cracked and crumbling sections of mortar are patched and replaced. HomeGuide lists these extra costs:

Signs your chimney needs repointing

HomeGuide lists these signs that a house or chimney needs repointing: damaged bricks; flaking, crumbling 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; and leaks or water damage. BIA names mortar erosion exceeding ¼ in. (6.4 mm), crumbling mortar, mortar with voids, hairline cracks in the mortar and cracks between the brick and mortar as conditions that require repointing, and says that when this is the case, repointing is one of the most effective ways to reduce moisture penetration. It says looking at the joints and light scraping with a metal tool are common ways to find them.

BIA says cracks do not necessarily warrant immediate repair, and that repair may be warranted when exterior cracks and deterioration correspond to uncontrolled water penetration and other causes have been ruled out. HomeGuide's repair guide says cracks usually start small at the corners but can expand quickly if water seeps in and freezes. Our chimney leak repair guide covers the other places water gets in.

Fix the cause first. Preservation Brief 2 says it is "erroneous to assume that repointing alone will solve deficiencies that result from other problems", such as leaking roofs or gutters, differential settlement or rising damp. HomeGuide says repointing is only effective if the damage is limited to the mortar joints. BIA treats cracks wider than 0.075 in. (2 mm), stepped or diagonal cracks and widespread spalled brick as structural, and says such cracks often require professional investigation.

How to repoint a chimney

Neither standards source is written for chimneys: BIA's Technical Note 46 covers maintenance of brick masonry generally, and the Park Service's Preservation Brief 2 covers historic masonry, though it says its guidance is appropriate for other masonry buildings as well. The order below is ours, grouped from their text. BIA says repointing should be done only by qualified and experienced repointing craftspeople, and that an excellent mason may not be qualified for repointing.

1. Cut out the deteriorated mortar. Remove it with a toothing chisel or a special pointer's grinder to a uniform depth of at least twice the joint width, generally ¾ in., or until sound mortar is reached; a grinder cannot clear the full depth of head joints without damaging adjacent brick, so those are finished with a chisel (BIA). The Park Service gives 2 to 2½ times the joint width, about ½ to 1 inch for most brick joints, and says mechanical tools should never be used on vertical joints (NPS).
2. Clean the joints. Remove all dust and debris by brushing, blowing with oil-free compressed air or rinsing with water (BIA).
3. Match the old mortar. Duplicate the original mortar's ingredients and proportions; if the type is unknown, BIA recommends sending samples to a testing laboratory, and using mock-ups or sample panels to match its appearance (BIA).
4. Prehydrate the mortar. Mix the dry ingredients, add only enough water for a damp mix that holds its shape when formed into a ball, and let it stand 1 to 1½ hr before adding water for placement (BIA).
5. Dampen the joints. Dampen them, but let the brickwork absorb all surface water before placing the mortar (BIA).
6. Pack in thin layers. Pack the mortar tightly in layers no more than ¼ in. thick, tool each when "thumbprint hard", and tool the last layer to match the original joint profile (BIA). The Park Service says to let each layer harden before the next, because most shrinkage happens while mortar hardens (NPS).
7. Cure it (Park Service only). In its discussion of high-lime mortars, the Park Service says misting with a fine hand sprayer can be simple to do for a day or two after repointing, and that walls should be covered with burlap for the first three days (NPS).

Fixr's tuckpointing guide says to remove the old mortar at least 1" deep, deeper than BIA's general ¾ in. The Park Service says that generally, wall temperatures between 40 and 95 degrees F prevent freezing or excessive evaporation of the water in the mortar; HomeGuide gives air temperatures between 40° and 90° F for 24 hours before and 72 hours after.

Chimney mortar mix for repointing

Preservation Brief 2 says the new mortar "must have greater vapor permeability and be softer (measured in compressive strength) than the masonry units" and "must be as vapor permeable and as soft or softer (measured in compressive strength) than the historic mortar." It shows a brick wall where hard portland cement mortar trapped moisture until water pressure popped the surface off the bricks.

BIA says using a mortar with higher compressive strength than the original may significantly impair the surrounding brickwork and can lead to spalling of the brick face. For repointing, it recommends prehydrated Type N, O or K mortar:

For building a new chimney, BIA's Technical Notes 19B recommend Type N portland cement-lime mortar. HomeGuide says many homes built before 1930 used lime-based mortar and that repointing them with harder Portland cement mortar may damage the structure. Fixr's chimney repair guide says the best mixes have a Portland cement base with sand, limestone and clay.

Repoint or rebuild chimney

HomeGuide's rebuild guide says repointing repairs crumbling and damaged mortar joints to help support a stack that is still structurally secure, and does not work if the chimney damage is substantial. Its tuckpointing guide says a rebuild from the roofline up costs $1,000 to $3,500 when the damage is too extensive to repair with repointing, and total replacement from the ground up costs $4,000 to $15,000. HomeGuide's repair guide points to repair for minor mortar deterioration between bricks and to a rebuild for extensive mortar deterioration throughout the entire chimney, or when repair costs approach 50% or more of replacement costs.

Preservation Brief 2 says it is preferable to repoint only the areas that need it, but if 25 to 50 per cent or more of a wall needs repointing, doing the whole wall may be more cost effective. BIA says it is advisable to repoint all mortar joints in the affected wall area, because it may be difficult to tell which joints let moisture in. Prices for each kind of rebuild are in our chimney rebuild cost guide.

How long chimney repointing lasts

HomeGuide says repointing lasts 25 to 30 years on average, depending on the climate and moisture. Fixr's chimney repair guide says that, in general, mortar lasts between 20 and 30 years. Preservation Brief 2 says a good repointing job is meant to last at least 30 years, and preferably 50 to 100 years. BIA estimates 50+ years before mortar in walls needs repair, and says chimneys that experience more severe exposures may require repairs at shorter intervals. HomeGuide's rebuild guide also mentions repointing and resealing the grout joints every five years as maintenance for the top of a chimney, which it says degrades first.

Hiring chimney repointers

HomeGuide's repair guide says repointing should always be handled by certified professionals, and its tuckpointing guide says the wrong technique or mortar type may damage the structure and that repointing creates mortar dust that is hazardous if inhaled. Fixr does not recommend a DIY approach to chimney repair.

HomeGuide suggests asking a mason which mortar type they will use and why and whether the new mortar will match the color of the existing mortar. If you are not sure what the chimney needs, HomeGuide puts a basic chimney inspection at $100 to $300. For other chimney prices, see the chimney repair cost guide. For a repointing quote, use the form below and we will send your request to a company that serves your ZIP code.

Sources

1. HomeGuide, "How much does tuckpointing or repointing cost?", February 9, 2026: homeguide.com
2. HomeGuide, "How much does chimney repair cost?", January 22, 2026: homeguide.com
3. HomeGuide, "How much does a chimney rebuild or replacement cost?", February 9, 2026: homeguide.com
4. Fixr, "Chimney Repair Cost", updated January 31, 2025: fixr.com
5. Fixr, "Brick Tuckpointing", updated August 18, 2022: fixr.com
6. Brick Industry Association, Technical Note 46, "Maintenance of Brick Masonry", December 2017: gobrick.com
7. Brick Industry Association, Technical Notes 19B, "Residential Chimneys: Design and Construction", reissued April 1998: gobrick.com
8. National Park Service, Preservation Brief 2, "Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry Buildings", Robert C. Mack and John P. Speweik, October 1998: nps.gov

All sources read October 2, 2026.