Brick Repointing in Hartford County

What repointing actually is

Repointing means removing failed mortar from the joints — typically to at least twice the joint's width — and tooling new mortar in. It is not smearing new mortar over old, and it is not painting joints to look fixed. Done right, a repointed wall gets another 25–30 years. Done shallow, the new pointing pops out in a season or two.

What it costs in 2026

• Ground-level walls: $6–$14 per square foot for straightforward work.
• Above about 8 feet: $8–$25 per square foot — scaffolding is a real cost, not padding.
• Hand-chiseled joints: up to $25 per square foot where narrow or cement-covered joints cannot be ground.
• Small jobs: $400–$2,500 — minimums apply because setup, grinding, and cleanup do not shrink.
• Full house: $5,000–$25,000 single-story, $7,000–$38,000 two-story.

The mortar question — the one that matters most

On a pre-war Connecticut home, the original mortar is almost certainly lime-based and softer than the brick. Pointing it with hard Portland cement traps moisture behind the brick face, and freeze-thaw cycles then shatter the brick itself — spalling. The fix is lime mortar matched for color and sand, softer than the brick so it sacrifices itself instead. Any mason who wants to point your 1920s colonial with one bag of Portland cement should be asked to leave. See our guide to lime mortar and historic brick.

When repointing is not enough

Repointing fixes mortar. It does not fix a wall that is bowing, leaning, or stair-step cracking — that is movement, and it needs a structural assessment and usually a partial or full rebuild at $75–$120 per square foot. A mason who quotes repointing for a bowing wall is selling you a repeat job. See repointing vs. rebuild.