Spalling brick repair cost guide

If you’ve noticed your brickwork looking a bit damaged and broken or crumbling in parts, chances are you have spalling bricks to deal with. In this guide we look at the average spalling brick repair cost to get your bricks back on top form.

How much does spalling brick repair cost?

The cost of repairing spalling brick will depend on the extent of the problem, the number of bricks affected and the type of brick involved.

One of the most common approaches for repair is cutting out bricks from an external wall and replacing them with new bricks bedded in cement mortar. The average cost for a single spalling brick repair is around £12 – £26 per brick.

If you have a special type of brick, the cost of spalling brick repair may increase. To get accurate quotes for costs to repair spalling brick in your area, we recommend contacting your local brick specialists.

Factors affecting the cost of repairing spalling brick

There are a number of factors that will directly affect the cost of spalling brick repair, including:

• Number of bricks affected
• The extent of the damage
• Type of bricks used
• Any prep work or additional repairs needed
• Where you live

What is spalling brick?

Spalling brick is a term used to describe brick that has surface damage, most commonly seen as flaking, crumbling, peeling or chunks of the brick surface breaking off. The cause of spalling is water (typically from rain, snow or wet soil) being absorbed into the brick and then either freezing and causing damage or simply seeping in and weakening the brick.

Spalling tends to be a bigger problem in colder climates, where the freezing and thawing process causes a lot of damage. Although it can also be an issue in milder climates too.

Repointing brickwork

If there’s damage to the mortar surrounding the bricks, you may need to repoint your brickwork. To find out more about what that entails and how much it will cost, check out our repointing cost guide.

Useful spalling brick repair checklist

• If you notice spalling brickwork, try to identify where the moisture could be coming from.
• Seek professional advice from your local brickwork specialists.
• Shop around for fair and competitive spalling brick repair costs, and ask for a detailed breakdown of costs.
• Always hire a tradesperson with relevant brickwork experience and ask to see examples of their recent work.

FAQs

Can I repair spalling bricks myself?

If you’re experienced in dealing with brickwork or it’s only a brick or two that needs repairing then you may choose to source the materials and repair the spalling bricks yourself. However, if the damage is more extensive then we would recommend hiring a brickwork expert if you want to ensure the work is done to a professional standard – as there may also be a serious underlying issue that needs fixing.