A complete guide to chimney repointing

Is your chimney looking a little worse for wear? Restore your chimney's appearance and strength by hiring a professional chimney repointing service. Read on to discover everything you need to know about the repointing process.

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What is chimney repointing?

Chimney repointing is needed when the outer layer of mortar on a chimney starts to deteriorate. This restorative process will improve your chimney's appearance and increase its structural integrity.

A chimney repair expert will skillfully remove the damaged mortar joints and fill them with fresh mortar.

Repointing is the best solution for small areas of damage. Your chimney may need to be rebuilt if there are multiple areas of decayed mortar.

Repointing or tuckpointing?

The terms chimney repointing and tuckpointing are often used interchangeably. However, these chimney repair processes are slightly different.

A repoint service focusses on renewing damaged mortar joints
Tuckpointing is used for more aesthetic purposes. This process involves using different colours of mortar to create the illusion of thinner mortar joints. A tuckpointing restoration blends the mortar shade with your existing bricks. This process transforms the appearance of your chimney's outer layer

A professional will take the following steps to repoint a chimney:

Gain safe access to your roof using a roof ladder or scaffolding
Inspect the chimney to find decayed and damaged mortar
Scrape/scoop/chisel away the old mortar
Wet the newly exposed mortar joints
Carefully insert new mortar into the joints

Repointing is a labour intensive job and should be left to the professionals. Search your postcode to find local experts you can trust in your area.

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Reasons to repoint a chimney

Professional chimney repointing can restore an old chimney back to its just-like-new condition. A restorative repoint service will have the following benefits:

Strengthening the entire chimney structure and reducing the risk of collapse
Providing additional waterproofing and preventing rainwater from causing damp
Increasing the life span of the chimney as a whole
Enhancing chimney appearance
Improving property insulation. Freshly sealed mortar joints will reduce the risk of cold draughts entering your home

Professional repointing can reduce your need for a full chimney replacement in the future. Investing in a repointing service now could avoid larger repair and replacement bills later on.

Signs your chimney needs repointing

So, how exactly can you tell if your chimney needs repointing? We understand that most homeowners don't spend time on their roofs performing a chimney inspection!

Damaged wallpaper is a telltale sign that your chimney mortar has deteriorated. Decaying mortar joints can allow moisture to enter your chimney and cause damage to the surrounding walls in your home.

Flaking, damp, and yellowing wallpaper around your fireplace indicates that there is excess moisture inside your chimney.

We don't recommend climbing onto your roof yourself if you notice wallpaper damage. Instead, hire a professional to safely inspect your chimney.

The key signs that a chimney needs repointing include:

Discoloured and decayed mortar joints
Flaking mortar
Cracked chimney crown
Spalling brickwork
The last repointing was 30+ years ago

Chimney mortar joints last decades. However, they will need replacing in time as weather exposure causes deterioration over the years.

The amount of time between repointing work can vary significantly. Some mortar joints remain in good condition for almost a century and others will need restoring within only a few decades.

Ignoring damage to mortar joints can lead to moisture damage and structural collapse. Deal with any damage as soon as possible to avoid the cost of a full chimney rebuild or replacement.

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How much does a professional chimney repoint service cost?

We recommend only attempting a DIY chimney repoint job if you have the required skills. You must also be comfortable and trained to safely work at height.

Hire a professional to stay safe and receive the best results. Not all roofers are trained to repoint a chimney, but some do have the relevant skills and experience.

A chimney repairs specialist is the best tradesperson for the job. An expert can inspect your chimney and provide the appropriate restorative work.

Several factors can influence the cost of a professional chimney repointing service:

Chimney access - Tradespeople may need to use scaffolding to safely work on your chimney. Scaffolding will increase your total repointing fee. Read our scaffolding cost guide for more price details
Labour needed - The amount of work required will impact your project cost. The more complex the job, the higher the price. Complexity and job duration both play a part in the final quote
Your location - Chimney repair specialists charge more in areas where demand is higher. Repointing quotes are higher in London and large cities

The average cost of raking out existing mortar is £35per m². Repointing brickwork costs £55per m²and the average fee increases to £80 for stonework.

The average total cost for professional chimney repointing is£750. If scaffolding is needed, this can add an extra£20per m² to your project.

Read our expert chimney repointing cost guide for a full breakdown of current prices.

Hiring a professional chimney repointing service

Hire a chimney specialist to give your chimney a new lease of life. Finding the best local repointing experts is easy with Checkatrade.

Our online directory is the best place to find reputable tradespeople in your local area. We thoroughly check our members and only approve tradespeople who meet our high quality standards. Enter your postcode below to find reputable tradespeople near you.

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