Scotland · Building Works

Brickwork and repointing in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

Brickwork and repointing across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, including Aberdeen, Peterhead, Nigg and Inverurie. Planning notes for Scotland and local guide prices.

Close-up of freshly repointed red brickwork

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Repointing is raking out old, crumbling mortar from between bricks and replacing it with fresh mortar, sealing the joints against rain and protecting the wall; brickwork repairs replace spalled or cracked bricks and rebuild damaged sections.

From Aberdeen, Peterhead, Nigg and Inverurie to the quieter corners of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, homeowners can book a free survey for brickwork and repointing. We look at the building, agree the scope, then send a quote in writing that fixes the cost of that scope. Work follows the rules for Scotland, and our published range for Scotland, £2,400–£5,800 with VAT, gives you a sense of budget before we visit.

Guide price
£2,400–£5,800 inc VAT
Time on site
3–10 days for a typical house
Planning rules
Scotland
Price level
About 4% below the national guide
Towns listed
4
Survey
Free, with a written quote

Brickwork and repointing prices in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

Here is how the guide price for brickwork and repointing breaks down in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. We start from national figures and adjust for Scotland, which comes out about 4% below the national guide. The resulting range, VAT included, is £2,400–£5,800, and a survey, at no cost to you, firms it up.

Type of jobWhat it usually involvesGuide in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Chimney or small areaRepointing a chimney stack, gable or single wall, including access.£600–£1,750
Typical semi-detachedRepointing the main elevations of a 3-bed semi, including scaffolding.£2,400–£5,800
Detached or lime workLarger houses, or period homes repointed in lime with brick repairs.£4,800–£9,600

Your price depends mostly on:

  • Wall area to repoint and the height of the house
  • Number of bricks to replace and how well they match
  • Scaffolding and access, including chimneys
  • Condition of the existing mortar and how hard it is to remove

What’s included?

  • Scaffolding or access towers where needed
  • Raking out old mortar to the correct depth
  • Mortar mixed to suit the wall, in lime or cement
  • Replacement of spalled or cracked bricks
  • Clean-down of brick faces after pointing
  • Waste removal and a tidy site
Patch repointingRepointing only the worst areas, such as a chimney, gable or around a downpipe.
Full elevation repointingRepointing an entire wall or the whole house for a uniform, weathertight finish.
Lime repointingBreathable lime mortar for older, solid-walled homes built with soft bricks.
Garden walls and piersNew or rebuilt garden walls, piers and boundary walls on proper foundations.

Homes in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

Aberdeen is built largely of grey granite, from tenements and terraces to granite villas in the West End, with post-war council housing and newer estates on the outskirts. Across Aberdeenshire, harled stone cottages, fishing-town terraces in Peterhead and Fraserburgh, and modern developments in commuter towns such as Westhill and Ellon are common.

Granite walls need repointing with a mortar matched to the stone, and slate roofs often want attention after hard winters. Harled cottages need breathable finishes, while newer estates commonly add extensions, garage conversions and driveways.

Cold North Sea winds, coastal haar and hard winter frosts are routine, so roofs, harling and exposed fixings need a robust specification.

Planning and building rules in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire comes under Scotland, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.

In Scotland, repointing and like-for-like masonry repairs are maintenance; listed buildings and conservation areas may need consent if materials or appearance change.

A building warrant is not normally needed for repointing; structural rebuilding of walls or chimneys can need one.

Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.

How does the job run?

  1. Survey and measure

    A free survey comes first. It gives us what we need to price brickwork and repointing properly, including dimensions, existing materials and access for deliveries, and gives you the chance to ask anything you like.

  2. Price and scope agreed

    We put everything into a written, fixed-price quote: the specification, what's excluded, staged payments and the expected time on site. Take whatever time you need to decide; there's no pressure to commit.

  3. Getting ready

    Next comes planning the work itself. We set a start date that suits you, line up the right trades, and make sure any approvals for brickwork and repointing are in place before the first day on site.

  4. Finish and handover

    Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.

What you can expect from us

Tidy, protected work areasFloors, furniture and access routes are covered and protected while we work, and the site is tidied at the end of every working day.
One contract, several tradesJobs that need builders, plasterers, electricians and decorators come under a single contract, so you are not coordinating separate firms yourself.
Plain-English adviceWe explain options, materials and trade-offs without jargon, so you can make decisions about your home with a clear picture of what each choice means.
Realistic timetablesWe give you an honest estimate of time on site at the quote stage and keep you informed if anything affects the programme once work starts.

Questions about brickwork and repointing in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

Can you match the colour of my existing mortar?

Matching mortar colour is done by choosing the right sand and, where needed, adding pigment or using a coloured lime. We make test panels and let them dry, because mortar looks darker when wet. The joint style, such as flush, bucket handle or weatherstruck, also affects the look. An exact match is not always possible on old walls, but a careful match blends in well.

Should my house be repointed with lime or cement?

Houses built before about the 1920s were usually built with soft bricks and lime mortar, and should normally be repointed in lime. Hard cement mortar in these walls traps moisture and can cause the brick faces to crumble. Newer homes built with cement mortar are usually repointed in a similar mix. We check your wall construction before recommending a mortar.

How much will brickwork and repointing cost in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?

As a guide, expect to pay £2,400–£5,800 including VAT for brickwork and repointing in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. That range is adjusted for Scotland, which runs about 4% below the national guide. Where your project lands depends on size, materials, access and the condition of what is already there. We confirm a fixed price in writing after a free survey of your home.

Can you combine brickwork and repointing with other work?

Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan brickwork and repointing alongside other work on your Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.

Will repointing cure damp?

Repointing can stop damp caused by rain getting through failed mortar joints, which is common on exposed walls. It will not fix damp from leaking gutters, a bridged damp-proof course, condensation or high ground levels against the wall. We look for the cause during the survey and recommend fixing that, so repointing is not done for the wrong reason.

Towns in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire

We offer brickwork and repointing in each of the towns below, all within Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Select yours for guide prices, postcodes covered and nearby places.

Planning brickwork and repointing in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?

Get a clearer idea of the cost of brickwork and repointing in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire with our guide-price tool, then book a survey at no charge when you're ready for a fixed figure.

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