Argyll and Bute · Building Works

Brickwork and repointing in Dunoon

Local guide: £2,400–£5,800 inc VAT. Planning notes for Scotland, a free survey and one point of contact.

Close-up of freshly repointed red brickwork

Free survey in Dunoon

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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.

Thinking about brickwork and repointing in Dunoon? We take charge of the whole project, co-ordinating every trade involved, and one person keeps you updated. Guide prices for Scotland sit at £2,400–£5,800 including VAT, and a typical job takes 3–10 days for a typical house. Your own figure depends on what the survey finds and the specification you settle on.

Guide price
£2,400–£5,800 inc VAT
Time on site
3–10 days for a typical house
Postcodes
PA23
Planning rules
Scotland
Local area
Argyll and Bute
Survey
Free, with a written quote

Brickwork and repointing prices in Dunoon

Every figure below is a guide for brickwork and repointing in Dunoon, inclusive of VAT. Regional pricing for Scotland works out about 4% below the national guide, and the overall span is £2,400–£5,800. The survey costs you nothing, and after it we commit to a firm price for your specification in writing.

Type of jobWhat it usually involvesGuide in Dunoon
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

Expect these to shape the final quote:

  • Mortar type: cement or lime, and joint style
  • 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?

  • Survey of mortar, bricks, cracks and the cause of any damp
  • Scaffolding or access towers where needed
  • Mortar mixed to suit the wall, in lime or cement
  • Colour and joint style matched as closely as possible
  • Replacement of spalled or cracked bricks
  • Clean-down of brick faces after pointing
Patch repointingRepointing only the worst areas, such as a chimney, gable or around a downpipe.
Lime repointingBreathable lime mortar for older, solid-walled homes built with soft bricks.
Brick replacementCutting out spalled or cracked bricks and fitting matching reclaimed or new bricks.
Garden walls and piersNew or rebuilt garden walls, piers and boundary walls on proper foundations.

Local housing and brickwork and repointing

Much of Argyll and Bute is rural and coastal, with whitewashed or harled stone cottages, slate roofs and island homes. Helensburgh has Victorian villas, Oban, Dunoon and Rothesay have Victorian seaside terraces, and post-war and newer housing surrounds the main towns.

Stone cottages need lime harling, repointing and slate roof repairs; villas may need roof and window renewal. Island and remote properties need the programme planned around ferries, deliveries and weather.

Building traditions across Argyll and Bute also raise conservation and planning questions, so we check those for brickwork and repointing in Dunoon at the survey stage.

Permissions for brickwork and repointing in Dunoon

For anyone in Dunoon, the relevant framework is Scotland's. The summary below is general, so we always contact the council about your address before putting a price in writing.

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.

The four stages

  1. A visit to your home

    First, someone visits your home in Dunoon to see the space, take measurements and note anything that could affect the work, such as access or the condition of what is there. There is no charge for this visit.

  2. Your fixed price

    The quote arrives in writing, not over the phone. It covers the full scope, the finishes you've chosen, any exclusions and the payment schedule, with a fixed price tied to that specification.

  3. Dates and permissions

    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

    The work is carried out to the agreed specification, with floors and furniture protected and the site kept tidy. At the end we clean up, walk through the finished job with you and hand over any certificates.

What you can expect from us

One point of contactA single named contact handles your project from the first survey to the final handover, so you always know who to call with a question.
Written, fixed-price quotesYour quote states one fixed price for the work as we have specified it together, with inclusions and exclusions listed so there are no grey areas.
Clear staged paymentsThe quote sets out when each payment falls due, linked to stages of the work, so you know in advance what is owed and when.
Certified where requiredElectrical, gas and other notifiable work is carried out by suitably registered people, and you receive the relevant certificates when it is finished.

Common questions

Is repointing messy or noisy?

Raking out old mortar is noisy and dusty, especially when power tools are used on hard mortar. We sheet scaffolding to contain dust, keep windows closed nearby and clear up at the end of each day. The noisy phase moves around the house elevation by elevation. Inside, you may notice some dust on windowsills, so it helps to keep windows shut.

How do I know if my house needs repointing?

A house needs repointing when the mortar between bricks is crumbling, recessed well behind the brick face, cracked or missing. You may be able to scrape it out with a key. Damp patches inside, especially on exposed walls, and plants growing in joints are other signs. Patches of failed mortar can be repointed on their own, but widespread decay usually means a full elevation.

How much does repointing a house cost?

Repointing a typical 3-bed semi costs £2,400–£5,800, including scaffolding. As a guide, allow roughly £25–£55 per square metre of wall plus fixed costs for access and set-up. Chimney stacks, lime mortar and brick replacement add cost, while repointing a single elevation costs less. We confirm a fixed price after inspecting your walls.

What happens at the survey?

We visit your home at a time that suits you, look at the area involved, take measurements and check access, condition and any services that might be affected. We talk through what you want from brickwork and repointing, explain the options and answer questions. There is no charge and no obligation; afterwards we send a written quote.

Do you cover Greenock, Helensburgh and Isle of Bute?

Yes. As well as Dunoon, we cover Greenock, Helensburgh and Isle of Bute and the rest of Argyll and Bute. Our coverage is UK-wide, so the process is the same wherever you are: a free site survey, a quote in writing that fixes the price for the agreed scope, and one point of contact while the work is planned and carried out.

Nearby towns

Addresses in PA23 are all covered for Dunoon, along with Greenock, Helensburgh and Isle of Bute close by. Give us your postcode when you get in touch and we will confirm the details.

Talk to us about brickwork and repointing

Want to know what brickwork and repointing would cost for your house in Dunoon? Our guide-price tool gives you a range, and a free survey turns it into a written quote.

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