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 Galashiels? 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
- TD1
- Planning rules
- Scotland
- Local area
- The Scottish Borders
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
Brickwork and repointing prices in Galashiels
Prices for brickwork and repointing vary from house to house, but in Galashiels most projects fall within £2,400–£5,800 including VAT. That reflects costs in Scotland, about 4% below the national guide. Treat the table as a budgeting aid; the written figure follows a survey we carry out for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Galashiels |
|---|---|---|
| Chimney or small area | Repointing a chimney stack, gable or single wall, including access. | £600–£1,750 |
| Typical semi-detached | Repointing the main elevations of a 3-bed semi, including scaffolding. | £2,400–£5,800 |
| Detached or lime work | Larger houses, or period homes repointed in lime with brick repairs. | £4,800–£9,600 |
What moves the price up or down:
- Wall area to repoint and the height of the house
- Mortar type: cement or lime, and joint style
- Number of bricks to replace and how well they match
- Scaffolding and access, including chimneys
Scope of the work
- Survey of mortar, bricks, cracks and the cause of any damp
- Raking out old mortar to the correct depth
- 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
- Waste removal and a tidy site
Homes in Scottish Borders
Mill towns such as Hawick, Galashiels and Selkirk have stone terraces and tenements from the textile industry, Melrose and Kelso have older sandstone centres, and farmhouses and cottages across the Borders are built of whinstone or sandstone under slate roofs. Post-war and newer estates surround the larger towns.
Cold winters with frost and snow on higher ground, and the Tweed and Teviot can flood low-lying properties.
So when we survey a Galashiels property for brickwork and repointing, the first step is working out how it was built and what has been changed since.
Do you need permission in Galashiels?
Each UK nation sets its own consent rules, and Galashiels is in Scotland. What follows is a plain summary; we check the specifics for your property with the council before pricing anything.
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.
From survey to handover
We look at the job
We arrange a free site survey on a date convenient to you. We measure up, look at the existing structure and access, and discuss your plans for brickwork and repointing so the price reflects your home.
Your fixed price
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.
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.
Finish and handover
On site, the agreed plan is followed and any change is put in writing first. At completion we do a final clean, go through the snagging list with you and leave you with the relevant documents.
What you can expect from us
Common questions
Who do I deal with during the job?
One point of contact manages your project from survey to handover. They schedule the trades working under our contract, keep you updated on progress, and are the person to call with any question. You don't need to coordinate builders, electricians or decorators separately, because that is part of what we do.
Do I need planning permission in Galashiels?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Galashiels is in Scotland, so Scotland's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
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.
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.
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.
Near Galashiels
Our coverage in Galashiels includes TD1. We also travel to Hawick, Kelso and Peebles, so neighbouring addresses are looked after on exactly the same terms as those in town.