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.
Our guide for brickwork and repointing in Wales comes to £2,300–£5,500 with VAT added, and that range applies across West Glamorgan, including Swansea, Neath, Briton Ferry and Gorseinon. Your own price depends on the size of the job, the specification and how easy it is to work on the site. We survey for free, check any consents needed under the rules in Wales, and then put the price in writing.
- Guide price
- £2,300–£5,500 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–10 days for a typical house
- Planning rules
- Wales
- Price level
- About 8% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 5
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does brickwork and repointing cost in West Glamorgan?
Below is a breakdown of typical costs for brickwork and repointing in West Glamorgan. Because rates in Wales are about 8% below the national guide, the overall guide comes to £2,300–£5,500, including VAT. Size, materials and access move the figure, and a free-of-charge survey settles it.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in West Glamorgan |
|---|---|---|
| Chimney or small area | Repointing a chimney stack, gable or single wall, including access. | £550–£1,650 |
| Typical semi-detached | Repointing the main elevations of a 3-bed semi, including scaffolding. | £2,300–£5,500 |
| Detached or lime work | Larger houses, or period homes repointed in lime with brick repairs. | £4,600–£9,200 |
The main things that change the figure:
- Wall area to repoint and the height of the house
- Mortar type: cement or lime, and joint style
- Scaffolding and access, including chimneys
- Condition of the existing mortar and how hard it is to remove
What do you get?
- Scaffolding or access towers where needed
- 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
- Clean-down of brick faces after pointing
Homes in West Glamorgan
Swansea's Victorian terraces climb its hillsides, its centre was largely rebuilt after wartime bombing, and Neath and Port Talbot have industrial terraces and post-war estates. Gower villages have stone cottages, and Pennant sandstone is common in older walls. Newer estates have grown on the edges of the main towns.
Hillside terraces often need repointing, rendering, roof repairs and window replacement, and loft conversions can work well. Gower stone cottages call for lime-based repairs, and estate homes commonly take extensions and driveways.
Swansea Bay and Gower face wet westerly weather and salt, and steep streets can affect access and scaffolding.
Planning and building rules in West Glamorgan
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. West Glamorgan comes under Wales, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.
In Wales, repointing and like-for-like brick repairs are maintenance and do not need planning permission; listed buildings may need consent for changes in materials.
Building Regulations do not normally apply to repointing, though structural rebuilding can.
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?
We look at the job
First, someone visits your home in West Glamorgan 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.
Written quote
After the survey we send a quote for brickwork and repointing that fixes the price for the scope we've agreed. If you want to change materials or scope, we revise it in writing before anything is booked.
Dates and permissions
We handle the paperwork side: checking whether planning permission or building control approval is needed, submitting applications where they are, and scheduling the trades and materials around your dates.
The work itself
Our trades complete brickwork and repointing while your point of contact keeps you updated. When everything is finished, we clear the site, take away waste and go through the result with you before handover.
What you can expect from us
Questions about brickwork and repointing in West Glamorgan
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 West Glamorgan 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.
When is the right time of year to repoint?
Repointing should be done in mild, dry weather, usually spring to early autumn. Fresh mortar must be kept from frost while it cures, and lime mortar in particular needs protection from frost, rain and strong sun for several days. We cover fresh work with hessian or sheeting where needed and plan the job around the forecast.
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.
Do I need planning permission in West Glamorgan?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. West Glamorgan is in Wales, so Wales'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.
How much does repointing a house cost?
Repointing a typical 3-bed semi costs £2,300–£5,500, 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.
Towns in West Glamorgan
Homes in all of the following West Glamorgan towns can get a written quote for brickwork and repointing. Open a town page to see prices and the postcodes we cover.