In short: repointing a chimney typically costs £400–£1,200 in 2026, averaging around £750. A bungalow with easy access can start near £400; a two-storey house with scaffolding is commonly £600–£900; a period chimney repointed in lime can be £700–£1,200. Scaffolding is usually the biggest cost. This is repointing (renewing the mortar joints) — a cracked or leaning stack may need a rebuild instead.
A chimney is the most exposed brickwork on the house, so its mortar joints weather faster than the walls below. Repointing renews those joints before water gets in. Here is what it costs in 2026, why access drives the price, and how to tell repointing from a bigger repair.
Cost by property type (2026)
| Situation | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Bungalow / easy access | £400–£600 |
| Two-storey house (with scaffolding) | £600–£900 |
| Period chimney, lime mortar | £700–£1,200 |
| Tall / awkward access or large stack | £1,000–£1,500+ |
The mortar rate itself is broadly the same as wall repointing — roughly £40–£60 per m² in cement or £60–£90 in lime — but a chimney is a small area where access, not square metres, sets the price.
Why scaffolding dominates the cost
You cannot safely rake out and repoint a stack from a ladder. Getting safe access to roof level — scaffolding or a proper tower — is often £400–£1,200 of the bill on its own, and on a tall or awkward property it can be more than the pointing itself. If other roof or repointing work is planned, doing it while the scaffolding is already up saves paying for access twice.
Lime or cement on a chimney?
Because a stack takes the full force of the weather, the mortar has to be right. A period or solid-wall property should usually be repointed in lime to match the original and let the brickwork breathe; a modern chimney is generally fine in a cement-based mortar. Using hard cement on a soft old stack can trap moisture and spall the bricks — see cement vs lime mortar for how to tell which yours needs.
What repointing a chimney involves
A proper chimney repoint is more than smearing mortar over the joints:
- Rake out the old, loose mortar to a sound depth without damaging the bricks.
- Repoint in the correct mortar, finished to shed water.
- Check the flaunching — the sloped mortar bed holding the pots — which often needs renewing at the same time.
- Check flashings where the stack meets the roof, a common source of leaks.
Flaunching and re-bedding pots may be priced separately, so ask what a quote covers.
When repointing is not enough
Repointing only renews the joints. If the stack is leaning, cracked, or the bricks themselves are flaking badly, it may need partial or full rebuilding, which costs considerably more. Our chimney repair cost guide covers rebuilds, flashing and other work, and for general brickwork see our repointing costs guide.
Regional differences
London and the South East generally run 10–20% above the national average on this kind of work, mainly on labour and access. As a Hampshire-based firm we price to the local market and to what the stack actually needs.
Figures are 2026 UK market guides drawn from published cost data and our own experience; treat them as ballpark. Your real price depends on access, the stack's condition and where you are.
Getting a price for your chimney
Chimney work is priced once we have seen it, because access and condition make the difference. If your property is in Hampshire, Berkshire or Surrey, send us the details and a photo of the stack and we will come and look.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to repoint a chimney?
In 2026, repointing a chimney in the UK typically costs 400 to 1,200 pounds, with an average around 750 pounds. A bungalow with easy access can start near 400 pounds, a two-storey house with scaffolding is commonly 600 to 900 pounds, and lime repointing on a period chimney can be 700 to 1,200 pounds. Scaffolding is usually the biggest single cost.
Why does repointing a chimney need scaffolding?
A chimney sits at the highest, most exposed point of the roof, so it cannot be reached or worked on safely from a ladder. Proper access scaffolding or a tower is needed to rake out and repoint the stack safely, and it is often the largest line on the bill, adding roughly 400 to 1,200 pounds depending on the height and access.
Should a chimney be repointed with lime or cement mortar?
It depends on the property. A chimney on a period or solid-wall house should usually be repointed in lime mortar to match the original and let the masonry breathe, while a modern chimney is generally repointed in a cement-based mortar. Because a stack is so exposed to weather, using the correct mortar matters even more than lower down the wall.
How often does a chimney need repointing?
As a rough guide, a chimney may need repointing every 15 to 30 years, though an exposed stack in a windy, wet location can need it sooner. Signs it is due include crumbling or missing mortar between the bricks, loose pointing, and damp patches on the chimney breast inside. Catching it early keeps the job to repointing rather than a rebuild.
Is repointing a chimney the same as rebuilding it?
No. Repointing renews the mortar joints between sound bricks. If the stack is leaning, cracked, or the bricks themselves are badly spalled, it may need partial or full rebuilding instead, which costs considerably more. A quick look will tell you which you need — our chimney repair cost guide covers rebuilds and other repairs.
Does chimney repointing include the flaunching?
Not always, so it is worth asking. The flaunching is the sloped mortar bed that holds the pots at the top of the stack, and it often needs renewing at the same time as repointing because it weathers badly. Re-bedding pots and renewing flaunching may be quoted as separate items, so check what a price covers.