House extension
From the initial quotation to the completed project, Daryl and Prestige were exemplary. All of the stages of construction of our house extension were performed professionally and to a high standard …
Repointing Services in Cambridge
Protect weathered brick or stone and restore a clean, consistent finish with mortar suited to the building across Cambridge and Cambridgeshire.
When a wall needs repointing
Open, crumbling or poorly repaired mortar joints can leave a wall looking tired and allow the masonry to deteriorate. The right repair depends on the brick or stone, the existing mortar, the building’s exposure and any previous work.
We agree the preparation method, compatible mortar and joint finish before work begins. Older or softer masonry may need a lime-based approach; we do not recommend a specification from appearance alone.
Brick Repair and Replacement in Cambridge
Pointing and brick condition are two different problems, and it is worth being clear which one you have. Mortar that has eroded back between sound bricks is a pointing job. Brick faces that have blown off, leaving a soft crumbling surface behind, are not — that is spalling, and repointing around it only frames the damage.
Spalling usually has a cause, and on Cambridge houses it is more often the last repair than the weather. Hard, cement-rich mortar on soft Victorian brick restricts moisture movement through the joints, so wetting, drying and frost damage are concentrated in the bricks themselves, and the faces can start to break away after a few hard winters. Replacing the bricks without addressing that leaves you doing it again.
Where individual bricks need replacing we cut them out and rebed them. The difficulty is almost never the cutting out — it is finding a brick that matches. Cambridge gault weathers to a colour no modern stock reproduces off the pallet, so it becomes a question of sourcing, blending and getting the mortar right. Our gault brick matching record shows what that involves in practice.
Brick repair is always quoted as its own item and never absorbed into a rate per square metre of pointing. You should be able to see what is being replaced, how many, and what it costs.
Repointing is often one part of a wider job. Where the masonry needs rebuilding rather than repairing, that work is described on our brickwork page, and where it forms part of a larger programme it usually sits inside a refurbishment. We carry out repointing across Cambridgeshire, including Great Shelford, Histon, Trumpington and Milton. Our full range of work is listed on the services page.
Cost and quotation guidance: Before requesting a price, read our Repointing Costs Guide and What Should a Builder’s Quotation Include?
What we need to quote
Tell us what you want to achieve, and send whatever you already have. No drawings needed to start an enquiry: photos and drawings help, but plenty of projects begin with a description and a site visit.
Insurance, qualifications and your project paperwork
Written project terms - Scope agreed before work starts
How We Plan Repointing Work
The initial inspection informs the proposed specification, access requirements, timing and itemised quotation.
- Existing masonry condition: open, eroded or defective joints, previous repairs and surrounding details
- Mortar condition and compatibility with the brick or stone, including lime or cement considerations where applicable
- Brick condition, damaged units, patch repairs and signs of movement or cracking
- Access, scaffolding and protection requirements for adjacent surfaces and openings
- Joint preparation depth, proposed joint profile and any test areas or samples required
What the quotation sets out
Once the inspection is done, the itemised quotation puts the decisions in writing, so you know exactly what is being done to which walls.
- Which elevations and areas are included, and how deep the old joints will be raked out
- The mortar to be used and the joint finish, with a test area first where appearance matters
- Any brick repairs or replacements, listed separately from the pointing
- Scaffolding or access, and how windows, doors and paving will be protected
- Weather cover while the mortar cures, what is excluded, and the expected timing
Request a Quote
We aim to respond to every enquiry within one working day.
Our Repointing Process
From the first photographs to final inspection, the written scope explains how the masonry will be prepared, repaired and protected.
01
Tell Us What You Want to Achieve
Send clear photographs, the property address, the affected areas and your preferred timing.
02
Masonry Assessment
We examine the brick or stone, mortar joints, previous repairs, access and visible defects. Cracking or movement may need input from an appropriate professional.
03
Specification & Itemised Quotation
The agreed areas, preparation, mortar approach, joint finish, access, costs, allowances, exclusions and timing are recorded.
04
Joint Preparation & Repointing
The joints are prepared and repointed to the agreed specification, with surrounding areas protected and the work managed throughout.
05
Inspection & Handover
The completed work is inspected, outstanding points are discussed and the applicable project information is provided.
FAQs
Learn more about the repointing process with our answers to the key questions.
Repointing removes defective mortar to an appropriate depth and replaces it with a compatible mortar and agreed joint finish. The specification depends on the existing masonry and its condition.
Open, eroded, loose or cracked joints may require attention, but the cause and extent should be understood before repairs are specified. Previous repairs, moisture and movement can also affect the appropriate response.
That depends on the existing masonry, age of the building, exposure and previous repairs. Older or softer masonry can be damaged by an incompatible or overly strong mortar, so the approach is agreed after the masonry has been examined.
Brick condition is considered separately. Any brick replacement or repair must be identified in the written quotation rather than assumed to form part of the repointing scope.
A single elevation of a typical two-storey house is a matter of days once the scaffold is up, plus curing time before the joints are finished; lime mortar needs longer and mild weather. The affected area, the depth of raking-out and the access decide the rest; we confirm the sequence in the quotation.
What our customers say
Customer feedback from a Prestige house extension project.
Concerned About Your Brickwork?
Send clear photographs, the property address and a short description of what you have noticed.