Chimney repair & brick repointing in Ottawa

Spot repointing of a small problem area can run a few hundred dollars; a fuller repoint of a wall or chimney starts from $1,200 depending on the amount of failed mortar and access — scaffolding for a chimney adds cost. We quote the actual scope, not a flat number, since the range is wide.

If the brick itself is intact and it's the mortar joints that are crumbling or missing, repointing solves it. If bricks are spalling, cracked or the wall is visibly out of plumb, mortar work alone won't fix it — that's a structural conversation, and we'll tell you if it's beyond repointing.

Older brick is often softer than modern mortar. If a new, harder mortar is used, it forces the brick itself to absorb freeze-thaw stress instead of the joint, and the brick spalls. Matching mortar strength, not just colour, to the original brick is what keeps the wall intact for decades.

Generally, yes. Legitimate repointing needs an actual look at the joint depth and brick condition before a fair number can be given — same-day, high-pressure quotes from someone who knocked on your door are a well-known pattern worth being cautious about. Get a written, itemized quote either way.