Price guide

How much does lime repointing cost?

Short answer

A Wiltshire builder based near Swindon publishes £55 to £70 per square metre for lime repointing, and £3,500 to £7,500 for a whole house. A Hampshire firm gives £75 to £100 per square metre on stonework. Scaffolding is often extra. Repoint only where the mortar has failed, to keep the cost down.

Updated 15 October 2026 · 2 min read · 6 sources

What firms publish

Published lime repointing prices run from about £55 to £100 per square metre. Lime costs more than cement, because the work is slower and needs more care.

We found one firm near the Cotswolds that publishes lime prices. We add one firm from outside the area for comparison, labelled as such.

Repointing prices published by firms
Firm (base)	Job	Published price
Wiltshire Roofing & Building (Royal Wootton Bassett)	Lime mortar repointing	£55 to £70 per m²
Wiltshire Roofing & Building (Royal Wootton Bassett)	Cement mortar repointing	£40 to £55 per m²
Wiltshire Roofing & Building (Royal Wootton Bassett)	Whole house in lime	£3,500 to £7,500
Green’s Brickwork & Building (Hampshire, outside the area)	Lime repointing, stonework	£75 to £100 per m²
Green’s Brickwork & Building (Hampshire, outside the area)	Lime repointing, period brick	£60 to £90 per m²
Green’s Brickwork & Building (Hampshire, outside the area)	Raking out, if priced on its own	£20 to £50 per m²
Green’s Brickwork & Building (Hampshire, outside the area)	Scaffolding for a typical house	£500 to £1,500

Prices that each firm publishes on its own website, checked on 15 October 2026. Wiltshire Roofing & Building's page is dated 3 September 2026 and says most estimates exclude VAT. Green's page was updated in July 2026 and does not state VAT. These are guide prices, not quotes. Sources: Wiltshire Roofing & Building (Royal Wootton Bassett): how much does repointing cost? (3 September 2026), Green’s Brickwork & Building (near Odiham, Hampshire): lime mortar repointing cost (July 2026).

Why lime costs more than cement

Lime work is slower. The old mortar must come out by hand, without harming the stone edges.

Lime cures slowly, so new work needs protection from frost, sun, wind and rain. SPAB advises against lime work in winter where possible.

A good mason makes a trial panel to match the old mortar. This adds time, but it gets the colour and texture right.

How to keep the cost down

Repoint only the joints that have failed. SPAB advises repointing only the areas that need it, and says soft mortar alone is not a reason to repoint.

Fix gutters and downpipes first. Cotswold District Council says regular maintenance of gutters and pointing saves money.

Combine jobs that need scaffolding, such as roof and chimney work, so you pay for scaffolding once.

Listed buildings

On a listed building, like-for-like lime repairs often need no consent. Cotswold District Council says extensive repairs, or the replacement of parts, might need listed building consent.

A change from lime to cement can harm the building, and can need consent. Ask the council before work starts.

How to get a fair price

Get at least three written quotes, as Citizens Advice suggests. Ask each firm the same questions.

Is the price per square metre, or for the whole job?
Which lime and sand will you use, and will you make a trial panel?
Is scaffolding included?
Is VAT included?
How will you protect the work while it cures?

Questions

Is lime repointing more expensive than cement?

Yes, a little. One Wiltshire builder publishes £55 to £70 per m² for lime and £40 to £55 for cement. On an old stone wall, lime is the right material.

How much does it cost to repoint a whole house in lime?

One Wiltshire builder publishes £3,500 to £7,500 for a whole house in lime. Size, access and scaffolding change the price.

Does repointing need scaffolding?

Often, for anything above head height. One firm gives £500 to £1,500 for scaffolding on a typical house. Ask if it is in the price.