$28 a square foot for Ottawa repointing, is that high?

Near the top, but inside the range: published Ontario contractor pricing for 2025–26 puts repointing at about $10 to $30 per sq ft, with the middle of that range around $15 to $25. The figure you were quoted sits near the top of that published range, but it is not outside it.

A few things can push a price toward the upper end. Upper-storey work that needs scaffolding or a lift adds cost that has to go somewhere in the quote. Lime-mortar repointing, where the published range runs about $15 to $45 per sq ft, can also account for a higher number. The area being quoted matters too: a small section of wall can carry a minimum charge that makes the per-square-foot figure look high compared with a larger job. None of these make the number wrong; they make it worth understanding before you agree to it.

A fair written quote for repointing should spell out the area of wall being done, the floor or height involved and whether scaffolding or a lift is included, the mortar type and how the colour and joint profile will be matched, how the old mortar is being cut out and how dust will be controlled on site, and what happens to the debris.

Before signing, ask whether the price per square foot changes if the actual area measured on site turns out to be larger or smaller than the estimate.