What Repointing Costs in Ottawa, Wall by Wall
$10 to $30 per sq ft of wall
Middle of the published ranges $15 to $25; heritage lime-mortar repointing about $15 to $45 (published Ontario contractor pricing, 2025–26; yours will differ)
Reviewed 2026-10-01 · how we set these ranges · rules for every masonry job
Repointing is priced by the square foot of wall. Mark the walls that need it below and enter each one's area; the band multiplies your area by the published range. Where the work sits higher than the first storey, the scaffolding line is shown separately.
Mark your walls
Tick each wall the work covers and enter its area in square feet. The band uses published Ontario contractor pricing, 2025–26; yours will differ. It is not a quote.
– sq ft marked
Tick a wall and enter its area to see the band.
- Repointing–
- Middle of the published ranges–
- Scaffolding or liftnot needed for first-storey work
| General repointing | $10 to $30 per sq ft; middle of the published ranges $15 to $25 |
|---|---|
| Heritage lime-mortar repointing | $15 to $45 per sq ft |
| Scaffolding or lift | About $500 to $3,000, above the first storey |
What shows up in the quote
| Line | Published figure | Ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Wall area | $10 to $30 per sq ft (lime about $15 to $45) | The area measured on site, wall by wall |
| Mortar | Inside the per-sq-ft price | The mortar type by name; lime-based or not, and why |
| Joint cutting | Inside the per-sq-ft price | How joints are cut out and how dust is controlled |
| Colour and profile | No separate published price | How colour and joint profile will be matched |
| Scaffolding or lift | About $500 to $3,000 | A firm figure, not an allowance |
| Disposal | Ask | What the quote includes for debris |
Rules specific to this job
Table 9.20.3.2.-A lists type N or S mortar for exterior non-loadbearing walls and veneer above ground. We found no Code clause written for repointing existing joints, and none that requires lime.
OBC Table 9.20.3.2.-AIn the Centretown and Minto Park district, the plan says lime-based mortar "should be used when repointing historic brick and masonry". Other districts' plans may differ.
Centretown & Minto Park HCD Plan 6.2
Permits, the hardscaping licence, contracts, disposal, cold weather and dust apply to every job: see the shared rules.
Ask before you sign
- Which mortar, by type, and why that one for your wall
- How deep the joints are cut and with what tool
- How silica dust is controlled at the wall and below it
- Whether the scaffolding line is fixed
- How the new joints will be matched in colour and profile
More on this work: Repointing & Tuckpointing
Masonry IQ answers on this job
- How much does repointing a brick bungalow cost in Kanata?
- What should repointing the front of my Glebe house cost?
- $28 a square foot for Ottawa repointing, is that high?
- Upper-storey repointing quotes in Ottawa run higher, why?
- Scaffolding on an Ottawa repointing quote, how much extra?
- Does matching old mortar colour raise an Ottawa repointing price?
- Lime mortar repointing on a Centretown rowhouse, price range?
- Why is my mortar crumbling out of the joints in Kanata?
Quick answers
Is lime mortar repointing priced differently?
In the published pricing we found, heritage lime-mortar repointing runs about $15 to $45 per sq ft, against about $10 to $30 for repointing in general. Ask each mason which mortar the quote is for.
Does the per-square-foot price include scaffolding?
Ask. Published pricing puts scaffolding or a lift at about $500 to $3,000 when it is needed, and quotes show it either as its own line or inside the rate.
Want this done at your place?
Tell us about your brick or stone job and we'll send it to local Ottawa masons, who reply by email. We send it out to local contractors for you. Free, no pressure.