How much does it cost to repair brick or stone siding?

Reviewed by Adam Graham remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

Brick or stone siding adds an element of class to any home. There are many other benefits of this type of siding, including providing natural insulation, being strong, durable, fire resistant, and requiring little maintenance. Brick and stone also do a good job of blocking out noise and provides opportunities for some unique design possibilities.

Although little maintenance is required when owning a home with a stone or brick exterior, there will always come a time when repairs will need to be done. Sometimes these repairs may be simple, while other times they will be more significant. An average homeowner can expect to pay around $1,896 to rebrick a 100 sq.ft. area because of crumbling brick due to moisture damage.

Brick and Stone Siding Repair

Brick Repair Cost Per Square Foot

There are many reasons that brick might need to be repaired. These include moisture damage, loose brick, discoloration, cracks or chips in the brick, damaged flashing, missing or crumbling mortar, or the need to fill an area because of a change to the exterior of the home, such as moving an electrical meter. Costs will vary widely depending on the type of repair needed and the location on the house. An average repair will cost around $10 to $20 per square foot with most companies charging a minimum fee of around $300 for small projects.

Cost of Tuckpointing Brick

Repointing consists of removing the face of the mortar joints on a brick wall or chimney. This is done by using a grinder with a masonry wheel and is a very dirty and dusty project. The masonry company might need to erect scaffolding if working on a large, high up area and they may create a barrier to contain the dust.

Replacing mortar between bricks may be necessary because of moisture getting behind the bricks and freezing or drastic temperature changes. Mortar is more susceptible to the elements than the bricks. Once the mortar is removed, the mason will use tuckpointing bags filled with new mortar to squeeze into the joints. Once the mortar has set part way, the mason will use a tool called a jointer to create a finished appearance to the joint. Repointing brick cost per square foot should range from about $8 to $12 per square foot. Costs will be on the higher end if scaffolding is needed.

The process of tuckpointing can also be used to freshen up mortar. If there are just a few holes, cracks, or gaps, new mortar can be squeezed in to freshen up the joints. The cost for tuckpointing alone should range from $3 to $7 per square foot for the first 10 feet in height. Costs will rise to closer to $10 per square foot for areas above 10 feet needing scaffolding.

Brick Veneer Repair Cost

Brick veneer is a type of siding that is applied to the outside of a structure and is not load bearing. Most brick homes are brick veneer. In a true brick masonry structure, the bricks are actually part of the structure. In this case, two layers of bricks are attached to each other during the building process and are truly load bearing. The main damage that might occur to brick veneer is moisture seeping in through the mortar. It is important to find these leaks, repair the mortar, and seal it. This will cost between $7 and $13 per square foot with the additional cost of the mortar sealant, about $130 for 2.5 gallons. If the damage is severe enough, and brick spalling or buckling has occurred, a section of bricks may need to be replaced. The cost for this should range from $10 to $14 per square foot.

Stone Siding Repair Cost

Stone siding repair labor costs will be similar to brick, however the costs for stone are usually higher, especially if it is prefabricated or an exotic natural stone. Stone siding will nearly always consist of stone veneer. Stone veneer is applied to the outside of the structure and it is not load bearing. Problems with stone siding may include chips or cracks, moisture seeping in through the mortar, staining, or damaged flashing.

Exterior stone veneer repair costs for an average repair, such as replacing chipped, cracked, or buckling stone, will run from $20 to $60 per square foot. Simple mortar repair could cost less, between $7 and $13 per square foot, while expensive stone replacements on the second or third floor of a home could cost significantly more, $60 to $100 per square foot.

Cleaning and sealing natural stone to take care of efflorescence and staining will cost between $5 and $8 per square foot. The process to repair flashing will include removing the stone that was installed over the flashing, repairing the flashing, and then replacing the stone. This will cost between $22 and $62 per square foot. If the stones are not damaged and can be reused, the cost may be less.

Brick and Stone Siding Repair Cost

It is important to hire professionals when dealing with brick or stone siding repair because they have the experience and specialized tools to do the job. It takes many hours of practice for bricklayers to work with mortar and make it look great. The requirements for mixing up mortar, wait times for mortar to set, and cleaning up dust are also specialized skills. Masons also have the proper training and equipment for working up high and materials are very heavy. There is a high risk of injury if not taking proper precautions.

In most instances, masons will charge by the project, using a formula to determine price by the square footage depending on the project. Some may have a minimum service fee. For example, this could be $300 for up to four hours of work for small repair jobs. As projects get more tricky, costs rise. This could be because of specialized materials or dangerous working conditions. Most stone or brick repair projects will cost anywhere from $8 to $50 per square foot. Those in dangerous and difficult to reach areas could cost more than $100 per square foot. An average hourly rate for a mason is $45 to $85 per hour.

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Causes of Brick or Stone Siding Damage

As mentioned throughout, moisture penetrating the mortar is the most common damage to brick or stone. Foundation damage is another cause of cracking in bricks or stone. If this is the case, foundation repair work may be needed in addition to the siding repair. The average cost for foundation repair is $8,000, which includes mudjacking to help level the foundation and fix settling.

Shelf angles could be another culprit. During construction, shelf angles, which are made of steel, are used in certain places in the brick to create a gap or space so that building movement can occur. If the shelf angle becomes corroded, it may lose its strength and cause brick spalling, which will need to be repaired.

Another issue is efflorescence and staining. This is when soluble salts rise to the surface and cause staining. If caught early, pressure washing may do the job, but if you wait too long, chemicals, such as Muriatic acid, will be needed to get rid of the stain.

A final problem could be damage to the flashing. Flashing is used in places where there is a transition between brick or stone and another type of siding. This keeps water from getting behind the siding. Over time, this may become damaged and need repair.

Cost to Replace Brick on a House

There are many reasons why the brick might need to be replaced on a house. It may be that the exterior of the home has changed, for instance adding or removing a window or moving an electrical meter. In other instances, such as a deteriorating shelf angle, some bricks may need to be removed and replaced. The same goes for cracks from a problem with the foundation. Failing chimneys may also need to be rebricked. Another reason could be damage from a falling tree or a vehicle running into the house.

Sometimes, it may be difficult to find the exact same brick originally used on the house. If this is the case, it might be good to replace a larger section of the brick to make it appear more uniform. For a small area, with only 10-20 bricks needing to be replaced, expect to pay around $300. The average cost to rebrick a house is $10 to $14 per square foot. This involves removing the damaged bricks and installing new ones. Costs will rise for difficult to find or more costly bricks.

Replace Stone Siding Cost

Just as with bricks, there may be a circumstance that requires replacement of a section of stone siding. This could be due to damage to the stone, changing an exterior component of the house, cracks because of foundation damage, or a large amount of moisture getting in and damaging the area behind the stone. The cost to replace stone siding will start around $300 for small projects and go up to $12 to $16 per square foot or more depending on the stone being used.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Permits. Check with your local municipality about permits. The company you hire (which should be licensed) to do the job should also know if your specific repair will need a permit. In general, small repair jobs should not need a permit, whereas work on load bearing walls or replacing large areas of siding will likely need one. If a permit is needed, it will likely be in the $50 to $200 price range.
• Maintenance. Repairs will be less frequent if you keep a good maintenance routing on your brick or stone siding. Clean the brick a few times a year with a hose. Be very careful if using a pressure washer, as brick and mortar can become damaged under high pressure. Check weep holes for debris, these are small holes in the mortar left on purpose to allow moisture to escape from behind the brick. Touch up mortar as needed. It may also be a good idea to regularly seal stone or brick. This is especially important with old brick or natural stone.
• DIY. If you have experience in working with masonry, some minor repairs can be done yourself. Most major repairs, those that are located in difficult to reach areas, or that require lifting heavy objects are certainly best left to professionals. They have the experience and necessary tools to do the job correctly and make it look great.