This is a question I hear quite often, especially when it comes to older houses and traditional stonework around Dublin.
At first glance, repointing can look like a straightforward job — remove the old mortar, put new mortar in and finish it. But when you're dealing with an old Victorian or Georgian property, limestone, brickwork or traditional lime-built walls, it's a completely different type of work.
Recently I was asked to price the removal of hard cement ribbon pointing from the front of an old limestone house. The owner could see that the cement was causing problems, but understandably found the cost of proper lime repointing difficult to justify. The thing is, there's a lot more involved than simply "repointing."
The problem with cement on old buildings
Traditional buildings were generally constructed using lime mortar. Lime mortar is softer and more breathable than modern cement — it allows moisture within the wall to move and escape, while the mortar itself acts as the sacrificial part of the wall.
Hard cement causes problems because it is often stronger and less permeable than the original masonry. Instead of the mortar weathering away, the softer limestone or old brick can start deteriorating around the cement joints. Over time you can end up with hard grey mortar sitting proud of the wall while the faces and edges of the original limestone slowly disappear. Once that damage starts, it can become increasingly expensive to put right. (There's more on this in our guide to lime mortar vs cement.)
Why does removing it take so long?
This is probably the biggest thing people don't see. You can't simply attack old cement pointing with an SDS drill and expect everything to come out perfectly.
When you're working on 100- or 150-year-old limestone and traditional brickwork, the objective isn't just to remove the cement. It's to remove it without damaging the original masonry.
Every joint is different. Some sections may come out relatively easily. Others can be extremely hard and time-consuming. The cement has to be carefully removed, the joints cleaned and prepared, and then the new lime mortar worked into the joint and finished appropriately for the building. It's skilled work, but more importantly, it's slow work — and ultimately, you're paying for the time it takes to do it properly.
Lime mortar needs the right conditions
Traditional lime repointing isn't the same as using modern cement mortar. Weather conditions matter. Temperature matters. Wind, rain and direct sunlight can all affect fresh lime mortar.
The new pointing needs to be protected and allowed to cure correctly. That's particularly important on older buildings, where the objective is to preserve the original fabric rather than simply make the wall look good for a few years.
Working at height adds another level
A lot of this work isn't carried out from ground level. For example, I'm currently working at around 6 metres. Scaffolding provides the access and safety required, but it also means everything takes longer — tools and materials have to be moved around, access is restricted, and you can't work at the same speed as you would on a wall at ground level. Working at height naturally brings additional safety considerations and risk, and all of that has to be taken into account when pricing the job.
Sometimes removing the cement matters more than instant perfection
I'm currently working on a limestone property where the inappropriate cement pointing was specifically highlighted in the purchaser's survey. The recommendation was essentially to remove the cement and address the problem, even if some of the additional stone repairs had to wait.
That's an important point with older properties. In some situations, removing damaging cement and properly opening up the joints can be preferable to leaving hard cement in place for years while the original limestone continues to deteriorate. Of course, every building is different and needs to be assessed properly.
And then there's the appearance
If you've bought an old Dublin limestone or brick house, you normally want to see the original character of the building. Unfortunately, thick cement ribbon pointing can completely change the appearance.
Good lime repointing can make a huge difference. Suddenly the pointing isn't the first thing you notice. You see the limestone. You see the brick. You see the original character of the building again. On the right period property, the difference can be absolutely dramatic.
It's not just about pointing
When you're paying for traditional lime repointing, you're paying for much more than filling joints. You're paying for:
- Careful removal of inappropriate cement mortar
- Protecting the existing brick or limestone
- Cleaning and preparing the joints
- Correct lime mortar selection and mixing
- Skilled application and finishing
- Proper curing and protection
- Working safely from scaffolding where required
- And, most importantly, the time needed to do the job properly
This applies whether we're talking about lime repointing in Dublin, limestone repointing, brickwork repointing, old limestone walls, traditional cottages, Victorian houses, Georgian properties or other historic masonry around Dublin and Ireland. The cheapest way isn't always the best way when you're dealing with an old building.
The whole purpose of lime mortar
Good lime pointing isn't supposed to be harder than the limestone or brick. The mortar is designed to take the weathering. Eventually, it will need attention again — that's part of how traditional masonry was designed to work. The aim is to protect the original building and allow it to breathe and manage moisture the way it was designed to.
So when you look at the price of lime repointing in Dublin, don't just think about the amount of mortar going into the wall. Think about the preparation, the access, the materials, the experience and the hours of careful work required to preserve an old building properly.
Key takeaways
- Old walls were built in soft, breathable lime — hard cement traps moisture and damages the limestone or brick around it.
- Most of the cost is the careful removal of old cement without harming century-old masonry — slow, skilled work.
- Lime mortar needs the right weather and proper curing; it's the sacrificial, breathable part of the wall by design.
- Access matters — a lot of this is done at height off scaffolding, which adds time and cost.
- Done right, lime repointing brings back the building's character — you see the stone and brick again, not the pointing.
- You're paying for time, skill and protecting the building for another generation, not just the mortar.
Frequently asked questions
Why does lime repointing cost more than ordinary cement pointing?
Most of the cost is the careful removal of the old, inappropriate cement without damaging century-old limestone or brick, followed by skilled hand-application of lime mortar and proper curing. It's slow, skilled work — you're paying for the hours it takes to do it properly, not just the material going into the wall.
Why does removing old cement pointing take so long?
You can't just attack 100- to 150-year-old masonry with an SDS drill. The aim is to remove the hard cement without damaging the original stone or brick. Every joint is different — some come out easily, others are extremely hard and time-consuming — and the joints then have to be cleaned and prepared before the new lime mortar goes in.
Why is hard cement pointing bad for old limestone and brick?
Old walls were built in soft, breathable lime that lets moisture escape and acts as the sacrificial part of the wall. Hard cement is stronger and less permeable, so instead of the mortar weathering away, the softer limestone or brick starts deteriorating around the cement joints — you end up with grey cement standing proud while the faces of the stone slowly disappear.
Do you do lime repointing in Dublin?
Yes. We carry out lime repointing on limestone and brick period properties — Victorian and Georgian houses, old cottages, walls and historic masonry — across Dublin and the surrounding counties. The site visit is free, and we'll advise honestly on what the building actually needs.