Gable wall repointing cost

[DaisyDoor123]

I have just moved into a 1980s 3 bed semi. Need to get the gable wall repointed. It's approx 60n2. No known damp issues, just the mortar looks like it could use some TLC. The walls have cavity wall insulation also.

I have been quoted £3200 to get it repointed, however I have also been told that it needs Storm Dry protection cream and have been quoted an additional £1400 to be applied. It seems quite expensive as Storm Dry cream itself is £400 so £1000 is labour.

Questions I have, is the quote reasonable? The company have great reviews. Is Storm Dry actually worth it? Seems to be a reasonably new product and not too much out there to if it's actually worth it or not. How long does it actually take to apply?

Any help, appreciated!

 

[opps]

I think someone is taking the pee.

Bricks absorb rain water, they then release the water.

The repointing price doesn't sound unreasonable. The existing pointing will be more difficult to remove than old skool lime mortar.

Are they going to weather struck finish or flush?

The former is wayyy more expensive.

 

[23vc]

That’s a cracking price if it’s really 60sqm.

 

[^woody^]

The pointing is the weather and damp protection.

If a firm says you need an additional coating, I would not only question that, but also their knowledge and ability to do a proper job with the repointing.

 

[Highway Man]

Around where I live, re pointing is in the region of £40 per square metre.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I repointed my wall on the side facing the prevailing wind and also painted it with something similar to Stormdry. It worked really well, was still bouncing the rain off years later when we sold it.

There are strong pro- and anti- opinions on brick treatments, it's one of those internet gang things, along with damp-proof injections and lime mortar. In my case the bricks were getting very weathered and starting to lose their surface, so this seemed like a sensible thing to do. It did seem to soak in and glue the powdery surface together from within, hopefully slowed the weathering right down.

Have they said there's a specific reason for needing treatment?

Honestly if someone pointed you at a wall and gave you a few tins of goo would you be happy to do it all for £1000? It sounds about right to me. They'll need the scaffold a bit longer, probably lots of protection of surrounding surfaces and a heck of a lot of hours of brushing if that's how they're applying it. If spraying then much more protection needed.

If you think £1000 is too much then you could always DIY, just ask to pay extra to leave the scaffold a bit longer? But I suspect most would probably rather pay a grand given the choice.