The short answer
They solve different problems. Repointing rakes out and replaces the failing mortar between the bricks, fixing the joints while keeping the brick on show — typically £40–£90 per m². Rendering covers the whole wall in a mix to protect and unify the surface — re-rendering runs roughly £40–£80 per m², plus around £15–£44 per m² to strip old render first. If the brickwork is fundamentally sound and only the joints have failed, repointing is usually the better-value and longer-lasting answer, needs less ongoing maintenance, and keeps the original brick. Rendering tends to make sense where the brick face itself is badly deteriorated, mismatched, or you specifically want a rendered finish. The right choice turns on whether your issue is the joints (repoint) or the brick surface and appearance (render).
This is a repointing site, so the honest framing is this: rendering is a separate job that covers the wall, while repointing repairs it. Here is how they compare so you can tell which your wall actually needs.
At a glance
- Repointing£40–£90 / m², keeps brick
- Rendering~£40–£80 / m² + strip cost
- Stripping old render~£15–£44 / m²
- Sound brick, failed jointsrepoint
- Badly deteriorated facerender may suit
What each one actually does
Repointing is targeted repair: the old, failed mortar is raked out and replaced with a compatible mix, restoring the joints and the wall's ability to shed water while leaving the brick visible. Rendering is a covering: a cement- or lime-based coat is applied over the whole wall to give a uniform, protected surface. If your brickwork is sound and only the mortar has gone, rendering over it does not fix the underlying joints — it hides them, and any moisture problem can continue beneath. Where the brick face is genuinely sound, repointing is the more honest repair.
| Factor | Repointing | Rendering |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | £40–£90 / m² | ~£40–£80 / m² (+ strip) |
| What it does | repairs the joints | covers the wall |
| Finish | keeps brick visible | uniform rendered surface |
| Maintenance | low — occasional repoint | repaint / crack repair over time |
| Best when | brick sound, joints failed | brick face deteriorated / mismatched |
Indicative figures for guidance. Sources: Checkatrade and trade comparison guides.
When repointing is the better choice
- The brick is sound, the joints aren't: repointing fixes the actual problem at lower cost and keeps the original brickwork.
- You want low maintenance: sound brick needs little beyond occasional repointing, whereas render needs repainting and crack repair over the years.
- It's a period or character property: exposed brick repointed in matching mortar usually suits the building better than a rendered coat — and on listed or conservation-area homes, covering brick may not be permitted.
- Longevity matters: a well-built brick wall, kept pointed, outlasts most render finishes.
Want to know if your wall needs repointing or more?
We'll match you with a vetted brickwork repointing specialist who inspects the brick and joints and tells you honestly whether repointing is the right answer for your wall.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to repoint or render a wall?
If the brickwork is sound, repointing is usually cheaper — typically £40–£90 per m² against roughly £40–£80 per m² for rendering, before the £15–£44 per m² cost of stripping any old render. Repointing also keeps the brick and needs less ongoing maintenance.
Should I render over failing pointing?
Usually not, if the brick is sound. Rendering over failed joints covers the problem rather than fixing it, and any moisture issue can continue underneath. Repointing repairs the joints directly. Rendering tends to suit walls where the brick face itself is badly deteriorated.
When does rendering make more sense than repointing?
Rendering can be the better choice where the brick face is badly spalled or mismatched, where you want a uniform painted finish, or to tie an extension to the main house. Where only the mortar has failed and the brick is sound, repointing is usually the better-value, longer-lasting answer.
Sources & further reading
Figures on this page are typical UK ranges drawn from published sources and depend on your specific wall. They are guidance, not a quotation.