Sweep & inspection
Caps & crowns
Flue relining
Masonry repair
Gas fireplace serviceLevel 1 sweep and inspection to the NFPA 211 annual standard - flue, crown, cap, and flashing checked and photographed
Chimney sweep logs do not sweep chimneys. They loosen some creosote - which then falls where a brush and vacuum still have to collect it.
Styles & brands we work with
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterMortar Repointing in Tampa, FL
Mortar repointing in Tampa typically costs between $400 and $1,600 for a standard chimney, depending on how much of the mortar bed has deteriorated and how high the work needs to go. In most Tampa neighborhoods, we complete repointing in a single day, since Florida’s humidity means we schedule around the morning hours before the afternoon heat makes mortar cure too fast. If you’re seeing sandy grit at the base of your fireplace or noticing that the mortar between bricks has started to crumble, we can give you a written price before any work begins. Call (850) 290-0897 and a live person will answer, day or night.
Repointing is the part of Chimney Repair that homeowners often don’t hear about until a chimney inspection flags it. It means removing the old, failing mortar from between the bricks on your chimney and packing in new mortar that actually matches what was originally used. Not caulk. Not a patch. Real mortar, mixed for Tampa’s specific moisture and heat conditions. Our team at Kindling Chimney Tampa handles repointing as a structural repair first and a cosmetic one second, because mortar isn’t just what holds the chimney together visually, it’s what keeps rain and humid air from working their way into the brick and breaking it apart from the inside.
We protect the area around your fireplace and the path from the front door to the chimney before any repointing tool comes out of the truck. Drop cloths go down first. Shoe covers go on before the technician steps inside. And before we leave, we photograph the clean-up so you can see exactly how your floors looked when we finished. That’s the Cedarwell Care Promise, and it’s part of every repointing job we do in Tampa.
When You Need Mortar Repointing
Most of the repointing work we do in Tampa falls into a few familiar patterns. If any of these sound familiar, the next step is simple: call us at (850) 290-0897 for a free inspection.
- You can see powdery or crumbling mortar between chimney bricks. Run your hand along the joint. If it feels sandy or comes away on your fingers, the mortar has lost its binder. Florida’s humidity accelerates this once the protective skin of the original mortar fails.
- You find grit or sandy debris at the base of your fireplace. That grit is mortar being washed down from the chimney throat. It shows up in the firebox before you notice anything wrong outside.
- The chimney looks like it has missing or recessed mortar lines. In neighborhoods like Seminole Heights and Palma Ceia, where many chimneys are 40 to 70 years old, we regularly see mortar joints that have eroded back an inch or more. The bricks themselves may still be fine, but the joints are letting moisture in.
- You see water staining on interior walls near the chimney. Repointing isn’t the only fix for leaks (flashing and crown issues are also common in Tampa), but open mortar joints are one of the main entry points for the heavy summer rains we get here.
- A home inspector flagged the mortar before you bought the house. You don’t need to rush into the repair before closing. But you do need an honest estimate. We’ll give you one with no pressure and no same-day sales pitch.
- Your chimney is over 25 years old and has never been repointed. Mortar in Tampa’s climate typically lasts 25 to 50 years depending on exposure. If the home is older and the chimney is original, it’s worth a look, even if nothing is visibly falling out yet.
One thing we want to be straightforward about: not every chimney with old mortar needs repointing. Sometimes the mortar is weathered but still sound, and a targeted repair makes more sense than a full repoint. We’ll tell you that if it’s true. Our job is to give you the honest answer, not to sell a bigger job than the chimney needs.
Our Mortar Repointing Process
Here’s exactly what happens when we repoint a chimney in Tampa, from the first call to the final photo of your clean floors. Every step is written down before we start, and the price doesn’t move once we begin.
- We inspect and document. The technician walks the full chimney, inside and out, and marks every section where mortar needs to come out. You’ll see the map. We point out which joints are actually failing and which ones can stay. If we can save you money by doing a partial repoint instead of the full chimney, we will.
- We deliver a written price before any work starts. No verbal estimates, no “it depends.” You get a line-by-line price. If you say no, we clean up and leave. No pressure, no same-day discount games.
- We protect your home before the first tool comes out. Drop cloths go down from the front door to the fireplace. Shoe covers go on every boot. We move furniture only if we have to reach the chimney, and we ask before moving anything. Pet-safe products are used where there’s a choice.
- We remove the failed mortar to the correct depth. A shallow grind doesn’t hold. We rake out the dead mortar to a proper depth (typically ¾ inch to 1 inch, depending on the joint), so the new mortar has something solid to lock into. This is the step that separates a repair that lasts 20 years from one that fails in two.
- We mix and apply mortar matched to your original chimney. Tampa’s older chimneys used lime-based mortar that’s softer and more breathable than modern Portland cement. If we pack hard cement into an old soft-brick chimney, the bricks will crack. We match the mortar type and color to what your chimney was built with, using professional-grade materials and techniques suited to Tampa’s specific conditions.
- We clean, cure, and photograph the finished job. The area is swept and wiped down. We take a photo of the clean-up before the crew pulls out of the driveway, and we do a final walkaround with you. If anything isn’t right, the 365-Day Done Right Promise means we make it right, no fine print, no runaround.
Our technicians are background-checked, uniformed, and trained on the C.A.R.E. values that guide every visit: Cleanliness, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. You’ll know who is coming to your home before they arrive, and they’ll explain each step as they go.
Mortar Repointing Pricing in Tampa
Here’s the honest picture on cost. Repointing prices in Tampa vary based on how much mortar needs to be removed, how high the chimney rises, and how difficult the access is. Single-story chimneys with sections of failing mortar on one or two sides run lower. Two-story chimneys with all four sides in bad shape run higher. You should expect an honest contractor to tell you exactly which condition your chimney is in before quoting a number.
| Repointing Scope | Typical Price Range in Tampa | What It Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Partial repointing (one side / isolated sections) | $400 – $900 | Raking and repointing only the failed joints, color-matched mortar, clean-up |
| Full repointing (all four sides, single story) | $800 – $1,400 | Complete joint removal and repointing, full inspection, written before/after photos |
| Full repointing (two-story or difficult access) | $1,200 – $1,600+ | Full repoint with ladder or lift access, additional setup and safety time |
| Repointing plus crown repair | $1,400 – $2,500 | Repointing plus a new or repaired mortar crown, which is often the source of water entry in Tampa |
What changes the price more than anything is how much of the existing mortar actually has to come out. A few loose joints on the back side of the chimney is a different job than mortar that has washed out on all four faces. Access matters too. If the chimney is two stories up and the roof pitch is steep, the job takes longer and carries more setup cost, because our technicians have to work safely at height. On the other hand, if your chimney is a single-story or we can work from a porch roof, that keeps the labor time down.
We don’t charge for estimates. You’ll get a written price that covers everything you see on the scope: labor, materials, clean-up, and the follow-through if anything isn’t right. No trip fees, no surprise line items at the end of the job. If you call (850) 290-0897, we’ll schedule the inspection at a time that actually works for you, and you’ll have the number in writing before we leave.
Some companies in Tampa quote repointing by the square foot and then “find” problems once they start. We don’t work that way. The price you see is the price we do the job for. If we discover that the chimney needs more than we quoted, we stop and talk to you first. You decide before any additional work happens.
Why Kindling Chimney Tampa for Mortar Repointing
Repointing is not a job where you want a general handyman with a grinder and a bag of whatever mortar is on sale. We’ve seen chimneys in Tampa that were repointed with the wrong mortar mix, and the bricks started breaking within a year because the mortar was harder than the brick. That’s not a small mistake. It’s a structural problem created by someone trying to save a few hours of matching time. The right repair starts with understanding what your chimney was originally built with, and then matching it. That’s the only way a repointing job in Florida is going to survive our wet season and our heat.
We rebuild mortar joints the way the chimney was originally constructed. That means choosing the correct mortar type, getting the depth right, and installing it so the chimney can still move and breathe the way it’s supposed to. Our technicians work with professional-grade chimney products and follow manufacturer specifications, not shortcuts. Brands like Copperfield and DuraFlex are part of the chimney repair toolkit we use, and we’re happy to tell you exactly which products are going into your chimney and why.
If you have kids or pets, you already know that any work inside the home can be an event. The crews who work on your chimney should respect that. Drop cloths down, shoe covers on, quiet tools when the kids are asleep, and no chemical smells lingering around the living room afterward. We use pet-safe products where there is a choice, and we’re careful about what we track in and out. The Cedarwell Care Promise isn’t a marketing line. It’s the checklist our technicians follow on every single job, and it’s why families in Tampa keep calling us back.
One more thing worth knowing. When you call Kindling Chimney Tampa, a live person answers the phone. Not a voicemail system, not an automated menu. Day or night, seven days a week. If your chimney has a problem and you need to talk to someone right then, you can.
FAQs – Mortar Repointing
How much does mortar repointing cost in Tampa?
Mortar repointing in Tampa generally runs between $400 and $1,600 depending on how many sides of the chimney need work, whether it’s one or two stories, and how deep the old mortar needs to be raked out. Partial repointing jobs on a single face usually land between $400 and $900, while full four-sided repointing on a two-story chimney can reach $1,600 or more. Call (850) 290-0897 for a free written estimate, and you’ll get the exact number before any work begins.
Is mortar repointing something I can do myself?
We don’t recommend it, especially on anything above the first story or on chimneys you use regularly. Removing the old mortar to the right depth, choosing the correct mortar type for your brick, and working safely at height are all specialized skills. Repointing with the wrong mortar softness can actually break the bricks it’s meant to protect. Even on a single-story chimney, a professional repointing job will last decades, while a DIY patch job in Tampa’s climate often fails within a few wet seasons.
How long does mortar repointing take in Tampa?
Most standard repointing jobs in Tampa are completed in a single day, from setup and grinding through packing and final clean-up. Larger jobs, like a full repointing on a two-story chimney with difficult roof access, may take a second day. We’ll give you a clear time window before we start, and we’ll keep you updated if anything changes.
How do I know if I need repointing or a full chimney rebuild?
If the mortar is failing but the bricks are still solid and intact, repointing is usually the right fix. If bricks themselves are cracked, spalling (flaking), or shifting, that may indicate a bigger structural issue. During our inspection, we’ll show you exactly what we’re seeing and tell you honestly whether repointing is enough or whether the chimney needs more. You’ll never be pushed into a rebuild when repointing will do the job.
Contact Kindling Chimney Tampa for Mortar Repointing
If the mortar on your Tampa chimney is starting to show its age, call us before the next big rain does more damage. We’ll come out, take a careful look, and put a written price in your hands. You decide from there, with no obligation and no pressure. Call (850) 290-0897 now for a free estimate on mortar repointing in Tampa. A live person will answer, day or night. And if you’d like to learn more about the full range of chimney repairs we handle, visit our Chimney Repair in Tampa page or return to our home page to explore everything we do.
Written by Danny Cortes, Owner at Kindling Chimney Tampa, serving Tampa.