What Is the Average Cost of Tuckpointing in Chicago?

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What Is the Average Cost of Tuckpointing in Chicago?

If you own a brick home or building in Chicago, tuckpointing isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” It’s one of the most important maintenance jobs you can do to protect your property from water, shifting bricks, and expensive structural damage.

As a contractor, I’ll tell you the truth in plain English: Chicago is tough on brick. Our winters freeze, thaw, refreeze, and thaw again—like the city is stress-testing your mortar every year. That’s why tuckpointing costs here don’t always match what you see online for other states.

In this guide, I’ll break down the average tuckpointing cost in Chicago, what you can expect for common home styles, and how to get a fair estimate from a real professional.


Typical Price Range Per Square Foot in Chicago

In Chicago, tuckpointing usually costs:

✅ $8 to $20 per square foot for standard tuckpointing
 ✅ $20 to $35+ per square foot for difficult areas (chimneys, high walls, tight access)

Why such a wide range? Because tuckpointing isn’t sold like paint or carpet—it depends on what we find once we start grinding out damaged mortar.


Average Total Cost for Residential and Commercial Projects

Here are realistic average totals in the Chicago area:

Residential (Most Common)

Commercial

A good way to think about it:
 If a tuckpointing job needs scaffolding, it starts becoming a “project,” not a “repair.”


Why Chicago Tuckpointing Costs Differ From National Averages

If you’ve Googled tuckpointing costs, you might see national averages like $5–$10 per square foot. That’s often not realistic for Chicago.

Here’s why Chicago is different:

Chicago brickwork is like classic furniture—you don’t “patch it quick.” You repair it right or you pay twice.


Project Cost Breakdown for the Chicago Area

Let’s walk through common Chicago property types and what tuckpointing usually looks like in real life.


Small Tuckpointing Repairs in Chicago Homes

Small repairs (spot tuckpointing) might include:

Average cost: $500 – $1,500

Small jobs are great if caught early, but keep in mind:
 A small repair becomes expensive only when water gets time to “move in.”


Standard Residential Tuckpointing (Bungalows, Two-Flats, Three-Flats)

For typical Chicago home styles:

Chicago Bungalows

Most bungalows require tuckpointing on:

Average cost: $3,000 – $12,000 depending on coverage.

Two-Flats / Three-Flats

These buildings are taller and often require:

Average cost: $7,000 – $25,000+

The building height alone changes the price because it changes the equipment and the labor.


Chimney Tuckpointing Costs in Chicago

Chimneys are one of the most common tuckpointing jobs in Chicago.

Why? Because chimneys get hit with:

Typical chimney tuckpointing cost: $900 – $3,500
 Chimney rebuilds (if needed): $3,500 – $12,000+

In contractor terms:
 If the chimney is “soft” when tapped or the bricks are cracked, tuckpointing may not be enough.


Commercial Tuckpointing Projects in Chicago

Commercial tuckpointing pricing depends mostly on:

Average commercial job: $12,000 – $40,000
 Larger jobs can go much higher.


Key Factors That Affect Tuckpointing Costs in Chicago

Accessibility and Building Height

The easiest wall is:

The expensive wall is:

More height = more setup = more cost.


Condition of Existing Brickwork

If mortar is only lightly cracked: good.
 If mortar is missing deep: costs increase.
 If bricks are damaged: costs increase a lot.

Sometimes we also find: