Should I quote by wall face or by joint?

Wall face square footage for full repointing, linear foot of joint for spot repairs. Mixing the two on one estimate confuses the customer and makes it impossible to compare against another bid — pick the one that matches the work.

Why state the grinding depth?

Because it's the main quality difference between bids and it's invisible afterward. Grinding to two and a half times the joint width versus scratching the surface is a different job with a different lifespan — printing your depth is the cleanest way to explain a higher price.

How do I handle brick that crumbles when I start?

State a per-unit replacement rate on the estimate, billed with photo approval. Deteriorated brick behind failed mortar is a routine discovery, and pricing the rate in advance turns it into a change order rather than a renegotiation on scaffold.

Tuckpointing Estimate Template (Free)

What belongs on the estimate

Business name, license number, contact info
Customer name, property address, phone
Elevations included — north, south, east, west, and square footage each
Grinding depth and method
Mortar — mix type, matching required or not
Brick replacement — per-unit rate, salvage sourcing
Access — ladder, scaffold, or lift
Cleaning, sealing, protection
Payment schedule and exclusions

The template

[Your Business Name] · License #________
[Phone] · [Email]

Estimate #____        Date: __________
Prepared For: [Customer Name]   Phone: __________
Property: _____________________________________
Building age: ______  Brick type: ______________

Elevations: [N ___ sq ft] [S ___ sq ft]
            [E ___ sq ft] [W ___ sq ft]
Total repointing area: ______ sq ft

--------------------------------------------------
Description                              Amount
--------------------------------------------------
Setup + protection (windows, plants)     $______
Access: [scaffold / lift / ladder]       $______
   Rental — ___ days @ $___              $______
Joint grinding — ___ sq ft, ___ in depth $______
Mortar matching + test batch             $______
Repointing — ___ sq ft @ $___            $______
Spot repointing — ___ lf @ $___          $______
Brick replacement — ___ @ $___ each      $______
Salvage brick sourcing                   $______
Lintel / shelf angle repair              $______
Chimney crown / cap repair               $______
Chemical cleaning — ___ sq ft            $______
Water repellent sealer (optional)        $______
Debris disposal + cleanup                $______
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal                                 $______
Tax (if applicable)                      $______
Estimate Total                           $______

PAYMENT SCHEDULE
  ___% deposit at signing                 $______
  ___% draw at ___% of area complete      $______
  Balance at completion                   $______

NOT INCLUDED: structural repair, foundation work,
interior plaster or drywall damage, window or door
replacement, painting, landscape restoration.
Valid ___ days. Weather delays may extend schedule.

Break it out by elevation

“Repointing — $9,400” is just a number. Four elevations with square footage listed for each is a scope. It also lets a customer phase the work — do the weather-facing side this year and the rest next — which turns a declined bid into a booked one more often than you’d think.

Note the weather clause

Mortar can’t be placed below certain temperatures or in driving rain, so say so on the estimate. That way a delayed start reads as craftsmanship instead of unreliability.

Skipping the copy-paste

Software that already has your grinding, repointing, and access rates saved will build this out per elevation and schedule the deposit and mid-job draw off the same record.