Okay, first of all, i am not sure if this is the area i should post this in or if it should tech. be in insulation or framing so bear with me! Our house was built in 1976 approx 1/3 is brick and the rest is stucco. There is a lot of small cracks and spaces (some are actually missing small chunks of cement) in the mortar of the bricked area. How do they "redo" this? What is the average cost and time it takes? And is there any special upkeep that i should know about for the stucco? Our house is SUPER drafty in the winter and we are trying to conserve better this winter than we did last year. Thanks in advance! ... amy

Repairing the mortar is called "re-pointing", and I couldn't begin to tell you what it costs without (a) seeing your house and (b) being an expert mason. Sometimes the whole building needs to be done; sometimes not...it would depend on the condition of the mortar. You should also be aware that if only parts are done, the new mortar may not match the old weathered mortar, immediately or possibly never. Sometimes re-pointing only a part can look pretty hideous.

Stucco is the original no-maintenance material. Other than repairing any cracks, it will last many decades with minimal care. Again, if cracks are not repaired properly, the repairs could stand out like a sore thumb.

The draftiness of your house is a whole separate issue, and to comment on ways to improve that aspect, a thorough examination of the house should be made by someone who knows what he or she is doing...a good architect, or maybe a good heating contractor.