What does the cryptic crossword clue "Well, what to do with crumbling mortar is a painful subject (4,5)" mean?

The definition is "painful subject". The wordplay uses a charade (building blocks). SO (synonym="Well") + REPOINT (synonym="replace old mortar with new [wiki] =") = SOREPOINT; definition: "painful subject" The answer is SOREPOINT.

Well, what to do with crumbling mortar is a painful subject (4,5)

Guardian Cryptic #28980 | 5 Down | 2023-01-30 flower

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