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Stoneworkers & Stonemasons - what you need to know

Stonemasonry is one of the oldest and most traditional trades. Stoneworkers or stonemasons typically fall into one of two categories – but some can be perfectly proficient in both. Banker masons design and craft specialist items such as memorial stones, archways and other ornamental features. Fixer masons focus on the installation of stone walls or cladding and work on customer sites to fit or repair sandstone, limestone, slate, marble and granite materials.

What a stoneworker or stonemason can help with

• Installing or renovating a stone fireplace.
• Building a dry stone wall or stone paving.
• Cutting and fitting a stone kitchen worktop.
• Polishing concrete and cleaning bricks or stones. 
• Stonework and stone cladding.

Costs for common stonework jobs

The cost of stonework varies significantly depending on the job. Specialist structures such as self-supporting staircases can be more than £30,000, while natural stone walling work will typically cost from £100-£150 per m2. Simpler jobs such as repairs or repointing stone paving will be lower, usually coming in at £25-£50 per m2.

The qualifications your stoneworker or stonemason needs

Practising stonemasonry doesn’t require formal professional qualifications, but it’s a specialist trade and experience is crucial. There are a few vocational qualifications, and anyone coming into the trade more recently may hold a Level 1 Award in Stone Masonry Operations, an NVQ Diploma in Stonemasonry, or something similar.

But, as we suggest above, there’s no substitute for experience when it comes to stone working. You should expect your stonemason to have several years of experience and a proven track record of delivering the specific service or job you’re looking for help with.

Certain jobs can be delivered by trades whose main services aren’t purely stonework related – think stone fireplace installation, pre-cut stone worktops fixed by kitchen fitters, etc. But for banker masonry (where skilled stone craft is crucial) or dry stone wall building (again, specialist work) you’ll need an expert.

Stone Federation GB is the trade body for stoneworkers and stonemasons in the UK. Membership of this association, which promotes best practices, is a big plus and suggests you’re speaking with an expert.

What tradesperson should I use to build a dry stone wall?

To build a dry stone wall, you’ll need a fixer mason. Their specific expertise is crucial to get something that both looks great and is structurally sound.

Do stonemasons fit stone kitchen worktops?

When it comes to stone kitchen worktops, use a stonemason. They’ll be able to measure up the dimensions of your kitchen, allowing for your sink and hob, and precisely cut the stone so it fits perfectly. Stone worktops can be pricey – it’s worth getting an expert in to handle them properly.

Can a stonemason solve a damp issue in my stone wall?

Damp in stone walls can be a tricky problem to fix, but stonemasons often have the expertise to solve the riddle. The key is allowing the wall to breathe before finding the right type of membrane, considering repointing (only if appropriate) or resolving an issue with the core of the wall.

Planning permission for stoneworker or stonemason jobs

There are no major planning permission requirements for stonemasonry, over and above those you’d need to be thinking about for standard building projects.

If you plan to build dry stone walls, the usual considerations will apply – anything over 1 metre high if it’s next to a road or footpath, and over 2 metres will need permission. And, of course, you’ll need to make sure you know your property’s boundaries precisely before you begin building a wall along a perimeter.

It’s also worth considering whether there are any aesthetic restrictions on your property. Stone cladding or stone walls may sound attractive to you, but may attract the ire of neighbours (or planning officers) if it’s considered out of place in its surroundings. Planners refer to this as “visual amenity”, and it’s worth being aware of this in case you get any objections to your project.

Insurance for stoneworker or stonemason work

Stonemasonry doesn’t usually require anything other than public liability insurance, protecting you and your property from damage.

Building regulations for stoneworker or stonemason

The main building regulation that’s likely to affect stonework is thermal efficiency – in other words, insulation and the conservation of fuel and power in new or existing homes. Various techniques can be used to address thermal regulation requirements, and for projects where this is a consideration it’s usually going to fall under the remit of a house builder to address the issue.

Beyond thermal regulations, load-bearing or structural stonework will need to adhere to the standard stability demands placed on any ordinary building project.

Questions you should ask a stoneworker or stonemason

• Are you a banker stonemason, a fixer stonemason, or both?
• When should I use a stonemason versus a general builder or other tradesperson?
• Do you charge per square metre or per day?

See the latest questions that homeowners have been asking stoneworkers and stonemasons. 

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