HOW TO HIRE · TRADES & CONSTRUCTION

How to hire a stonemason in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

No register applies to stonemasons. The checks on stone, mortar and access, the questions to ask, and what to look at before paying.

  • Search and compare — no account needed
  • Nearest to you first
  • One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews

THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a stonemason in five steps

  1. Describe the stone and the problemPhotos of the wall, the stone type and the damage.
  2. Ask about matching stoneSame stone or a close match, from where.
  3. Agree lime or cementOld stone usually needs lime mortar.
  4. Check the accessScaffold or tower for high work.
  5. See the finished faceJoints, tooling and colour before paying.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

No law licenses stonemasons in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland; for the masonry work the law controls the work itself, through building regulations approval where it is needed.

Ask whether the masonry work needs building regulations approval, and who is applying for it. gov.uk →

Building regulations approval

Structural masonry work — rebuilding a load-bearing wall, new openings — is building work needing approval; like-for-like repairs generally are not. If the masonry work is approved on full plans in England, expect building control's completion certificate within about 8 weeks of the finish, as long as it complies.

Before the masonry work begins, ask to see the building control approval or reference. gov.uk →

Building warrant (Scotland)

Scotland puts the warrant duty on the owner: if the masonry work needs a building warrant and there is none, the council can fine you and order the work taken out, whoever built it. Northern Ireland asks you to notify the council's building control before the masonry work begins.

Scottish owners: see the warrant before work on the masonry work starts. In Northern Ireland, get the building control reference. mygov.scot →

Insurance and trader status

Ask who insures the trader doing the masonry work and for how much; public liability is standard. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 covers the masonry work when the provider is a trader, and a contract made off-premises or online can usually be cancelled within 14 days under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 — less what was done if you asked for an early start, and not at all for goods made to your specification.

Request the current insurance schedule before the masonry work, and look at the profile badges for trader status and ID.

VAT

HMRC puts stonemasonry on an existing building at the standard rate of 20%; once a trader's taxable turnover passes £90,000 it must register, charge the 20% and list it apart from the price of the work.

Ask for the VAT number, and look for VAT as its own line on the masonry quote. gov.uk →

“Which stone will the stonemason use?”

A good answer: A named stone matching the existing, or a reasoned alternative.

“Will the stonemason use lime mortar?”

A good answer: For historic stone, usually yes, with the mix stated.

“How will the stonemason reach high stonework?”

A good answer: Scaffold or a tower, priced; ladders only for short, low-risk tasks.

“Can I see similar work by this stonemason?”

A good answer: Photos and an address of comparable stonework.

“Does the masonry work need building regulations approval?”

A good answer: Structural alterations do; like-for-like repair generally does not.

“Day rate or job price?”

A good answer: A defined job priced, open-ended repairs at a day rate with an estimate.

Getting the quote right

  • Stone type and source
  • Mortar mix
  • Access and scaffold
  • Day rate and days, or a fixed price
  • Who actually attends — the mason and any labourer, employed or subcontracted — and the business's VAT number, with VAT at 20% shown as its own line

Walk away if

  • Cement pointing on soft historic stone
  • Cannot name the stone
  • High work from ladders all day
  • No written price
  • Pressure to replace sound stone
LOW
£220
TYPICAL
£320
HIGH
£450

What a stonemason costs: £220–£450 per day

Stonemasons charge a day rate or a job price; carving, lime work on older buildings and access set the figure, with stone on top. Stonemason price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Stonemasons near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. SurveyStone, damage and mortar assessed.
  2. AccessScaffold or tower set up for high work.
  3. Cut out and prepareDamaged stone and failed mortar removed.
  4. Repair or rebuildNew stone fitted, rebuilt to line, pointed.
  5. Finish and protectFace cleaned and new work protected.

Ashlar
Finely dressed stone laid in regular courses.
Rubble walling
Rough stone walling.
Banker mason
A mason who cuts and carves stone in a workshop.
Indent
A piece of new stone let into an existing wall.
Lime mortar
A breathable mortar for historic masonry.
Repointing
Replacing the mortar in the joints.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoice and stone detailsFor future repairs and any listed building record.
Check the finishJoints, tooling and colour as agreed.
Protect new lime workFrom frost and rain while it cures.
Write the reviewOnly booked jobs can be reviewed on Locufy, so yours carries weight; if the masonry work falls short, use the make-it-right step first and the provider is asked to fix it before the review is published.

STEP 1Give the stonemason a written chance to fix itMost problems with the masonry work are settled at this stage: say what is wrong, attach photos and set a fair deadline. If the masonry work fell below reasonable care and skill, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 entitles you to have it redone or to pay less.
STEP 2Use Locufy's make-it-right stepRate the masonry work under four stars and you are asked whether to send it to the provider first; we follow it through. Then the review goes up.
STEP 3Unapproved or dangerous workThe council is the authority for unapproved building work: tell building control in England, Wales or Northern Ireland if the masonry work went ahead without approval, or the building standards service in Scotland, where the owner carries the warrant duty. For a dispute about the masonry work with the trader, Trading Standards is reached through the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060, or Consumerline on 0300 123 6262 in Northern Ireland.
STEP 4Money still in disputeIf the masonry work is still not settled, you can claim without a solicitor: the small claims track takes claims up to £10,000 in England and Wales, simple procedure up to £5,000 in Scotland, and the small claims court up to £5,000 in Northern Ireland.

Hiring a stonemason: questions people ask

No licence or register applies anywhere in the UK.

Like-for-like repair generally does not; structural alterations do.

£220–£450 a day, typically around £320. Carving, lime work on old buildings and location raise the day rate. The full figures sit in the Stonemason price guide; the postcode search above lists stonemasons close to you with their prices.

It lets old stone breathe; hard cement can trap moisture and damage the stone.

For high work, usually; HSE treats ladders as suitable only for short, low-risk tasks.

Check with the council before altering it; listed status is a separate consent from building regulations.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in trades & construction

How to hire: BricklayerHow to hire: Chimney RepairHow to hire: SteeplejackHow to hire: BuilderHow to hire: RenderingHow to hire: Carpenter & JoinerHow to hire: DemolitionHow to hire: ScaffoldingAll 701 hiring guides →

Stonemasons near you

Stonemasons in LondonStonemasons in ManchesterStonemasons in BirminghamStonemasons in GlasgowStonemasons in BelfastAll stonemasons on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. gov.uk — building regulations approval (England)
  2. gov.uk — building regulations: how to apply
  3. mygov.scot — if a builder is doing the work for you
  4. nidirect — how to apply for Building Regulations approval
  5. HSE — work at height myths (ladders and the 30-minute guide)
  6. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  7. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 54 — what you can ask for when a service falls short
  8. Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 30 — the 14-day cancellation period
  9. Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 28 — contracts the cancellation right does not cover
  10. Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 36 — services started within the cancellation period
  11. Civil Procedure Rules Part 26 — the small claims track limit (England and Wales)
  12. Scottish Courts and Tribunals — making a claim under simple procedure
  13. nidirect — the small claims process (Northern Ireland)
  14. Buildings and construction (VAT Notice 708) — 2.1 Construction services: work to an existing building is normally standard-rated
  15. GOV.UK — VAT rates
  16. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register