Stone Repointing

What is Stone Repointing?

Stone repointing repairs the mortar joints between stonework, from garden and boundary walls to stone-built cottages and period properties. Stone behaves differently to brick — it’s often more irregular in shape and size, and different stone types have different porosity and hardness — so the mortar mix and technique need to be matched to the specific stone rather than applied the same way as a standard brick repoint.

Signs You Need Stone Repointing

Common signs include mortar that’s crumbling, cracked, or washed out from between the stones, individual stones that have become loose or shifted slightly out of place, damp patches on the inside face of a stone wall, and vegetation taking root in gaps where mortar has failed. On older stone properties, mortar that looks noticeably harder or greyer than the surrounding stone is often a sign of a previous cement repair, which can trap moisture against the stone in the same way it does on brick.

Why Stone Repointing Matters

Stone walls, particularly freestanding ones like garden and boundary walls, rely on the mortar to hold everything together and keep water moving out rather than in. Once mortar starts failing, water gets into the gaps between stones and, especially through winter, that trapped moisture can freeze and expand — pushing stones further apart and accelerating the damage. On older stone-built properties, getting the mortar mix right matters just as much as it does with lime mortar repointing on brick, since the wrong mix can trap damp against stone that was never designed to deal with it.

What Affects the Cost?

Stone repointing costs depend on the type of stone, how irregular the coursing is, and how extensive the mortar damage is across the wall or property. Garden walls are generally more straightforward to quote than a full stone-built house, and access plays a bigger role on taller or less accessible properties. Paul will assess these factors during your free quote so you get an accurate price rather than a generic estimate.

Our Approach

Paul repoints stonework using mortar mixes suited to the specific stone type, keeping walls both structurally sound and visually in keeping with the property. This covers everything from garden and boundary walls to stone-built cottages across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire. Every job is carried out with full public liability insurance and dust extraction as standard, and with 18 years’ experience, Paul works without subcontractors — so the same person assessing the stonework is the one carrying out the repair.

How Long Does Stone Repointing Take?

Timescales vary more with stone repointing than with brick, since irregular stone shapes and sizes can make the work slower and more detailed. A garden wall might take a day or two, while a full stone-built property could take a week or more. Paul will give you a realistic timescale as part of your free quote, based on the scope of the stonework and the condition it’s in.

See It in Practice

Take a look at our recent projects to see examples of the kind of brick and stonework we carry out across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.