5 Best Masonry Contractors in Edinburgh for Lasting Results
I recently had an expert roof replacement company over, which was great until I started noticing everything underneath it. Suddenly, the tired stonework and a few worrying cracks were impossible to unsee.
Edinburgh’s gorgeous Georgian and Victorian homes don’t exactly get an easy ride from the Scottish weather. Finding the best masonry contractor in Edinburgh means choosing someone who understands old sandstone, lime mortar, and conservation requirements.
We researched local masonry specialists to find these worth calling before a small repair turns into a much bigger headache.
How much does it cost to hire a masonry contractor in Edinburgh?
Hiring a general bricklayer in Edinburgh typically costs around £150 to £280 per day. Specialist heritage stonemasons can charge about £250 to £500 per day.
Lime repointing for traditional stonework generally costs £150 to £200 per m². This uses breathable mortar suited to older sandstone buildings.
Replacing a sandstone lintel can cost £900 to £3,600 per stone. The price depends largely on its size, location, and access.
A new garden wall usually costs around £40 to £80 per m² for standard brick or block. Natural stone finishes will push the price higher.
Stone indent repairs typically run from £250 to £600 per stone. This involves cutting out damaged masonry and piecing in matching sandstone.
Hourly rates are roughly £20 to £35 for general bricklaying. Heritage stonemasons commonly charge around £31 to £55 per hour.
1. James Allan Stonemasons
Address: 64A Cumberland Street
Contact: 0131 600 0141 / [email protected]
Hours: Daily, 8 AM – 6 PM
James Allan Stonemasons makes it easier to test the waters before committing to a big restoration job. Their free sample panels let you see the finish first, which feels refreshingly sensible when old stonework is involved.
They specialise in traditional lime pointing and heritage repairs, with guarantees available for up to 25 years depending on the work.
Their team uses low-pressure DOFF steam cleaning too, which suits delicate sandstone better than a heavy-handed blast.
I like that their approach feels geared towards preserving Edinburgh’s older buildings rather than simply patching them up. That makes them a strong fit for tenements, steps, facades, and other character-heavy stonework.
The main drawback is that their pointing work sticks to lime mortar, so cement-based jobs won’t suit their approach.
Their heritage-focused approach may be more than you need for straightforward modern masonry jobs, as well.
Customer Reviews
They Really Know Their Old Buildings
James Allan evaluated our listed house and showed their breadth of expert knowledge that was shaped by decades of experience throughout the process. They will treat any house as if it were an A-listed VIB (Very Important Building). Old broken sandstones will look like beautifully intact old sandstones after they have repaired them, and all appalling concrete pointing will have been carefully replaced with lime mortar. James Allan is friendly and informative and easy to communicate with, definitely understands old buildings and brings out their original beauty again.
- Luise Seeker, Google Review
Great Work on a New Stone Wall
Fantastic service, efficiently coordinated by Jackie from my initial enquiry to rebuild a wall which had been removed in part. The new stone wall fits in really well with the existing stones and looks great. The stonemasons were friendly, kept me informed daily and were very skilled in their work. A great service, I can definitely recommend!
- Sue Cameron, Google Review
2. Chalmers Masonry Conservation Ltd
Address: 3 Hill Street
Contact: 0131 235 2292 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM
Chalmers Masonry Conservation feels like the sort of firm you call when the stonework has history, character, and a few battle scars.
Founder Craig Chalmers brings more than 15 years of experience, including early work at St Mary’s Cathedral.
Their focus is firmly on breathable, lime-based conservation rather than quick cosmetic patch-ups. They offer condition surveys, specifications, repairs, and maintenance planning for older buildings across Edinburgh.
I like that they can use Lithomex stone repair mortar when replacing an entire block isn’t practical. It’s a more considered approach for worn sandstone where cost, access, or timing could complicate full replacement.
The trade-off is that their specialist conservation focus may be more than you need for very basic modern masonry work.
They’re closed weekends too, which can make arranging a visit less convenient.
Customer Reviews
Skilled Work and Great Attention to Detail
Craig, Jamie and Grant at Chalmers Masonry recently completed a programme of stone replacement and repair, as well as removal of damaging cement and some wall repointing, at our Victorian house. They were very professional and courteous as well as very skilled in their craft. I added an extra three stone replacements while the work was ongoing and they took this in their stride! They even fixed my leaking downpipe while they were up the scaffolding. They removed all debris and old stones and tidied up after themselves. I have no hesitation in recommending Chalmers Masonry
- Lesley Anne Rogers, Google Review
Precise Stonework and a Great Result
Craig skilfully designed and built with great precision a new stone frontage to our garage. In addition, his team expertly replaced a lintel to the front of our house and a new stone front doorstep. We were extremely happy with the outcome. Craig and his team were a pleasure to have working on site.
- Philip Auld, Google Review
3. Edinburgh Stonemasons Ltd
Address: 26 Dublin Street
Contact: 0131 261 6602 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM
Edinburgh Stonemasons Ltd stands out for tackling the awkward jobs that come with tall tenements and hard-to-reach stonework. Their rope-access and cherry-picker options can make inspections and repairs a lot less scaffold-heavy.
The team has conservation training linked to the Dalkeith Townscape Heritage Initiative and Scottish Lime Centre courses. They handle lime pointing, stone repairs, restoration work, and high-level surveys across older Edinburgh properties.
I like that they can inspect upper-level masonry by video before you commit to major access costs. For crumbling chimneys or loose stone overhead, that feels like a practical first step.
The main drawback is that detailed Scottish Lime Centre mortar analysis costs an extra £980 plus VAT.
Their specialist conservation approach may be more than you need for a straightforward modern masonry job, too.
Customer Reviews
A Small Repair That Turned Into a Great Renovation
Edinburgh Stonemasons Ltd are highly recommended as professional, talented and helpful. Stewart was asked to carry out a fairly minor repair and ended up doing a pretty major renovation and repair of exterior stonework and limewash to a very high standard. In addition, he organised all the associated trades that were needed, who in turn did great jobs too. Delighted customers.
- David Johnston, Google Review
Excellent Repairs and Great Value
I needed some repairs to the stone front of our 1930s-built house. The job Stewart did is excellent, and all the mess was cleaned up as well, which doesn’t happen much these days. The value for money on the job done is first rate, and I would recommend Stewart as a 1st class tradesmen. A delight to meet, talk and do business with.
- Bryn Butler, Google Review
4. Marionville Masonry Ltd
Address: 50 Marionville Drive
Contact: 0131 235 2004 / 07762 432 315 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 8 AM – 8 PM
Marionville Masonry Ltd feels like a good fit when old garden walls and tired stonework need more than a quick patch. With over 20 years of experience, they focus on traditional lime pointing and careful mortar matching.
Their work covers boundary walls, cracked pillars, window remasticing, and other repairs around older homes.
I like that they pay attention to both the colour and strength of the mortar, especially on character properties.
They offer emergency callouts too, which is handy when loose or damaged masonry suddenly becomes a bigger concern. That makes them worth considering alongside other home upgrades, including work by kitchen renovators in Edinburgh.
The main drawback is their usual service area of around 50 miles from Edinburgh. Properties farther out may need to be agreed on individually before they’ll take the job.
Customer Reviews
Great Stone Replacement Work and a Spotless Finish
Recently the team did some repointing and stone replacement on my Victorian semi, and I was very impressed with the work carried out. The team worked hard throughout and left everything tidy from day to day. At the end of the job, they left everything spotless. Nothing was too much trouble. I intend to get them back to do another section next year. Would definitely recommend.
- Sandra M, Google Review
Excellent Stonework and Helpful Advice
I had a big project involving restoration of stonework, repositioning of stone walls, landscaping and the conversion of a garage. Not only did Kyle do a great job of the traditional stonework element, but he was invaluable in helping out with the conversion. He provided advice and solutions for on-site problems, and when the job was outside of his remit he was always able to recommend another great tradesman.
The quality of his work was excellent and the prices good. His team were a pleasure to have on site, and I would thoroughly recommend his work.
- Alan Bond, Google Review
5. Edinburgh Stone Repairs
Address: 5 South Charlotte Street
Contact: 0131 237 7569 / 0131 259 9863 / [email protected]
Hours: Daily, 8 AM – 5 PM
Edinburgh Stone Repairs is a handy pick when your exterior needs more than one type of fix. Their work covers stone repairs, lime pointing, cleaning, and traditional lime plastering.
I like that they use Lithomex for suitable details such as cornices, lintels, sills, and mullions. It can be a neater option when damaged stone doesn’t need a full replacement.
Their plastering side is interesting too, with options such as hemp plaster and Glaster. That gives older properties a more traditional, breathable finish rather than a one-size-fits-all patch.
The downside is that their specialist conservation approach may be more involved than you need for a very simple modern masonry job.
Lithomex won’t suit every repair either, so some damaged stone may still need partial or full replacement.
Customer Reviews
Excellent Stone Repairs and Really Helpful Advice
The team carried out excellent stone repairs across our tenement, including multiple windows and the replacement of several cracked stones throughout the building. All work was completed to a high standard, and they were very accommodating with our schedule, even managing unforeseen delays on our side. They were friendly, professional, and happy to offer clear advice. We’re very pleased with the results and would gladly recommend them.
- Ritchie B, Google Review
Top-Notch Craftsmanship From Start to Finish
We hired ESR to build a stone chimney, redo the lead flashing, repair some sandstone stonework and repair our slate roof, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. The craftsmanship on the stone chimney is top-notch—it’s solid, beautifully constructed, and perfectly matches the style of the property. The team was also meticulous in redoing the leadwork and restoring the slate roofing, ensuring everything is watertight and seamlessly integrated.
From start to finish, the guys were professional, punctual, and detail-oriented craftsmen. They took the time to answer all our questions, kept the site in order, and completed the project on schedule.
- Iain Cameron, Google Review