In 40 seconds
Stone masonry costs depend on what the work is. Repointing a stone wall in lime mortar typically runs around £60–£120 per square metre, higher than brick because stone is irregular and slower to rake out and fill. Localised stone restoration — repointing, surface repair and selective stone replacement — usually falls in the £80–£250+ per square metre range, and a full façade can run higher again. Rebuilding a stone wall in matching stone is commonly around £750–£1,500+ per square metre supplied and built. Stone cleaning by DOFF or TORC is often roughly £40–£100 per square metre. Skilled stonemason labour is typically £200–£350 a day. On older and listed buildings the work normally uses lime mortar, not cement, to let the wall breathe. The honest answer is always a range — it depends on your stone, the wall's condition and access.
Most stone masonry guidance is published by firms quoting for the work, so the numbers tend to be optimistic and the conservation rules glossed over. The pages below give sourced cost ranges for repair, repointing, rebuilding and cleaning, explain why lime mortar matters on older stone, and compare natural with reconstituted stone fairly — before you take a single quote.