Frequently Asked Questions

Most dry stone walling in Gloucestershire is priced per metre, and the cost depends on the height of the wall, whether we are rebuilding an existing wall (where much of the stone can be reused) or building new (where stone has to be supplied), and how easy the site is to access. A collapsed section repair is priced very differently from a long run of new boundary wall. We always visit the site, measure up and give you a clear written quotation before any work starts — the quote is free and there is no obligation.

Yes — repairing existing Cotswold stone walls is one of the most common jobs we do. Bulging, slumped or collapsed sections can almost always be taken down and rebuilt using the original stone, so the repaired section blends in with the rest of the wall. Where stone has been lost or has weathered too far, we source matching Cotswold stone.

Repointing is priced per square metre, and what drives it most is what has to come out: raking out hard cement can take several times longer than removing perished lime mortar. Access matters too — an upper elevation needing scaffolding costs more than a garden wall. We quote free and in writing after seeing the wall, and we will tell you if only the worst elevation genuinely needs doing.

Very often, yes. Our first preference is always to conserve original stonework where it is sound. Where stone has decayed too far, we can cut out and replace individual stones with matching new stone, dressed by hand to match the existing work — rather than replacing whole sections unnecessarily. This is usually better for the building, better for its appearance and better for your budget.

Yes — Cotswold limestone is the stone we work with most. We build and repair dry stone walls in Cotswold stone, carry out restoration on Cotswold stone houses and barns, and source new Cotswold stone matched to your existing stonework in colour, bedding and texture.

A properly built dry stone wall will stand for generations — many of the field walls across the Cotswolds are well over a hundred years old. Because there is no mortar to fail, a dry stone wall flexes with the ground and copes with frost far better than most mortared walls. When a section does eventually slump, it can be rebuilt using the same stone.

Yes. We are based in Winchcombe, about 15 minutes from Cheltenham, and work in Cheltenham regularly — garden walls, boundary wall repairs, stone cleaning and restoration work on Cotswold stone and Regency properties across the town.

Yes. As well as Winchcombe and Cheltenham we regularly work across the wider Cotswolds and Gloucestershire, including Broadway, Stow-on-the-Wold, Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Cirencester. If you are not sure whether we cover your area, just ask — we are happy to travel for the right project.

Yes, provided the right method is chosen for the stone. Soft limestone like Cotswold stone should never be aggressively blasted or acid-washed — that destroys the weathered face and accelerates decay. We use gentle, appropriate techniques chosen for the stone and the type of soiling, and we always test a small, discreet area first.

Yes. We regularly work on listed buildings and properties in conservation areas, using traditional materials and techniques — including lime mortars rather than cement. If your project needs listed building consent, we can advise on what the conservation officer is likely to expect and provide method details to support your application.

Yes — we carry full public liability insurance, and we stand behind every job we do. Quotations are written, itemised and free, so you know exactly what is included before we start.

Yes — bespoke fireplace surrounds, hearths and lintels cut by hand in Cotswold stone, and blocked-up inglenooks opened back to their original size. If a stove is going in, choose it first: its hearth and clearance requirements set the stone dimensions, and your HETAS-registered installer signs off the installation.