Services
Stone and foundations
A stone wall breathes, moves a little and sheds water outward. Repair it with the wrong mortar and it will trap water and fall apart faster.
We repoint with lime mortar that is softer than the stone, rebuild loose corners stone by stone, and fix the water at its source: the gutter, the grade, the footing drain. We don't coat old stone with cement or sealant.
What's included
Repointing in lime mortar, matched to the original joint
Loose corners and wall faces taken down and rebuilt
Cellar walls and piers repaired, with the framing above shored
Grade, gutters and footing drains corrected where water starts
Chimney bases and stone steps repaired
Cost
What changes the cost
No figure here, because the building sets it. These are the things that move it.
The mortar
Lime mortar and the labor to place it cost more than a bag of cement, and last longer in old stone.
How far the damage goes
Joints failing on one face is one job. A bowed wall is another.
Water
If the wall is wet from the grade or a gutter, fixing that is part of the price.
Access
A cellar with a low door and a dirt floor takes longer than an open wall.
How it goes
The work, in order
- 01
Step 1: Find the water
We trace where the moisture comes from before touching the stone.
- 02
Step 2: Support
We shore the building above any wall section we open.
- 03
Step 3: Rake and rebuild
Failed mortar comes out by hand; loose stone is reset in lime.
- 04
Step 4: Cure and check
Lime needs days to cure. We come back to check the joints.
Questions about this work
Why not use modern mortar?
It is harder than old stone, so water and frost break the stone instead of the joint. Lime mortar gives way first, and is easy to renew.
Can you fix a wet cellar?
Usually the fix is outside: grade, gutters, a footing drain. The survey says which of those apply, and what we can't promise.
Start with the survey
Tell us about the building and we'll write back about a date.