Stonework and repointing

The short answer

Edinburgh's pre-1919 buildings are mostly solid sandstone, built to breathe using soft lime mortar. Repair work covers repointing eroded joints, indenting (cutting out and replacing decayed stone), and cleaning where appropriate. Cement mortar and impermeable sealants trap moisture in the stone and accelerate decay, so specification matters as much as workmanship.

What the work involves

Raking out failed mortar to a sound depth and repointing in a lime mix matched to the original, cutting out badly decayed stone and indenting matching new stone, and occasionally plastic repair to individual features. Access almost always needs scaffolding.

Rules and consents in Scotland

Repair does not usually need a building warrant, but listed building consent is commonly required for stone repair, cleaning or repointing on a listed building, and conservation-area rules also apply. Councils normally expect lime mortar matched to the original in colour, aggregate and strength.

What commonly goes wrong

Cement repointing and waterproof coatings on sandstone. Both trap water behind the face of the stone, and the stone then spalls rather than the mortar sacrificially eroding as intended.

What it usually costs

Indicative ranges only, to help you judge a quote. They are not an estimate for your property — only the business doing the work can give you that.

• Scaffolding is a substantial part of any elevation-scale stone job.
• Lime repointing is priced by area and joint depth; historic buildings with wide eroded joints cost more.
• Indenting individual decayed stones costs considerably more per unit than repointing.
• Full-elevation stone repair on a tenement is a shared cost and is often phased over several years.

What to do, in order

1. 1Get a specification, not just a price — mortar mix, aggregate and joint profile should be stated.
2. 2Check whether listed building consent or conservation-area approval is needed.
3. 3Confirm the contractor's experience with lime and traditional stone, with references.
4. 4Agree how the work will be protected while curing, since lime needs frost-free conditions.
5. 5Coordinate with neighbours and agree cost shares for tenement elevations.
6. 6Avoid scheduling lime work in mid-winter.

Local detail for the Lothians

• Craigleith and other local sandstones used across Edinburgh's New Town, Marchmont and Bruntsfield need lime mortar to weather correctly.
• Listed building consent is commonly required for stone repair across large parts of central Edinburgh, including the World Heritage Site.
• Statutory notice repairs historically covered many shared tenement elevations; owners now organise shared repairs themselves, often through a factor.
• Coastal salt exposure in Portobello, Musselburgh and East Lothian accelerates surface erosion of exposed stone.

When you need a professional

A stonemason experienced with traditional lime work, and a conservation-accredited surveyor or architect for listed buildings and elevation-scale schemes.

Common questions

Why can't I use cement mortar?

Cement is harder and less permeable than sandstone, so moisture escapes through the stone face instead of the joint, causing the stone itself to erode.

Should I have my stonework cleaned?

Cleaning is sometimes appropriate, but abrasive methods can damage the stone face permanently and often need consent.

Related pages

• Damp problems

  Telling penetrating damp, condensation and rising damp apart before spending money.

• Chimney repairs

  Repointing, flaunching, flashings and capping on Scottish chimney stacks.

• Roughcast and render repairs

  Cracked, hollow or blown harling and render on Scottish walls.