Rated 5 out of 5 stars, ★★★★★ 5.0 on GoogleFully insured80+ projects
About us
Specialist Repointing Across Yorkshire
Stone & brickwork restoration, the traditional way
It started as beer money: two university students, a trowel and a few garden walls in the summer holidays. Eighty projects later, it's the day job, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
WS Masonry (formerly WS Pointing) is a specialist repointing and masonry restoration business based in York and Selby, working across North Yorkshire and the wider Yorkshire area.
Based in York and Selby, we've spent over five years restoring, cleaning and repointing stone and brickwork across Yorkshire. Our work ranges from Grade I and Grade II listed heritage homes, full-scale house renovations and barn conversions down to garden walls and smaller residential jobs. Every one gets the same care.
We match our methods and materials to each building. Properties built before 1930 need to breathe, so we never use harsh sand and cement mixes on them. Where it's suitable, we repoint in natural hydraulic lime (NHL 3.5), which lets moisture escape and protects the masonry rather than trapping damp inside it.
We preserve character and bring old builds back to life. Through hand-carved stone restoration, the stone and brick are always carefully cleaned and their original colour and detail restored. Every brick, every stone, every joint and every architectural detail matters to us.
80+ projects
5+ years' experience
Grade I & II listed work
NHL 3.5 lime specialists
Fully insured
Planning work on your property? Get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote.
Specialist hydraulic lime mortar repointing in NHL 3.5.
Older solid-wall properties, typically built before 1930, were built to be pointed in lime, and they need it to stay healthy:
Breathability. Lime is vapour permeable, so moisture can evaporate out of the wall instead of being trapped inside and causing damp.
Flexibility. Lime moves with the building, coping with thermal movement and settlement without cracking or crushing the surrounding masonry.
Softer by design. Lime is deliberately softer than old brick and stone. The mortar wears first, so the brick faces and stone aren't the ones that crack and spall, which are far more expensive to put right.
Putting modern cement into an old building almost always causes more problems than it solves, trapping damp and damaging the masonry it was meant to protect. At WS Masonry, we repoint in the materials your building actually needs. That keeps it structurally sound, adds value to your home and protects it for future generations.
We carry out lime repointing on period and listed homes from our base in York and Selby, across North Yorkshire and the wider Yorkshire area.
Our lime repointing process
1
Precision rake-out
We carefully remove the old mortar to the required depth, typically 20mm, using the right tools so historic brick and stone faces are never damaged.
2
Cleaning
Before any new mortar goes in, we clean the joints and faces and remove all dust, leaving the wall ready to repoint.
3
Bespoke aggregate matching
We blend different coloured sands so the colour and texture of the new mortar suit the building and any original pointing that remains.
4
Hand-pointed finish
We repoint every joint and pack it firmly by hand, for a neat flush finish that brings back the style and character of the property.
02
02 Cement Repointing
Modern brick & block
Strong, hard-wearing cement repointing for modern masonry.
Cement mortar is the right choice for modern brick and concrete block buildings, which are built from hard, dense, non-porous materials. Where the existing mortar has become severely degraded (crumbling, cracked or washed out of the joints), we rake it out and repoint in a strong cement mortar suited to the masonry.
Made for modern masonry. Hard, dense modern bricks and blocks are designed to work with cement mortar, so the two wear together as they should.
Structural stability. Fresh, firmly packed joints bind the brickwork back together and stabilise the wall.
A weatherproof, long-lasting finish. Crisp, even joints keep the weather out and smarten up the whole wall or elevation.
We repoint modern brick and block properties across York, Selby, North Yorkshire and beyond.
Not sure whether your property needs lime or cement? We always check the age and type of masonry first, and recommend the mortar your building actually needs.
Brick and stone that has crumbled, cracked or weathered away over time can't simply be pointed around. As part of any repointing job, we supply and fit replacement brick and stone wherever it's needed. However poor the condition, damaged units are carefully removed and replaced with new ones matched to the existing materials, so the repairs sit naturally with the rest of the wall.
We supply and fit replacement brick and stone on jobs across North Yorkshire and the wider Yorkshire area.
Brick and stone replacements on a garden wall pier
Stone replacements on a rubble garden wall
Heritage restoration
Heritage & Listed Building Restoration
Grade I and Grade II listed buildings, heritage assets and large restoration projects
Natural hydraulic lime, used exclusively on every heritage project.
For heritage projects and older buildings, we exclusively use natural hydraulic lime (NHL 3.5). We understand what it takes to work on Grade I and Grade II listed buildings, listed heritage assets and large-scale restoration projects. We make sure every project complies with conservation standards, protecting the structural health of the building for the next century.
The details are done by hand: careful cleaning, bespoke mortar matching and hand-finished joints, giving these buildings the treatment they deserve.
Restoring a listed property is a rewarding project, but also a significant investment. For your peace of mind, we're fully insured, with public liability insurance that specifically covers specialist restoration work.
We work on listed and heritage properties throughout North Yorkshire and beyond, with recent projects in York, Tadcaster, Richmond and Huddersfield.
Corner of a brick outbuilding on a listed property
I recently had two elevations of my circa 200-year-old property lime mortar pointed by Will at WS Pointing, and I couldn’t be happier with the result.
From my very first contact with Will, right through to completion, he provided a thoroughly professional and friendly service. He clearly takes great pride in his work, was extremely knowledgeable about working with an older property, and paid great attention to detail throughout.
It was a pleasure to have Will working on the property, and the finished pointing has made a real difference while retaining the character and appearance of this old house.
I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Will and WS Pointing. A genuinely professional service from start to finish, and I’m very pleased with the work.
John W.Saxton, TadcasterGoogle
Recommended on Facebook
Will has transformed the walls of our grade 2 listed property. He listened to what we needed, used top quality materials in keeping with the property. His communication was excellent, he came when he said he would, was polite, professional. Most importantly transformed some crumbling walls, rebuilt parts with recycled cobbles from my garden, and they look amazing! I had no idea how good the walls would look. thanks so much
Becky K.Grade II listed propertyFacebook
Recommended on Facebook
Will has completed renovating and pointing a very old wall for me in my garden, it looks fabulous, my original plan was to plant some shrubs to grow against it, but it looks so good I am going to change my plans. Far too lovely to hide now.
Would highly recommend. Will is a hard working and courteous young man, with a passion for what he does. Well worth asking him to quote for works you need doing.
Every wall is different, so we price each job individually. The cost depends on the size of the wall, how much old mortar needs removing, access, and whether any bricks or stones need replacing. We offer free, no-obligation quotes; send us a few photos through the quote form and we’ll get back to you.
Does my house need lime or cement mortar?
Most solid-wall properties built before about 1930 need lime mortar, which lets the walls breathe and protects old brick and stone. Hard cement can trap damp and damage older masonry. Modern brick and concrete block buildings are usually suited to cement mortar. We always check the age and type of masonry first and recommend what your building actually needs.
Do I need permission to repoint a listed building?
Work on a listed building can need listed building consent, especially if it changes the building’s appearance or materials. Repointing with matching natural hydraulic lime is the approach conservation officers generally expect, but it’s always worth checking with your local council’s conservation officer before work starts. We have experience on Grade I and Grade II listed properties and can talk you through it.
Which areas do you cover?
We’re based in York and Selby and cover all of North Yorkshire. We also travel for jobs across the rest of Yorkshire, with recent projects in Huddersfield as well as York, Tadcaster and Richmond. If you’re unsure whether we cover your area, just ask.
Are you insured?
Yes. We’re fully insured, with public liability insurance that specifically covers specialist restoration work.
Can you replace damaged bricks or stones?
Yes. As part of any repointing job, we remove crumbled, cracked or weathered bricks and stones and replace them with new ones matched to the existing materials.
Contact
Get a Free Quote
Planning work on your property? Fill in the form below and we’ll get back to you with a free, no-obligation quote. Got a question first? Just give us a call or drop us an email.
A Yorkshire stone cottage in Huddersfield, where we restored the front elevation and the gable end. The old black ash mortar was raked out and the stonework repointed in lime, lifting the whole house with clean, light joints that let the walls breathe and bring the warm colour of the stone back to life.
Front elevationGable endFront window and door detail
More photos
Listed Barn Conversion, York
York, North Yorkshire
Listed property
Barn conversion
Lime repointing
Lime repointing on a listed property in York. We repointed the barn conversion and its outer boundary walls in lime mortar, giving the weathered brickwork a clean, consistent finish while keeping the character of the old brick.
Boundary wall
More photos
Grade II Listed Garden Wall, Richmond
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Grade II listed
Cobble & stone wall
Stone replacement
NHL 3.5 lime repointing
A cobble and stone garden wall at a Grade II listed property in Richmond. Years of hard cement had been smeared over the face, and many of the stones had cracked, loosened or fallen out. We carefully removed the old mortar, replaced the damaged stones with matching ones and repointed the whole wall in natural hydraulic lime (NHL 3.5), revealing the character of the original cobbles and brick.
Full length of the wallView from the gate endClose-up of the stonework
More photos
Listed Barn Conversion, Saxton
Saxton, near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
Listed property
Barn conversion
NHL 3.5 lime repointing
A beautiful listed home in Saxton, near Tadcaster, originally a barn conversion. The old, failing mortar had cracked and crumbled away, leaving gaps throughout the stonework. We raked it out and repointed the whole elevation in natural hydraulic lime (NHL 3.5), bringing out the warm tones of the stone and the reclaimed brick window surrounds.
Full elevation with windowWindow and brick sill close-upBrick quoin and stonework detail
More photos
Brick Outbuilding Restoration, Wistow
Wistow, near Selby, North Yorkshire
Listed property
Brick outbuilding
Lime repointing
Brick replacement
Restoration of an old brick garage and outbuilding in Wistow, near Selby. The failing old mortar was raked out and the brickwork repointed in lime. On the gable end, damaged bricks where the wall meets the roof tiles were replaced and new fascia boards fitted, leaving the whole building weathertight and looking its best.
Front elevationCorner viewGable end
More photos
Yorkshire Stone Property, Richmond
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Yorkshire stone
Garden walls
NHL 3.5 lime repointing
A beautiful Yorkshire stone property in Richmond, repointed in natural hydraulic lime (NHL 3.5). The lime was matched to the colour and texture of the stone, bringing out the natural tones of the walling and leaving a clean, breathable finish that suits the character of the property.
Gallery
Listed Barn Conversion Gable End, Saxton
Saxton, near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
Listed property
Barn conversion
Gable end
NHL 3.5 lime repointing
A second project at Saxton, near Tadcaster: the gable end of a beautiful listed barn conversion. The old, failing pointing was carefully raked out and the gable repointed in natural hydraulic lime (NHL 3.5), with the mortar matched to bring out the golden tones of the stone.
Stonework with brick patchGable end
More photos
Brick & Stone Garden Wall Rebuild, Richmond
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Brick & stone wall
Stone replacement
Top courses rebuilt
NHL 3.5 lime repointing
A characterful brick and stone garden wall and pier in Richmond. The old mortar had failed, many of the stones had loosened or fallen out, and the top courses had collapsed. We rebuilt the top of the wall, replaced the damaged stones with matching ones and repointed the whole wall in natural hydraulic lime (NHL 3.5), bringing out the contrast between the red brick quoins and the stone infill.
