Heritage charm lives on thanks to the best masonry contractors in Adelaide!

I hired Set in Stone Masonry to restore my grandparents’ old Adelaide-style home, and I’m glad I did. Robert Elphick, the owner, has over 15 years of hands-on experience and offers a solid range of services.

One of the biggest jobs was restoring the chimney. It had taken a beating over the years, and the brickwork was falling apart. Robert used lime mortar rather than cement, which I learned is better for older homes since it allows the walls to breathe properly.

He also repointed the stonework around the house using hand chiselling and carving. As for the cellar, he stripped back the damaged areas, treated the walls, and used lime-based materials to restore it properly. 

Overall, it was a good experience. I just wish Robert had online booking, since lining things up took a few calls back and forth.

He is a highly skilled, efficient tradesman and works cleanly

“Robert repaired our front sandstone/brick mortar and completed the pointing.

He used traditional lime putty mortar as required in restoration. He is a highly skilled,efficient tradesman and works cleanly.

I highly recommend Robert for any stone or brickwork maintenance and repairs.”

-Stephen Lambos, Google Reviews

The quality of Robert’s work is outstanding and far exceeded our expectations

“Robert restored the stone work on our property that is dated 1874, which included replacing broken and missing stone. The quality of Robert’s work is outstanding and far exceeded our expectations. Halfway through the job, we uncovered an unexpected door that had been badly covered up. Robert was able to blend it into the existing stone work and was not phased by the issue. Robert was reliable, tidy on site, and easy to work with.”

-Abi Murphy, Google Reviews

Another masonry crew in Adelaide that’s worth a look is JRM Stonework. They’ve been around since 2005 and have a rare certification from the UK’s Dry Stone Walling Association, which is a pretty big deal in the heritage space.

What sets them apart is their specialty in dry stone walling. That means no cement, just well-fitted stones and a whole lot of patience. You’ll often see this style on garden walls and rural properties.

If you want something a bit more structured, they also build mortared stone walls. They’re good at adding custom touches, too, like stone steps and wall veneers that give a space a bit more character.

Just a heads up: they stick mostly to stonework, so they’re not ideal for broader construction jobs. And because dry stone walling is a slow, precise process, their lead times might be longer than usual.

Absolute stunning job

“Had the JRM Lads come out to repair my collapse stone wall due to above yard washing my existing wall away

Absolute stunning job more stronger and higher now, definitely recommend very very professional”

-Alex Davey, Google Reviews

Very happy with the look of our new wall!

“We had Jon and his team build a stone wall for the garden. A very professional team, punctual and reliable, and they were prompt in coming back to finish a minor issue at the end. Very happy with the look of our new wall!”

-Andreas Schreiber, Google Reviews

Artisan Stone Restorations is a small heritage masonry outfit run by a 4th-generation stonemason who has more than 30 years in the trade. What stood out to me was their past work in the UK, including a big conservation job at the Royal Crescent in Bath, which says a lot about the skill level behind the business.

Their bread and butter is salt damp repair, a sneaky issue that pops up in plenty of older homes around Adelaide, thanks to ground salts eating away at stone and mortar. 

They back their repairs with a 30-year guarantee, which adds to clients’ confidence in them.

They also deal with subfloor ventilation, checking airflow and clearing any blockages under timber floors. 

It’s easy to get started since they offer free inspections. Just be aware they’re popular, so bookings can get tricky or shift around at short notice. It’s worth planning ahead.

They take absolute pride in their work

“We cannot recommend Craig and his team enough! From our very first meeting it was clear the expertise, commitment and absolute love that Craig has for this work.

Our heritage cellar was a wreck and was close to falling down after years of neglect and being covered by ivy. Craig and his team came in and meticulously restored it to its former charm with such care and attention. They take absolute pride in their work and went above and beyond to ensure it was as good as could be! Not only are they skilled professionals they are just good people to boot – they were communicative, respectful and hard working. We highly recommend you working with Artisan Stone Restorations. We are absolutely delighted with what they achieved for us. A big thank you!”

-Amanda Atlee, Google Reviews

Their passion for their work really shines through

“I was really happy with the restoration of my heritage listed cottage. Renovations were compliant with heritage restrictions as Craig and his team are well informed with requirements. Their passion for their work really shines through. Good communications throughout their work. Thoroughly recommend”

-Ann Corcoran, Google Reviews

If you’re looking for someone who can tackle full-scale restoration projects, check out Fine Line Repointing. They’ve been around for over 40 years, specialising in heritage restoration that actually respects the original look and feel.

That’s why their services cover a lot of ground. They do paint stripping, stone cleaning, repointing, stone veneer and cladding, and even full stone replacement when needed. They can also treat salt damp issues, which I noticed is a common problem in older homes around here.

It’s also worth highlighting that they can do chimney repairs and repointing. And since they source their stones from quarries in the state, the quality is quite impressive.

The downside is that their booking setup is pretty basic. No online system, and they’re closed on weekends, which could make scheduling an appointment a bit tricky for some.

It was a pleasure to deal with them

“The guys at Fine Line Repointing did an absolutely brilliant job restoring the facade of our 1910 sandstone fronted villa which was degraded with age and by a 80’s reno with stucco and spanish arches. Everyone I dealt with in the company was thorough, professional, polite and honest. It was a pleasure to deal with them and they turned what had been a stressful renovation into something delightful. Highly recommended.”

-Mal Dux, Google Reviews

My little house looks beautiful again

“Graham really looked after me and my little house, which is interstate, exceptionally well. The stonework had suffered water damage due to problems with gutter cleaning. He went above and beyond (clearing the gutters and advising me of the cause & extent of the issue) to ensure that I wouldn’t be wasting money on work that would be damaged again. Throughout the job he kept me up-to-date, and liaised with my tenant so that there was smooth and steady progress.

And now my little house looks beautiful again.”

-Kat Bro, Google Reviews

Another masonry contractor I came across that uses locally sourced stone is The Traditional Stonemason. It’s run by Ilir Frroku, who trained in Europe from the age of 17 and now has years of experience working with Bluestone and Adelaide Hills Sandstone.

One thing I like is the variety of services they offer. They do new construction projects like retaining walls, stone steps, and fireplaces.

And true to their name, they stick to old-school techniques. They use lime mortar, which, as you might remember, helps the wall breathe. They also clean heritage stonework with care, choosing soft brushes and sponges over pressure washing to preserve the original surface.

The only major drawback is their size. It’s usually just Ilir and one other mason, so they’re not exactly a good fit for large-scale projects. It’s also unfortunate that they sometimes fail to respond to enquiries.

Ilir’s attention to detail is second to none

“Ilir worked tirelessly to create stunning walls and columns. They are a feature of our cafe and gallery. Ilir’s attention to detail is second to none. He is meticulous in selecting the perfect stones, in the application of mortar and in cleaning up. We get many positive comments from customers about the stone walls – they certainly add to the ambience of our cafe and gallery.

I would certainly recommend Ilir – his work is fabulous and he’s easy to work with.”

-Ros Cameron, Google Reviews

Ilir selected good quality materials and kept wastage to a minimum

“Ilir has constructed a magnificent stone barn for us at Forest Range. Ilir listened to what we wanted and made our dream a reality. The team from The Traditional Stonemason were a pleasure to have on the project. When difficulties and challenges arose, Ilir patiently worked through them to produce an outstanding result. Ilir selected good quality materials and kept wastage to a minimum. Expertly using stringline and level the walls are upright and straight. Ilir is a true craftsman and takes pride in his work making sure the customer is happy. We would recommend The Traditional Stonemason for value, honesty, workmanship, friendliness, integrity and skill.”

-Graham Mason, Google Reviews