Taught by our time served Stonemason, this two-day practical course is suitable for all abilities and covers an introduction to tools, techniques and uses of basic stonemasonry.

Learners can take away their practice stones at the end of the day.

Download a PDF copy of the full course description here
Course Suitability

Taught by our time served Stonemason is suitable for all abilities and covers an introduction to tools, techniques and uses of basic stonemasonry. Learners can take away their practice stones at the end of the day.

This practical course is designed for:

those individuals with little or no experience in cutting and dressing natural stone.
building contractor working on traditional stone buildings and structures and just want to learn the basic masonry skills for cutting and dressing sandstone
Or a semi-skilled operative who needs to add to his skills set and be able to produce stone masonry units to plumb, level and plane with traditional tooling finishes

We are always happy to help learners choose the right course so please contact us if you would like to discuss which course is suitable for you or your employees.
Learning Outcomes

How to take a stone out of ‘twist’ to true level and plumb
Put a true flat surface on a slab of stone
Effect different tooled surfaces, eg stugged, broached, droved and rock faced finishes

Course Programme

Health and safety – including use of ‘Airstream’ hoods to minimize inhalation of airborne crystalline silica
Introduction to the tools used to cut and dress natural sandstone blocks
Taking a stone out of ‘twist’ using 4 wooden blocks and 2 squares
Production of a true flat surface on a block of sandstone
Production of different surface tooling finishes including: 1. Broached, 2. Droved and 3. Stugged

This practical two day course will equip you to set out, construct and finish a traditional rubble wall using a variety of building stones and traditional lime mortars.

This course covers the importance of laying the stones correctly and the use of pinning stones will be emphasised so that no more than 30% of the volume of the wall is mortar!

The content of this workshop provides part of the underpinning knowledge required for assessment of National Unit H8 WV 46 ‘Consolidation and Repair of Masonry Structures’.

Download full course description (PDF)
Course suitability

This practical course is aimed at masonry contractors and those undertaking repair works to traditional masonry structures.
You should be reasonably fit and able to lift 25kg safely.

We are always happy to help learners choose the right course. Please click here to contact us or telephone 01383 872722 if you would like to discuss which course is suitable for you or your employees.
Learning Outcomes

Understanding the construction of mass walls;
Understanding traditional building technology;
Understanding the importance of laying masonry units correctly with pinning stones to effect sound and weatherproof wall construction;
Understanding the range of binders, sands and aggregates for making traditional mortars including ‘hot’ lime mortars;
Ability to undertake accurate mixing of mortars for repeatability and cost effective work;
Understanding the setting characteristics of lime mortars

Cost
£310.00 + VAT
(£372.00 incl VAT)