Heritage stonework and brick repair specialist

Owners of century homes and older commercial buildings, churches, community groups, and heritage bodies or municipalities with grants or restoration budgets.

Quoted price per job or per square metre of wall, or a day rate. Larger heritage projects may be paid in stages.

• Masonry or bricklaying experience
• Eye for matching old materials and finishes
• Quoting and customer service
• Comfortable working at height

• Commercial general liability insurance, and WCB/WSIB coverage if you hire help (rules differ by province)
• Trade certification requirements for masonry vary by province, check with your provincial apprenticeship body
• Heritage-designated buildings may need municipal approval before work, check with the local heritage office
• Older buildings may contain lead paint or asbestos, and cutting masonry creates silica dust, so check safety rules and testing needs
• Winter limits outdoor masonry in much of Canada, so plan for seasonal income gaps
• Safe work at height, including scaffold rules and fall protection

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $5,000 to $20,000, depending on your tools, access equipment, materials such as lime-based mortar and insurance. Get quotes for your own setup before you commit.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $3,000 to $14,000, depending on the jobs you take, your pricing and how much you work. Winter limits outdoor masonry in much of Canada, so plan for seasonal income gaps.

Check trade certification requirements for masonry with your provincial apprenticeship body, municipal approval for heritage-designated buildings, and safety rules for lead paint, asbestos and silica dust. Also check liability insurance, WCB/WSIB if you hire help, and scaffold and fall protection rules.