Restoration Register

Heritage masonry contractors in Waterloo and Wellington

Elora and Fergus are built out of the limestone under them, and Waterloo Region out of the clay beside it. Both need the same thing from a mason and rarely get it: mortar softer than the masonry it sits between, and joints raked by hand rather than opened up with a grinder.

This region's heritage masonry is dressed limestone in the Grand River towns, fieldstone on the farms, and soft red and buff brick through Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge. The recurring jobs are repointing in a matched lime mortar, rebuilding rubble and fieldstone sections that have lost their bond, dutchman repairs into eroded sills and quoins, chimney rebuilds, and undoing cement parging applied to stone walls in the 1970s and 80s, which is widespread here and is actively holding water in the wall. Three listings is a thin field for a region this rich in masonry, so book early and be prepared to wait for the right mason rather than take the available one.

What to ask before you hire

  1. What mortar mix, and how did you arrive at it? Softer than the stone or brick, lime-based, and ideally matched to an analysis of the original.
  2. Have you removed cement parging from a stone wall before? It is common in this region and taking it off without damaging the stone is a skill.
  3. What is your lead time? With this few heritage masons in the region, the good ones are booked, and waiting is usually the right call.
Grant funding

Kitchener funds 50% to $15,000 for special projects and $5,000 generally, and Cambridge 50% to $5,000. Guelph's program ended in 2024. Both active programs require approval before work begins.

Contractors on this page

Also serving this area

Listed in a neighbouring region and covering this one.

Part of

More in the Waterloo & Wellington region

Get quotes for your project

Tell us about the job and we will pass it to up to three listed heritage trades who work in your area. It is free and there is no obligation.

All heritage service pages · Grants by municipality