Stratum Masonry

Stratum Masonry Multi-award-winning stonemasonry company based in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

160 Years of History Back to Life One of the most rewarding aspects of building restoration is the opportunity to recrea...
12/06/2026

160 Years of History Back to Life

One of the most rewarding aspects of building restoration is the opportunity to recreate features that have been part of a building's history for generations.

Unfortunately, a storm had caused the stonework to fall from height and required complete replacement.

Using the surviving original sections as a template

Our team carefully set out, carved, and built a new pinnacle in blonde sandstone, reproducing the original moulds and details.

Every detail was considered to ensure the replacement remained true to the historic character of the building.

While the new sandstone stands out today, this is likely very close to how both pinnacles would have appeared when the church was first completed in the 1860s.

Over time, the stone will naturally weather and begin to blend in with the surrounding masonry.

Projects such as these are a reminder that building restoration is about more than repairing stonework.

It is about ensuring these buildings can be appreciated for generations to come.

A fantastic effort from everyone involved in delivering this project.

I stood in this spot 7 years ago...
11/06/2026

I stood in this spot 7 years ago...

The Story Behind Scotland's Bricked-Up Windows If you've ever walked around Glasgow's older sandstone buildings, you've...
10/06/2026

The Story Behind Scotland's Bricked-Up Windows

If you've ever walked around Glasgow's older sandstone buildings, you've probably noticed what appear to be windows that have been filled in with stonework.

These are often a reminder of the Window Tax, a property tax introduced across Britain in 1696.

The more windows a property had, the more tax the owner paid.

Windows were seen as a sign of wealth, making them an easy way for the government to assess how much tax someone could afford.

As a result, many property owners chose to brick up existing windows or design buildings with fewer windows altogether to reduce their tax.

This led to darker interiors and poorer ventilation.

Although the tax was eventually abolished in 1851, the evidence remains all around us.

Many of Glasgow's historic buildings still display these former window openings, often infilled with stone to match the surrounding masonry.

The blocked-up openings on this property are a perfect example of how history can be hidden in plain sight.

Have you ever noticed a blocked-up window and wondered why it was there?

One of the best parts of working on historic buildings is discovering features like this... Details such as these often ...
09/06/2026

One of the best parts of working on historic buildings is discovering features like this...

Details such as these often go unnoticed by passers by, but they form an important part of a building's history and character.

Every stone, carving, and decorative feature tells a story about the craftsmen who built the structure and the materials that were available at the time.

When carrying out restoration works, preserving these details is just as important as addressing remedial works elsewhere on the building.

Whether it's a significant stone replacement or a small decorative feature such as this, the same level of care, attention, and craftsmanship is required to ensure the building's character is retained for future generations.

We are fortunate that our work takes us to some remarkable buildings across Scotland and discovering details like this is a reminder of why protecting our built heritage is so important.

Hats off to our team who are doing a fantastic job with the restoration.

Choosing the right stone match,When selecting replacement stone, colour matching is about much more than comparing a dry...
08/06/2026

Choosing the right stone match,

When selecting replacement stone, colour matching is about much more than comparing a dry sample against the existing building.

With increased rainfall and moisture for a significant portion of the year. As a result, the appearance of sandstone can change dramatically between wet and dry conditions.

As this example demonstrates, the same stone can appear significantly darker when saturated, with variations in colour, grain, and overall tone becoming much more pronounced.

This is why we always assess stone samples in both wet and dry conditions before making a final recommendation.

A stone that appears to be an excellent match on a dry summer's day may look completely different during wet weather, resulting in a section of stone that stands out from the surrounding masonry.

When selecting replacement stone, considerations have to be given to:

• Colour

• Grain structure

• Texture

• Geological compatibility

• Wet and dry appearance

Taking the time to carry out this assessment helps ensure the new stonework sits naturally within the existing elevation and remains visually sympathetic throughout the changing seasons.

It is often the small details that make the biggest difference when working on traditional buildings.

Welcome to the team, James. James recently joined us to further develop his career and has already settled in well. He’...
04/06/2026

Welcome to the team, James.

James recently joined us to further develop his career and has already settled in well.

He’s fitted into the team naturally and shown a great attitude towards work.

He has been working alongside another new recruit, John. The two have formed a great working partnership, and we are looking forward to seeing James progress over the coming months.

We’re always looking to build a team of hardworking people who genuinely care about the standard of work they leave behind.

James has shown exactly that since coming on board, and we’re excited to see him continue to develop his career with us.

Stone repairs Too often, I see repairs being used as a shortcut on heavily deteriorated stonework where replacement woul...
03/06/2026

Stone repairs

Too often, I see repairs being used as a shortcut on heavily deteriorated stonework where replacement would have been the better long-term solution.

The approach should always be to preserve as much original material as possible while making sure the repair is structurally and visually suitable for the building.

For smaller defects, carefully carried out stone repairs can extend the life of original stonework while retaining the character of the building.

The key is knowing where the line is...

If a stone has significantly failed beyond a small, isolated area, replacement is often the better and more durable option.

These photos show examples where carefully considered repairs were used successfully to restore detail while retaining as much original masonry as possible.

If you have a building where the stonework requires attention, please send me a message.

Progress photos from our restoration project in Callander. The collapse of this 2-storey gable end happened during the n...
02/06/2026

Progress photos from our restoration project in Callander.

The collapse of this 2-storey gable end happened during the night, thankfully no one was hurt.

We are tasked with carefully rebuilding it stone by stone while preserving as much of the original as possible.

After the collapse, a large amount of the fallen stonework was salvaged and assessed by our team.

Where possible, the original stone has been reused within the rebuild to retain the building’s historic fabric and appearance.

Where replacement stonework is required, the best available matching has been sourced to ensure the new work blends in well with the existing stonework.

Projects like this require a lot of patience and skill.

A fantastic effort from our team involved on this project so far.

Chimneys are often one of the most overlooked parts of a building... However, they can also be one of the biggest contri...
29/05/2026

Chimneys are often one of the most overlooked parts of a building...

However, they can also be one of the biggest contributors to water ingress and serious issues within a building

During recent works at one of our live restoration projects, our team identified several chimney sections where the existing stonework had significantly deteriorated due to years of exposure to the elements.

Many sections were beyond repair and had to be replaced.

The best available matching stone was carefully sourced before being dressed by our stonemasons and fitted into place.

High-level masonry like this is exposed to constant weathering, and when defects are left untreated, water can quickly find its way into the building fabric below.

Just because you can’t easily see a chimney defect from ground level doesn’t mean everything is okay.

Chimneys are often one of the most overlooked parts of a building... However, they can also be one of the biggest contri...
29/05/2026

Chimneys are often one of the most overlooked parts of a building...

However, they can also be one of the biggest contributors to water ingress and serious issues within a building

During recent works at one of our live restoration projects, our team identified several chimney sections where the existing stonework had significantly deteriorated due to years of exposure to the elements.

Many sections were beyond repair and had to be replaced.

The best available matching stone was carefully sourced before being dressed by our stonemasons and fitted into place.

High-level masonry like this is exposed to constant weathering, and when defects are left untreated, water can quickly find its way into the building fabric below.

Just because you can’t easily see a chimney defect from ground level doesn’t mean everything is okay.

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