I have no hesitation in awarding the full 5 stars for the high standard of the repointing and other work, and for the extra attention given to improving the look as well as the structure of my house. At all times the team took great care to make the process a smooth and pleasurable one. One of the reasons I contacted Barlow Construction was their membership of the Federation of Master Builders, and that has certainly proved its worth.
Period Property Restoration in North Yorkshire
Stonework, lime and repairs to listed and older homes, done the way they were built.
★★★★★Reviewed on Google and Yell
20+ yearsin the trade
Up to 10 yearsinsurance backed guarantee
FMB memberFederation of Master Builders
TrustMarkGovernment endorsed
Guild memberGuild of Master Craftsmen
Our own teammulti trade, in house
Our speciality
Our founder spent more than twenty years on North Yorkshire estates and private homes, and old stone restoration is the work we are proudest of.
Houses built before about 1919 work differently from modern ones. Solid stone and brick walls need to breathe, lime mortar lets them do it, and the wrong repair can do more damage than the problem it was meant to fix. We often find cement pointing and plastic masonry paints that need to be removed.
We repair and rebuild stonework, cut in new stone faces, repoint in lime, rebuild chimneys and garden walls, and restore listed buildings in and out of conservation areas across North Yorkshire.
Our founder's estate background
Dressed stone gate piers and walling, built in the traditional way.
Lime or cement?
Why the mortar matters on an old wall.
Cement mortar is harder and less porous than the stone around it. Water gets trapped behind it, freezes and pushes the face off the stone. Lime is softer and breathable, so the joint wears instead of the stone, which is how the wall is designed to work.
Read our lime guide| Lime mortar | Cement mortar | |
|---|---|---|
| Breathes | Yes, lets moisture out of the wall | No, traps moisture in the stone |
| Flexibility | Moves with the building | Rigid, cracks or pulls stone faces off |
| What wears first | The mortar, which is inexpensive to renew | The stone, which is expensive to replace |
| Right for | Solid walls built before 1919, listed buildings | Modern cavity walls |
Restoration work
Sketch the restoration
Choose what needs doing and watch the cottage change from how it is now to how it will look.
Your projectA sketch to start the conversation. Every job is priced after a visit.
Listed building or conservation area?
We are used to working with conservation officers and listed building consent. We will help you get the approvals right before any work starts.
★★★★★Trusted by homeowners across North Yorkshire
What restoration clients say
Restoration questions
Anything else, call us on 07816 237961.
Can you match old stone?
Yes. We source reclaimed stone, or new stone from quarries that match the original, and dress it by hand to the same finish and coursing.
Do you work on listed buildings?
Yes. We regularly work on listed buildings and in conservation areas, and follow the approved listed building consent to the letter.
Can cement pointing be removed?
Yes, carefully, by hand, so the stone edges are not damaged. The joints are then repointed in a lime mortar matched to the stone.
Do you rebuild stone boundary walls?
We rebuild mortared stone boundary walls, gate piers and retaining walls, reusing the original stone wherever we can.
One team, one point of contact and a fully itemised price
One team runs every job, from the first visit to the final clean. Call us, WhatsApp a few photos, or send the form below.
★★★★★Trusted by homeowners across North Yorkshire
What our clients say
Barlow Construction has helped me through a major renovation of an 1860s property, involving new suspended ceilings, new wall linings throughout, full damp proofing, new doors and lintels, a new central heating system, and new bathroom and kitchen installs. Lewis has been a pleasure to deal with throughout, and his advice and guidance have been invaluable. His onsite team show considerable depth of experience, with no dramas in dealing with the unexpected work that crops up in an old building. If only all firms were like this to deal with.
We have worked with Lewis and his team across a number of properties and he is incredibly professional and pleasant to work with. Highly recommended.
Lewis Barlow has been involved in two major projects at our house near Stillington. These included restoring a barn and converting it to residential use, renovating the original farmhouse, and building two substantial extensions. He has immense skill in all areas of construction, takes huge pride in his work, and is always a delight to deal with. He runs a team efficiently and explains what he is doing as he goes, always letting you know what the next day or week holds. Our house is a joy to live in.
A tree had pushed over our boundary stone wall and neighbours needed access at all times. After discussing everything on site with Lewis we received a very reasonable quotation. The job was completed to the very highest standard and all the residents commented on how polite and courteous the workers were. A top building firm that we will certainly use again.
Communication throughout the build was exemplary. It is a measure of Lewis's integrity that he will immediately flag unnecessary work that can be avoided, and he is happy to suggest alternative approaches, which were consistently better ideas than ours. The tradesmen he chose were professional, trustworthy and delivered without fault.
We were introduced to Barlow Construction through our architect. They proved themselves to be a professional, trustworthy and reliable building company. Nothing was too much trouble. Originally taken on to do a single storey extension, which they did to an extremely high standard, we then asked them to lay a full surround patio with ACO drainage and repair our chimney stack. They were very tidy, clearing and putting everything away at the end of each day. We would wholeheartedly recommend them.
Talk to us about your property
Send a few details and we will call you back to talk it through and arrange a visit. If you already have drawings, send them on WhatsApp and we will review them before we visit.
- Call us07816 237961
- WhatsAppSend photos or plans on WhatsApp
- YardUnit 3, Bridge Farm, Park Road, Topcliffe, Thirsk YO7 3PD
Tell us about your property
A few quick questions so our team can call you about the right thing. Quotes are free and come with no obligation.