Building a dry stone wall is a traditional craft carried out by skilled professionals. If you are looking to find dry stone wallers near you, we can help.
How to find dry stone wallers near you
Dry stone walling is steeped in history and synonymous with the British countryside.
Do you need help building or restoring a dry stone wall and are unsure where to start?
Finding dry stone wallers in your area is quick and easy with Checkatrade. Only trades who pass our checks and meet our high standards are on Checkatrade.
Short on time? Request a quote and we’ll get some of our approved members to contact you directly.
Your questions answered about dry stone wallers near you
What is dry stone walling?
Dry stone walling is a way of building walls without any cement or mortar holding them together. Drystack (or drystane in Scotland) is another name for this craft.
The trick of a stable dry stone wall is the system of interlocking stones that sit together to form the wall structure. This allows the wall to settle naturally and to survive frost.
Throughout the UK you’ll find lots of different styles of walling depending on the type of stone available. For example, thin slate in the Lake District and large boulders in the southwest of Scotland.
You’ll typically see dry stone walls used for the boundaries of fields and churchyards. In residential areas, dry stone walling looks really special for terracing and in landscaped gardens.
Are dry stone walls expensive?
If you want to install dry stone walling on the grounds of your property, it’s important to find a local expert with experience to do the work.
To work out the costs you’ll need to calculate the size of the dry stone wall you want to create. As well as the price of materials, you’ll need to factor in labour costs. Be aware that it’s not a cheap wall option.
Not only that, the type of stone you choose for your dry stone wall will have a major impact on the total price you’ll pay. You’ll often be quoted for the amount of stone in tons. Therefore one ton will usually build one square metre of dry stone wall.
For dry stone walling using new sandstone, the average cost is about £200 per ton + VAT. Expect to pay the same cost if you want to use reclaimed stone for field walling or more decorative stone for dry stone walling.
Other costs to factor in:
- You’ll have to pay the labour costs for a specialist to build your dry stone wall
- As a guide price, expect to pay £200 per sq m for a dry stone walling expert to build a double-sided freestanding wall including toppings
- Don’t forget about extra costs for footing preparation, moving the stone to the site, or clearing up after the wall is finished
- Therefore it’s important to confirm what’s included in the price before hiring dry stone wallers near you
For more detailed information, check out our dry stone walling cost guide.
How long do dry stone walls last?
Dry stone walls are a beautiful natural feature – especially if you have a ready supply of local stone.
Furthermore, dry stone walls are long-lasting compared to other fencing and boundaries. A lifespan of 100 – 200 years isn’t uncommon.
Generally, limestone perishes after 100 years but you can expect granite to last much longer because the stone is harder and more durable. However, when a dry stone wall does finally fail, it can be rebuilt using the same stone.
Useful dry stone walling checklist
- Measure the length and width of the dry stone wall that you need and calculate the square metre total
- Speak to local dry stone walling experts for professional advice and accurate quotes for the work
- Research the stone options to choose the style you want
- Shop around for fair and competitive dry stone walling costs
- Always hire tradespeople with experience and ask to see examples of their previous work
- Ideally, hire a dry stone wall specialist accredited to the DWSA or similar body
How do I find the best dry stone wallers near me
1. Use Checkatrade
You’ll only find trades who meet our high standards and pass our checks on Checkatrade.
On average, our trades score 9 out of 10 on everything from reliability to tidiness.
Contact or pay a trade through Checkatrade and you’re covered by our 12-month guarantee of up to £1,000*
2. Read online reviews
Check online reviews to see how other people rated their experience.
We check the reviews on Checkatrade are from real people, and that trades meet our high standards.
3. Ask for recommendations
Recommendations from family and friends are priceless. Ask around locally to see if anyone can recommend reliable dry stone wallers near you.
Don’t forget to look those recommendations up on Checkatrade!
Ready to find dry stone wallers near you? Pop your postcode in the box below to see who comes highly-rated in your area.