Dry stone walls

[Guiggs]

So after reading something on another thread I got thinking about a bit of a career change, I've done a small amount of dry stone wall building in the past and quite enjoyed it and I'd like to do more.
My question is how should I go about it?
I see I can do a short course to get the basics but I suppose I need to work alongside someone for a while, are their people out there that would take me on and would they pay ?
Is their plenty of demand and what rates do people charge?
If anybody could offer me any advice it would be appreciated,
Cheers

 

[suffolksmallholder]

If you are 30 you have youff in your favour. Skill you can build on and similar with client base. Look into any grant that will assist your work & potential clients. Live in an area where stone-work is in demand. Travelling long distances for the odd days work isn't good. Get yourself a CSCS card so you can show you are HSE compliant. This may get you work on commercial sites too.
Good luck!
SS

 

[Still Farming]

Maybe National Trust or Historic agencies maybe good ?

 

[renewablejohn]

Quite a few shows have dry stone wall competitions which is a good place to learn different techniques. Also go advertising if you can produce a good wall quickly.

 

[reverand]

I would not want to put anyone off walling but it is hard to make a living off it in the beginning.
Building a good wall is more important to the client than a quick wall , which is more important to you!
You need to be fast and that only comes with practice so if I was you I would find someone to take you on. Get a bit of practise under you belt at someone else's expense so to speak. You can earn decent money with no more outlay than the price of a hammer and string lines. You are however using your body as a tool and it is a hard manual job as you will already know. Give it a good

 

[Strawberry roan]

I would not want to put anyone off walling but it is hard to make a living off it in the beginning.
Building a good wall is more important to the client than a quick wall , which is more important to you!
You need to be fast and that only comes with practice so if I was you I would find someone to take you on. Get a bit of practise under you belt at someone else's expense so to speak. You can earn decent money with no more outlay than the price of a hammer and string lines. You are however using your body as a tool and it is a hard manual job as you will already know. Give it a good

I always new you were a tool.

 

[Guiggs]

So I'm told a fast stone Waller can do 4m a day at £25/m so £100/day yet somebody on here says they can earn £200/day,
What's the truth?
100 a day not worth it but 200 certainly is!
I appreciate these are for a time served/skilled builder!

 

[7610 super q]

I guess it's a how long is a piece of string question. How wide is the wall. How tall. Is stone already on site. What is the quality of stone like.What's the weather like etc, etc.

 

[Lazy Eric]

So I'm told a fast stone Waller can do 4m a day at £25/m so £100/day yet somebody on here says they can earn £200/day,
What's the truth?
100 a day not worth it but 200 certainly is!
I appreciate these are for a time served/skilled builder!

25 quid a meter?? I wish!! 40+ round here for farm walls.. and some ain't that good.. All they say if I moan about price is they will go work for barn convention types for £ 50

 

[Guiggs]

25 quid a meter?? I wish!! 40+ round here for farm walls.. and some ain't that good.. All they say if I moan about price is they will go work for barn convention types for £ 50

Where are you based?
Dry stone walling and building out of stone are different things surely?

 

[Lazy Eric]

I mean doing drystone walling around barn conversations, West Yorkshire. There is a big demand for drystone wallers around here.

 

[reverand]

I always new you were a tool.

Do you mean "knew"?

 

[reverand]

So I'm told a fast stone Waller can do 4m a day at £25/m so £100/day yet somebody on here says they can earn £200/day,
What's the truth?
100 a day not worth it but 200 certainly is!
I appreciate these are for a time served/skilled builder!

I will do 3 m a day on average for £40 a metre. Depends how my back hold out . 4 metres if I have to.

 

[Guiggs]

I will do 3 m a day on average for £40 a metre. Depends how my back hold out . 4 metres if I have to.

What do you class as a day?
Real world day of 8 hours ish or a farmers day...up to 18 hrs?

 

[reverand]

6 till 8 farm
8 till 4 wall
4 till 7 farm
Sleep and repeat.
7 hours a day walling is enough

 

[unlacedgecko]

6 till 8 farm
8 till 4 wall
4 till 7 farm
Sleep and repeat.
7 hours a day walling is enough

When do you find time to count your money?

 

[reverand]

When do you find time to count your money?

That doesn't take long