Sandstone Retaining Walls
Sawn and rock-face sandstone block retaining walls, built on solid footings with proper drainage for Northern Beaches slopes.
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Licensed stonemason, Narrabeen NSW
Stonemasons on Sydney's Northern Beaches and North Shore
Sandstone retaining walls, fireplaces, cladding, steps, paving and restoration, built by Blake Cooper and the Northern Beaches Stone team. Over 20 years with stone, from Manly to Palm Beach and across the North Shore.
- NSW licence 328680C (Stonemason)
- Over 20 years working with stone
- Free, no-obligation quotes
- 20+years working with stone
- LicensedNSW stonemason, licence 328680C
- 10stonemasonry services, one team
- 4stones we know inside out: sandstone, limestone, bluestone, travertine
Northern Beaches Stone
Sandstone work built to last on Sydney's slopes and coast
Northern Beaches Stone is a stonemasonry business based in Narrabeen. We build sandstone retaining and garden walls, fireplaces and feature walls, facade cladding, steps and staircases, crazy paving and sawn paving, pool coping, letterboxes and entry pillars, and we restore old stonework.
Most of our work is on the Northern Beaches and the North Shore, where steep blocks, rock close to the surface, salt air and older homes all affect how stone should be chosen and laid. We quote every job in writing after a site visit, and we explain the options, approvals and costs in plain terms before any work starts.
- NSW licensed stonemason Lic. 328680C
- Working with stone since 2004
- 98% recommend us on Facebook
Google reviews
What our clients say
4.9 from 54 Google reviews
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O C 2 weeks ago
View on GoogleWe used Northern Beaches Stone for some sandstone walls around our place which came out beautifully. Highly recommend Blake and his team!
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sam 3 weeks ago
View on GoogleBlake and the Team at Northern Beaches Stone are great , always great price for top quality craftsman. Nothing was ever a problem and even plan changes.
Highly recommend for large and small jobs. -
Josh Hammill 3 weeks ago
View on GoogleHighly recommend Blake and the team at Northern Beaches Stone. Great workmanship, attention to detail and always professional and easy to deal with. Blake takes real pride in his work and the finished product speaks for itself. Couldn’t recommend them highly enough!
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Abdullah Hamayun 3 weeks ago
View on GoogleHad a great experience communicating with the owner of Northern Beaches Stone. Friendly, respectful and easy to deal with. Wishing the team continued success!”
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adam crowley 3 weeks ago
View on GoogleFor any stone construction highly recommend Blake and his team, exceptional work. Best in the business
Worked with us? Leave a Google review. Reviews are shown as published on Google and refreshed automatically.
What we build
Stonemasonry services
From a single sandstone letterbox to a full facade, every job is set out, cut and laid by our own team.
Sandstone Fireplaces
Sandstone fireplaces, hearths, chimney breasts and TV feature walls for gas, wood and electric fires, built inside your home.
Learn moreSandstone Cladding
Natural sandstone cladding for facades, feature walls, columns, chimneys, window surrounds and subfloors, fixed for coastal weather.
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Crazy Paving
Hand-fitted sandstone, bluestone and quartzite crazy paving for paths, driveways, patios and pool surrounds.
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Sandstone Paving
Sawn sandstone flagging, pavers and random flagging, plus travertine and bluestone, for terraces, courtyards and paths.
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Sandstone Steps
Sandstone entry steps, garden stairs, block steps and curved staircases, built with even rises and solid footings.
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Sandstone bullnose and drop-face coping, pool paving and split-face feature walls, with honest advice on stone for salt pools.
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Sandstone Letterboxes & Pillars
Sandstone letterboxes, front walls, gate pillars and fence piers, with house numbers, lighting and parcel boxes built in.
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Sandstone Fire Pits & Features
Sandstone fire pits, seating walls, garden walls, planters, curved edging and outdoor shower walls, built to last outdoors.
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Sandstone Restoration
Sandstone repairs, lime mortar repointing, careful cleaning, sealing and stone replacement for old walls, steps and heritage stonework.
Learn moreWhy Northern Beaches Stone
A stonemason, not a middleman
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Licensed stonemason
Blake Cooper holds NSW contractor licence 328680C in the Stonemason class. You can check it on the Service NSW licence register.
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Over 20 years with stone
Blake has been learning the craft since 2004, starting as an apprentice, and now leads the Northern Beaches Stone team.
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Sydney sandstone specialists
Sawn, split-face, rock-face and recycled Sydney sandstone, plus limestone, bluestone and travertine, chosen to suit the job and the exposure.
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Residential, commercial and heritage
From a single garden wall or fireplace to high-end new builds, commercial work and repairs to heritage stone.
Indoors, too
Sandstone fireplaces & feature walls
A sandstone fireplace becomes the heart of a room. We build hearths, chimney breasts and full-height TV and feature walls for gas, wood and electric fires, with the stone fixed properly to carry its weight.
- Chimney breasts & hearths
- Stone TV & feature walls
- Recladding existing fireplaces
Recent work
Projects
Bilgola Beach
Sandstone fireplace and garden walls
A floor-to-ceiling sandstone fireplace under a raked ceiling, with sandstone block garden walls, steps and a crazy-paved path outside.
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Sandstone Steps
Curved sandstone stairs and garden walls
A sweeping staircase of sawn sandstone treads between curved rendered walls, with curved sandstone garden walls and large-format paving in a harbourside garden.
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Sandstone Cladding
Sandstone-clad sunken courtyard
A sunken courtyard enclosed by sandstone-clad walls, with bluestone stairs dropping in from the level above and stepping pavers set in groundcover.
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Sandstone Cladding
Light sandstone cladding on a modern facade
Light split-face sandstone cladding framing the navy-blue entry of a new two-storey home, from scaffold to finished facade.
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Crazy Paving
Crazy paving driveway and rock-face pillars
A wide sandstone crazy-paved driveway and entry path, with a row of rock-face sandstone pillars carrying a white picket fence across the front lawn.
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Sandstone Pool Coping
Plunge pool with a split-face sandstone wall
An elevated plunge pool among the trees, finished with a split-face sandstone feature wall, sandstone coping and sawn sandstone paving.
View projectStone guide
Sandstone, limestone, bluestone and travertine
Most of what we build is Sydney sandstone, in sawn, split-face, rock-face or recycled stone, because it suits the local landscape and the older homes around it. We also work with limestone, bluestone and travertine, and can adapt to any material you require. We will talk you through the options for colour, texture, heat underfoot and maintenance before you choose.
Compare the stones
Guides
Before you build: straight answers
8 min read
Do You Need Council Approval for a Retaining Wall on the Northern Beaches?
In NSW a retaining wall needs no approval only if it meets every exempt standard in the Codes SEPP: generally no more than 600 mm of cut or fill, at least 1 m from any boundary, 2 m from other retaining walls, 40 m from natural water, not on a heritage item and not redirecting water. Anything else needs a CDC or a DA with Northern Beaches Council.
Read the guide
7 min read
How Much Does a Sandstone Retaining Wall Cost in Sydney?
A sandstone retaining wall in Sydney is usually priced on the square metres of wall face, then adjusted for the block type, site access, rock in the footings, drainage, and any engineering and approval costs. Two quotes for the same wall can differ a lot because they include different things, so compare what each one covers before you compare the totals.
Read the guide
7 min read
How Do You Seal Sandstone, and When Should You Not?
Seal sandstone with a breathable penetrating (impregnating) sealer, not a film-forming coating, so moisture and salts can still escape. Clean the stone with a pH-neutral cleaner, let it dry fully, test a patch, then apply as the manufacturer directs. Do not seal walls with rising damp, salt problems or old lime-mortar heritage work.
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7 min read
Is Sandstone OK Around a Saltwater Pool?
Yes, sandstone can work around a saltwater pool, but only with a dense, good-grade stone, a breathable penetrating sealer suited to pools, regular fresh-water rinsing and joints softer than the stone. Salt crystallising in the pores is what causes flaking. If you want lower maintenance, travertine or bluestone may suit better.
Read the guideService areas
Northern Beaches & North Shore stonemasons
We're based in Narrabeen and work across Sydney's Northern Beaches, from Manly to Palm Beach, and the Lower and Upper North Shore. Other parts of Sydney by arrangement.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Are you a licensed stonemason?
Yes. Northern Beaches Stone is run by Blake Cooper, who holds NSW contractor licence 328680C in the Stonemason class. You can check it on the Service NSW licence check. In NSW, a contractor licence is needed for residential building work valued at more than $5,000 including labour and materials, and home building compensation (HBC) cover is required for residential jobs over $20,000.
What areas do you service?
Northern Beaches Stone is based in Narrabeen and works across Sydney's Northern Beaches, from Manly to Palm Beach, including the Forest district and Pittwater. We also cover the Lower and Upper North Shore, from Mosman and North Sydney through Chatswood and Lane Cove to Wahroonga and Hornsby. Jobs in other parts of Sydney are by arrangement, so ask us.
How much does stonemasonry cost, and are quotes free?
The cost of stonemasonry depends on the type and grade of stone, the size and height of the work, site access, excavation and any rock in the ground, drainage, and whether engineering or approval is needed. Because every Sydney site is different, we price each job individually. Quotes are free and no-obligation: we visit, measure up and give you a written quote.
Do you handle council approvals and engineering for retaining walls?
In NSW, a retaining wall is only exempt from approval if it meets the Codes SEPP limits, including a maximum height of 600 mm and at least 1 m from each boundary. Taller or boundary walls usually need a CDC or DA and an engineer's design. Where a wall needs approval, we build to the engineer's design and work with your engineer, certifier and Council, plus any other licensed contractor the approval requires.
Do you use local or imported sandstone, and can you use recycled stone?
Most of our work is in Sydney sandstone, also called Hawkesbury sandstone, in sawn, split-face and rock-face finishes. We choose the grade of stone for how exposed the work will be. We also work with bluestone and travertine, and can use recycled sandstone, which is often the best match for older Sydney homes. Recycled supply varies, so we source it for each job.