A stone cleaner cleans and restores stone flooring and the exteriors of residential and commercial stone buildings and monuments. They may also deal with brick surfaces and areas such as driveways and patios. They are also called masonry cleaners.

The Work

You could be:

• using blasting equipment, hoses and wire brushes to remove the dirt
• washing the stone with jets of water and with acid or special chemicals, depending on the type of stone
• repointing stonework with mortar
• reinforcing stonework with wire inserts
• using laser equipment to clean conserved buildings
• when working on floors, sealing the cleaned stonework to help reduce future wear
• restoring stonework after fire or flood damage.

Some work overlaps with that of a stonemason (see the Stonemason job profile).

Pay

The figures below are only a guide. Pay rates vary, depending on:

• where you work
• the size of your company
• the demand for the job.

The starting salary for a stone cleaner can range from £13,000 - £18,000 a year, rising to between £23,000 and £30,000 a year.

Conditions

• A lot of your work could be outside, in all weathers.
• When using blasting equipment, there is a lot of dust and noise.
• You would often have to use chemicals.
• You might have to climb scaffolding and balance on planks.
• You travel about to different sites.
• You usually work regular hours but you often work overtime in summer, with shorter hours and lay-offs in winter.
• You wear protective clothing, including overalls, safety helmet, gloves, goggles and sometimes, face mask and ear protectors.

Getting In

• You do not normally need formal qualifications, but some subjects at National 4 or 5, including English, Maths and a technological subject can be helpful.
• A driving licence can be useful.
• For some jobs you might need to hold a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card or equivalent to work on a building site. You must pass a health and safety test to qualify for this scheme.
• If you have to operate machinery you must be over 18.
• You should be physically fit, strong and agile.
• You should not be allergic to dust or chemicals.
• You should have a good head for heights.

Look for jobs with specialist stone-cleaning companies.

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland

2026

2387

1.8 %

RISE

2031

2429

  United Kingdom

2026

39365

1.5 %

RISE

2031

39950

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What Does it Take?

You need to have:

• an awareness of health and safety procedures
• a sense of responsibility
• stamina and physical fitness.

You need to be able to:

• work to deadlines
• work as part of a team
• follow written and spoken instructions carefully.

Training

• Training in the use of specialist machinery and materials is normally on the job with an experienced cleaner.
• You will probably do short courses in new cleaning products and methods throughout your working life.

Getting On

• With experience, if you work for a large firm, you might become a supervisor or manager.
• You might become self-employed, or take on a franchise, if you have enough capital to buy equipment.

More Information

Many stone cleaners operate as franchises. There is work cleaning old buildings of stone or brick and large industrial buildings built of various materials, as well as stone floors, pavements, patios and driveways. There is specialised work cleaning monuments and sculptures.

Different types of stone buildings, such as those built from granite, sandstone or limestone, all require different treatments to make sure the stone is not damaged during the cleaning process. Similarly, different types of stone floorings, such as granite, limestone or marble require different treatments. Floors are particularly subject to wear as people walk on them. Specialist sealants can improve their appearance and their resistance to wear.

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.