Iain Pearson Stone Masonry

24/04/2026

Lime Mortars, Pozzolans, Natural Hair & Fibre binders, Historic Sands & Natural Earth Ochre Pigments:A definitive guide.

Air Lime vs. Hydraulic Lime:

Air Lime (Non-hydraulic): Does not set in water, sets by air.
Air lime is often used where high v***r permeability is required for moisture management in buildings.

Hydraulic Lime (NHL): Contains clay, sets initially with water, and then carbonation, making it suitable for damp conditions.

Air lime (non-hydraulic lime) is a traditional binder made from high-calcium limestone (

22/04/2026

Mr Thomas’s chop house, Manchester, England.

One of my favourite buildings I’ve worked on, I’ll be talking or rather explaining more about this project in greater detail at a later date, & I’ll also be posting unseen content from lots of other amazing period architecture that I’ve had the pleasure of working on, some dating back to the 11th century. I’ll also be explaining in great detail about the uses of different mortars & techniques from the past & hopefully setting up some form of workshop/online tutorials for skills that have either been lost in the fast paced society we live in or haven’t been truly documented due to either the above or lack of enthusiasm/time etc…

I did all the terracotta remedial replacements on this job, but as I said above I’ll go into the full details & explain everything in another post.

As many of you are aware I’m still in recovery through more than one disability, so bare with me, but it’s definitely worth checking out the full history of just this building alone, which is one of the first buildings in Manchester to have Electricity, its steeped in history.

09/03/2025

It is with great sadness that I’m here to inform you I can’t continue working as I’m now severely disabled on sticks & most likely in the next week or so be in a wheelchair permanently, unless however by some miracle they find a cure for my severely progressive auto immune disease or arthritis then I may spring back to work, but i think that’s highly unlikely, as some of you are aware I was living in my work van for 18 months after unfortunate circumstances of being made homeless, & I’ve continued to work right up recently when my turbo failed on my van leaving me stranded & isolated for 3 weeks, I’d probably still be carrying on if I could stand up & wasn’t in so much pain. Anyway I’ve now been found Temporary accommodation through Shelter & I’m in a hostel waiting for an occupational health assessment & a doctors note so I can start the benefits process.

It’s with a real heavy heart that I’ve had to come to this decision as many of you know I love my job & have a passion for what I do.

Anyway I won’t ramble on I just came to say thanks to all the amazing clients & people I’ve met & done work for, it was an absolute pleasure & sorry to all the clients waiting on work (which there’s many off you, probably at least 2 years worth of work, which is a shame, but I have to consider my health first, which I’ve probably been neglected through my rigorous work ethics & not wanting to give up or let my clients down).

So for now it’s a farewell, unless things miraculously change!
I’ll keep the page open as it’s very informative & part of me & my work, I still have many images to post up from past work too.

Who knows I might even set up online workshops & zoom meetings, buts that’s just an idea for another day.

Thanks to all who contributed to my GoFund me page & wished me well with kind words of advice & for anyone who is kind enough to share my journey or donate a small amount, my GoFund me page is still active (the link is either below or pinned on my personal page). As I still need to fix my turbo on my van so I can sell it on for some kind of financial security (just until I’m able to claim the benefits i need which is a long arduous process of at least 15 weeks).

Thanks again.

Much ♥️ Iain

18/02/2025

Here’s another update on my current situation, I was trying to carry on working part time but unfortunately now my van has blown another injector (I think, could even be a more worse case senario & the head gasket might have gone, but I’m pretty sure it’s the injector, not having much luck with things lately & these VW Caddy’s are known for injector issues, if I’d have known I’d have bought another ford), anyway I’ve managed to get some Universal credit which has just about paid the bills & I’ve applied to the housing referral for the homeless as I couldn’t get through on the number I was given, so hopefully I’ll hear back from them tomorrow & I’ll be off to the Doctors this week, when I can get an appointment & physically get there for a fit note so I can start the process of getting some disability help & a secure place to call home. That’s about it really, can’t afford to fix the van at this time as I have no income, although I was trying to finish a job off so I could sort things out, so the van will either have to wait or I’ll have to sell it as is, as I can’t keep throwing hundreds of pounds at failing injectors. As it’s already had 5 replacements costing over half of the initial price of the vehicle. So it looks like I’m in a catch 22 situation…

Just want to say thanks again to all who donated & shared my Go fund me, every donation at least helped me for a few weeks whilst I was sorting things out. I’ve left the fundraiser up just in case anyone would be kind enough to donate or share it to help me get back on my feet. This is really hard for me to ask as I’ve always worked and paid my own way, but for some reason or other a lot of things have all happened and escalated at once, hopefully if I can get my van fixed & sold then maybe buy a more reliable van, ill hopefully still be doing part time work at ground level for the time being until I can at least try and stabilise my illness, as I’m a grafter and don’t want to give up just yet.

If you’ve got this far thanks for listening & your kind words of support & donations.

Thanks again.

Please share if you can or a small donation (even if it’s the price of a cup of tea)

Iain

Hello, my name is Iain & I’m seriously in need of Help, whether t… IAIN PEARSON needs your support for Urgent Help Needed for a Severely Disabled Van Life man

26/01/2025

Just another quick update on what’s going on, I will hopefully (when the weather has calmed down) still be working, but it won’t be full time for now & it will probably for the time being be ground level or accessible work only until I can get the right treatment I need, then maybe in the future months I might extend that if I’m fit & well enough.

In the meantime I shall be sorting out a place to live & consult with the GP/NHS on what the next course of action is regarding what can be achieved for better mobility.

If anyone could help share my go fund me or give a small donation I would be eternally grateful. (Click on the link for more information).

Thank you for those that have supported me already I’m overwhelmed with the generosity, kindness and empathy I’ve received.

Peace & love

Iain

Hello, my name is Iain & I’m seriously in need of Help, whether t… IAIN PEARSON needs your support for Urgent Help Needed for a Severely Disabled Van Life man

24/01/2025

Just an update to say thank you to all the generous, kind & empathetic people who’ve shared, donated to my go fund me & offered food & kind messages…I’m overwhelmed with gratitude.

On another note as I said I’m not giving up just yet, I’m definitely not a quitter and have worked all my adult life from being 15 years old, so I can’t see me sitting around an apartment when I’ve been active all my life…so I’ll keep you all updated (obviously I won’t be working full time, but there’s still life in the old Dawg yet!)…

& if any of you lovely lot could please share my Go fund me or a small donation I would be very grateful.

The image is something I’m looking to purchase as I at least want to stay mobile & as fit as I can.

Thanks for taking the time to read my message & the link to my go fund me is below. 👇🏼

Peace, love & happiness to you all. ♥️

https://gofund.me/84cd0389

23/01/2025

Just a quick update on where I’m at, currently I’m not very mobile with progressive arthritis, but hopefully with the right treatment I might still be able to do some of the work I usually do, so only time will tell, just have to see what is available for me.

Secondly a big thank for the kind & generous donations & messages I’ve had so far & if anyone can help or at least share my go fund me, that would be fantastic. Thanks again Iain

Hello, my name is Iain & I’m seriously in need of Help, whether t… IAIN PEARSON needs your support for Urgent Help Needed for a Severely Disabled Van Life man

22/01/2025

URGENT HELP, please share & support me if you can. Thank you Iain

Hello, my name is Iain & I’m seriously in need of Help, whether t… IAIN PEARSON needs your support for Urgent Help Needed for a Severely Disabled Van Life man

12/11/2024

Something a bit different from the normal day to day stone restoration.

A nice little one day job Caulking/pointing & some remedial stone restoration to a Victorian arched doorway.

The remedial work consisted of a backing out coat & a float/pointing coat to the lower brickwork/new bespoke wooden door & the same above on the early pre/cast springer/voussoir (arch stones) & key stone. So it’s all weather tight & without the use of some unsightly & unnecessary 20/25mm sillicone bead or any other form of masking the joint to the historical settlement.

Nice little job & it’s great to see lots of TLC being put back into buildings & architecture of this period/era.
The extension & brickwork are a good match too & aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

02/11/2024

Stone coloured resin restoration mortar to a ground floor chamfered bay window sill. All run in traditionally by straight edges & handmade floats, with any detailed work including a new weather drip mould, window jamb stooling’s & false jointed & pointed to the independent squint return stones.

Another day, another bay & another satisfied client.

If anyone is looking for Stone remedial or restoration work, feel free to get in touch for a quote.

Ta Iain