Bill Taylor, a master stonemason from Oxford, hit the professional jackpot with the restoration work he’s doing at the Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, writes Bill Rettew for the Daily Local News.

The former DuPont estate has masonry work everywhere, with most of it in need of immediate restoration. However, it will most likely take two years to finish the job, as it is much more time-consuming than working with brick and mortar.

“Stone work is dying out,” said Taylor. “The cost in labor and materials far outstrips the cost of brick work.”

He added that while a brick worker does not need to worry about cutting, shaping, and dressing materials for a wall, a stonemason has to find the right stone that will fit in the wall, or make it fit.

Math, chemistry, and physics – combined with a little bit of artistry – are all necessary components of Taylor’s job.

“The beauty of stone work is in the stone and not the mortar joints,” said Taylor. “You want to show as little joint in the wall and the greatest amount of stone.”

Read more about the process in the Daily Local News here.