Masonry services
Sparrow pecking and convict picking
Go Stone provides traditional sparrow pecking and convict picking for sandstone projects that require a hand-finished, heritage-style surface.
These detailed masonry finishes create texture, depth and visual character across the face of the stone. They are especially suited to restoration work, architectural features, monuments, walling, capping and custom sandstone details where a machine-flat finish would not feel appropriate.
Traditional hand-finished texture
Heritage-style sandstone finishes shaped by hand
Sparrow pecking and convict picking are labour-intensive finishing techniques used to give sandstone a more traditional, worked surface.
Rather than leaving the stone sawn smooth, the face is carefully marked by hand to create a controlled texture. The result can range from subtle surface detail to a more pronounced heritage finish, depending on the project and desired appearance.
Go Stone can apply these finishes to sandstone pieces for restoration, custom masonry, architectural detailing and commemorative work. It is a slow and skilled process, but when done well it gives the stone a sense of age, craft and permanence that cannot be achieved with a standard machine finish.
from the yard
All in the detail
Mark walks through the finished product here at the yard — but this is only half the story.
Out on site, it becomes something else entirely. Precision cut by us. Installed to perfection by @capitalstonemasonry_ stone masonry
That’s how quality projects come together — the right material, handled the right way, by the right people.
If you’re building and want it done properly the first time — let’s talk