How do I find out if a masonry business has a backlog of heritage or restoration work?

Backlog means work that is committed, not hoped for. Ask the seller to split the list into signed contracts, accepted quotes and early conversations. Check dates, scope and payment terms for each. Restoration jobs often depend on approvals or funding that can shift, so ask what could delay them.

Look at the people behind the work. Heritage clients often pick a mason because of specific skills and past projects. Ask which tradespeople have the needed experience, and whether those people would stay. Ask whether some contracts name the seller personally.

Check the numbers too. Compare the backlog with past revenue to see how many months of work it covers, and whether the schedule is realistic. Match it to the financial statements and the bank deposits. Your accountant can test the figures, while your lawyer can read the contracts for anything that blocks a change of owner. A broker can also help you look for similar businesses with steady heritage work. Ask also how the company finds heritage work: public tenders, consultants, repeat owners, or the seller’s reputation. The route matters, because reputation-based work may fade when the seller does, while a system for finding it can be passed on. Ask what the seller would do if a large project were cancelled tomorrow.

Key takeaways

• Split the backlog into signed, quoted and hoped-for work.
• Identify which skilled people the heritage work depends on.
• Have your lawyer check contracts for change-of-owner problems.