Stone Masonry

Question 1

What is commercial building stone? (2)

Answer 1

• rock taken from the earth and shaped for the purpose of construction
• stone is a natural, diverse building material

Question 2

How is commercial building stone used or installed? (2)

Answer 2

• laid in mortar, much like brick

- mechanically attached to the building frame as facing

Question 3

What are the six types of building stone according to ASTM C119?

Answer 3

• granite
• limestone
• quartz-based
• slate
• marble
• other

Question 4

What are the characteristics of granite? (5)

Answer 4

• nonporous, strongest stone, very durable
• suitable for exposure to severe weathering and ground contact
• available in many colors
• can accept many finishes, including polished
• most common stone quarried for construction in North America

Question 5

What are the characteristics of limestone? (3)

Answer 5

• strength and porosity vary with density
• colors range from white, to gray, to red
• normally has a textured finish

Question 6

What are some characteristics of quartz-based stone? (3)

Answer 6

• varies in density and porosity
• color varies significantly with types of minerals that bind the quartz particles
• cannot be polished

Question 7

What are some characteristics of slate? (3)

Answer 7

• derived from shales
• dense, hard stone with closely spaced layers or ‘planes’
• available in a variety of colors

Question 8

What are some characteristics of marble? (3)

Answer 8

• varies greatly in its physical properties and appearance
• many colors, frequently with extensive veining
• easily polished

Question 9

What stones comprise the ‘other’ group? (7)

Answer 9

• travertine
• alabaster
• greenstone
• schist
• serpentine
• soapstone

Question 10

What are some characteristics of travertine? (3)

Answer 10

• partially crystallized, patterned calcite
• chemically similar to limestone
• physical properties similar to marble

Question 11

What is fieldstone?

Answer 11

rough building stone obtained from river beds or rock-strewn fields

Question 12

What is rubble?

Answer 12

irregular quarried fragments that have at least one good face

Question 13

What is dimension stone?

Answer 13

quarried and cut into rectangular shapes

Question 14

What is flagstone?

Answer 14

thin slabs used for flooring and paving

Question 15

How is stone cut?

Answer 15

from the quarry in blocks

Question 16

How do cutting methods vary?

Answer 16

based on type of stone

Question 17

What machines are used to cut limestone and marble?

Answer 17

saws with diamond blades

Question 18

What is required to cut granite?

Answer 18

granite is much harder and usually requires blasting or the use of a jet burner

Question 19

What are the four milling methods?

Answer 19

• band sawing
• circular sawing
• hand carving
• planing

Question 20

What is a good predictor for the future performance of stone?

Answer 20

past history in similar conditions

Question 21

What is petrographic analysis?

Answer 21

microscopic analysis of mineral content and structure

Question 22

What is laboratory testing?

Answer 22

water absorption, density, compressive strength, dimensional stability, freeze-thaw resistance, chemical resistance, flexural strength, etc.

Question 23

How is stone sourced?

Answer 23

locally sourced for greater economy

Question 24

What correlates with greater durability?

Answer 24

high density and low water absorption

Question 25

How does stone masonry work? (3)

Answer 25

• stones support their own weight
• most commonly set in mortar, like brick or CMU
• may also be dry set, stacked without mortar or set on shims with sealant-filled joints

Question 26

What is stone cladding, or curtain walls, and how do they work?

Answer 26

• stone panels mechanically attached to building frame

- attachment system carries the weight of the panels

Question 27

What does rubble masonry use?

Answer 27

unsquared stone blocks

Question 28

What is random rubble masonry?

Answer 28

laid without continuous horizontal joints

Question 29

What is coursed rubble masonry?

Answer 29

laid with continuous horizontal joints

Question 30

Can ashlar masonry be random or coursed?

Answer 30

yes; either