Glossary

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abrasive finish - a flat, non-reflective surface finish for natural stone. Also referred to as "honed."

Adhesive - a substance capable of holding materials together by surface attachment.

Agglomerate - An artificial, man-made product fabricated to look like quarried stone. Usually composed of natural stone chips embedded in a matrix of mortar or resin. Also referred to as "solid surfaces." Ex: Silestone and Corian products.

Aggregate - granular material, such as sand, gravel, and crushed stone, used with a cementing medium to form a hydraulic cement, concrete or mortar.

Ashlar - masonry composed of squared stones; one pattern of masonry construction.




bevel - most commonly an edge finish applied to natural and manufactured stone.

bluestone - A blue to bluish-green metamorphic sandstone historically quarried in New York and Pennsylvania. Commonly used as flagging for patios, walkways, and steps. Available in blue-blue, lilac, and full color range.

Bond coat - a material used between the back of the tile and the prepared surface. Suitable bond coats include pure Portland cement, dry-set Portland cement mortar, latex-type Portland cement mortar, organic adhesive, and the like.

bond stone - term used for a stone used to anchor or strengthen the application in which it is used. Refers to stone veneers when applied to the backing material and in wallstone applications.

border stone - usually a flat stone used as an edging material. A border stone is generally used to retain the field of the terrace or platform.

Breccia - A name applied to both granite and conglomerate stone because of the coarse and angular particles present.

Brownstone - A dark-brown or reddish-brown sandstone. A sedimentary rock.

building stone - rock material in its natural state of composition and aggregation as it exists in the quarry and is usable in construction as load bearing dimensional stone.

Bullnose - A rounded outside corner or edge finish applied to natural and manufactured stone; trim tile with a convex radius on one edge used for finishing tile applications.

Buttering - the spreading of a bond coat to the back of tile just before it is placed Butt Joint - An external corner formed with the meeting of two square-edged stones, either one overlapping the other.




Caulking - The application of a sealant in a joint or opening to prevent the passage of water, air, dust and noise. Makes a joint leak-proof by sealing with an elastic adhesive compound.

Cement - usually refers to Portland cement which when mixed with sand, gravel, and water forms concrete. Generally, a type of adhesive.

Ceramic tile - a ceramic surfacing unit, usually relatively thin in relation to facial area, made from clay or a mixture of clay; and other ceramic material, called the body of the tile, having either a "glazed" or "unglazed" face, and fired above red heat in the course of manufacture to a temperature sufficiently high to produce specific physical properties and characteristics.

chamfer - to slightly bevel the junction of an exterior angle.

cobblestone - a natural rounded stone, large enough for use in paving; commonly used to describe paving blocks, usually granite, generally cut to rectangular shapes.

Colored grout - commercially prepared grout consisting of carefully graded aggregate, Portland cement, water dispersing agents, plasticizers and color fast pigments.

composite - a construction unit in which stone that is to be exposed in the final use is permanently bonded or joined to other material, which may be stone manufactured material, that will be concealed.

Concrete - a composite material which consists essentially of a binding medium within which are embedded particles or fragments of aggregate; in Portland cement concrete, the binder is a mixture of Portland cement and water. The resulting chemical action will cause the mixture to set and harden into a rock-like mass.

Conglomerate - A stone similar to sandstone but the rock particles are rounded or angular gravel rather than sand.

Coping - A cap or covering course on top of a masonry wall. Designed to shed water, protect the top, and provide a finished, closed appearance to the wall.

cornerstone - a stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall. Also a stone laid at the formal inauguration of the erection of a building, not necessarily at a corner, usually incorporating a date or inscription.

Course - A continuous layer of building units running horizontally in a wall. Vertical joints are constantly broken so that no two joints will be over one another.

curbing - slabs and blocks of stone bordering streets, walks, etc.

cut stone - any stone cut or machined to produce a specific size, dimension, or shape

cutting stock - a term used to describe slabs of varying size, finish, and thickness which are used in fabrication treads, risers, copings, borders, sills, stools, hearths, mantels, and other special purpose stones. Usually the highest quality material.




Decorative Tile - tile with a ceramic decoration or glazing on the surface.

Dimensional Stone - Natural building stone that has been selected, trimmed or cut to specific shapes and/or sizes. generally two feet or more square, of a specified thickness.

dry wall - a dry wall is a stone wall that is constructed one stone upon the other without the use of any mortar. Generally used for retaining walls.




efflorescence - A white powdery deposit of soluble salts of calcium, potassium, and sodium which forms on masonry surfaces. Efflorescence is caused by the release of excess "water of crystallization" and/or moisture penetration, thereby, causing the leaching of these salts to the surface when the water evaporates.

epoxy grout - a two-part grout system consisting of epoxy resin and epoxy hardener, especially formulated to have impervious qualities, stain, and chemical resistance, used to fill joints between tile units.

expansion-contraction joint - a joint in a wall or floor designed to allow the expansion and contraction of the wall due to temperature change. An expansion joint compresses as panels expand, a contraction joint expands as panels contract. Most often applies to exterior surfaces, particularly concrete slabs. Any material adhered to a concrete slab must also have an expansion joint if the slab has one.

Exterior tile - ceramic tile that has been approved for use where freezing and thawing conditions occur




face - this refers to the exposed portion of stone. The word "face" can also be used when referring to the edge treatment on various cutting stock materials.

field stone - An uncut, well-rounded stone separated from ledges by natural process and found on the surface or in the soil of the earth; frost-proof

flagstone - thin slabs of stone used for outdoor flagging or paving walks, driveways, patios, etc. It is fabricated from natural thin rock, or split from rock which cleaves easily. It is generally fine-grained sandstone, bluestone, quartzite or slate, but thin slabs of other stones may be used.

Flooring - material used as an interior walking surface.

Floor tile - a ceramic, glazed or unglazed paver, quarry or mosaic tile resistant to abrasion and impact.




Gneiss - A metamorphic rock with a banded or coarsely foliated structure; often called "Trade Granite."

Granite - An unstratified igneous rock formed from volcanic action and composed of coarse grains or crystals of quartz, feldspar, mica, and varying other minerals. The interlocking layers of silicate minerals provide it with great strength, making it the next hardest thing to diamonds. Black granites are not trade granites, as they possess no interlocking texture and contain little or no quartz or feldspar. Black granites are characterized by an abundance of black rock-forming minerals, such as hornblend and biotite.

Gravel - Composed chiefly of quartz but may contain granite, limestone, basalt and other rocks. Used for landscaping, driveways, walkways, and setting concrete.

Grout - cementitious material most commonly used to fill joints between natural or manufactured tiles. Sanded is recommended for grout joints 1/8" or more, usually for floors only. Unsanded or fine grout is used in narrow grout joints of 1/8" or less. Normally, grout is worked into these joints with a hard rubber float.




hearth - the floor of a fireplace on which the fire is laid.

hearth stone - originally the single large stone or stones used for the hearth, now most commonly used to describe the stone in front of the fire

honed finish - very fine and smooth finish, though not as fine as a polished finish. Usually applies to natural stones, such as marble, limestone, travertine and granite.




igneous - one of the three main classes of rock (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic) that make up the earth's surface; formed by the solidification of magma under the earth's crust or lava on the surface. Ex: granite, slate, and lava.




joint - the space between stone or tile units, usually filled with grout, mortar, sand, or stone dust.




keystone - the last wedge-shaped stone placed in the crown of an arch, regarded as binding the whole.




lava - a general term applied to igneous rocks that erupted from the earth by volcanic action. Often available as a landscaping stone.

Lath - metal mesh used in plasterwork and masonry applications. It provides a backgound or reinforcing agent for the scratch coat or mortar coat. Used most often for applying thin natural stone veneers.
limestone - A sedimentary rock composed predominantly of calcium carbonate. Limestone was formed by the decomposition of rock, soil, plant and animal life that was deposited at the bottom of lakes or seas. Any limestone may be called a marble if it is capable of taking a polish. Often quarried in bulk quantities and used in the mixing of concrete.

Lugs - see: self-spacing tile




Marble - a term loosely describing any calcium carbonate stone capable of taking a polish. Occurs in a wide range of colors and variations. Available in slab and tile form. High-polish marble not recommended for exterior use, as the acid rain will eat away the surface sheen. Onyx, serpentine, travertine, verde antique are types of marble.

Masonry - A built-up combination or construction of building units or materials of clay, shale, concrete, glass, gypsum, stone or other similar products in a wet or dry application.

Metamorphic Rock - One of the three classes of rock making up the earth's surface; layer in between and formed from sedimentary and igneous rocks. These rocks have been changed by the exertion of pressure and presence of heat and certain chemicals.

Mexican tile - terra cotta-like tile, used mainly for floors, and handmade. These tiles vary in color, texture, and appearance, from tile to tile and within each tile. They come in various sizes and various coatings. Sealed or glazed tile protects the surface on these pavers, which would otherwise powder away under wear.

Mica - Any of a group of mineral silicates in a multi-layered form.

Mortar - a mixture of cement paste and fine aggregate; in fresh concrete, the material occupying the interstices among particles of coarse aggregate; in masonry construction, mortar may contain masonry cement, or may contain hydraulic cement with lime to afford greater plasticity and workability than are attainable with standard hydraulic cement mortar. Used to bond units of stone together.

Mortar Bed - A troweled layer of mortar, in a plastic state, in which building units will be set.

mosaic - the applying of natural stone or tile with no definite pattern. Natural stone used in a mosaic pattern is irregular in shape, with the exception of stone tiles (granite or marble).

Mounted tile - tile pre-assembled into units or sheets by suitable material to facilitate handling and installation.




natural cleft - this generally pertains to stones which are formed in layers in the ground. When stones are cleaved or separated along a natural seam the remaining surface is referred to as a natural cleft surface.

notched trowels - available in serrated and square-tooth design. The teeth are made in various sizes. The correct tooth size and depth must be used to apply the thickness of bonding mortar specified. These trowels are used to apply all of the various kinds of bonding materials for ceramic tile.




obsidian - a glassy phase of lava.

ogee - a stone profile with a reverse curved edge: concave above, convex below.

onyx marble - Lime carbonate deposited in cold water solutions. Generally translucent and characteristic layering. Most closely related to agate for its dense, crystalline form. Considered to be a marble because it can take a high sheen polish




palletized - a system of stacking stone on wooden pallets. Palletized stone is easily moved and transported with the help of machines. Palletized stone generally arrives at the job site in better condition than unpalletized material.

Pattern-cut - this refers to stone patterns used throughout the stone industry. They are often based on a standard unit of height or thickness, usually 1" or 1 1/2". Pattern cut stone is pre-cut to allow for 1/4 or 1/2 inch joints.

Paver - A unit of stone, brick or cement product used for paving.

pointing - the filling or troweling of mortar joints with mortar or caulking compounds after the setting mortar has hardened.

polished finish - the finest and smoothest stone finish available characterized by a high gloss appearance. The glossy appearance is NOT indicative of any type of sealant or protected surface.

Porcelain - a glazed or unglazed vitreous ceramic whiteware used for technical purposes. The tile is generally very dense, fine-grained, and smooth with sharply formed face, usually impervious. Colors of the porcelain type are usually of a clear, luminous type or granular blend thereof.

Portland Cement - A hydraulic cement product obtained by mixing a predetermined proportion of lime, silica, and alumina minerals. The main ingredient used in masonry.




Quarry - an excavation site where usable stone is extracted from an open pit or underground mine.

Quarry tile - unglazed and unsealed tile made from natural clay or shale's and approved for exterior, commercial and heavy duty uses.

Quartz - one of the most common minerals. This silicon dioxide mineral forms in hexagonal crystals and is the main component of sandstone.

Quartzite - a metamorphic rock consisting largely or entirely of quartz. Most quartzites are formed from sandstone. Surfaces of quartzite are unusually smooth and have a wide color range

Quartzitic Sandstone - A metamorphic sandstone consisting of quartz grains cemented with silica, but not as hard as quartzite. It is an intermediate rock between sandstone and quartzite.




Rise - the word "rise" refers to the heights of stone. Generally used in reference to veneer stone.

Rock face - usually a type of edge applied to a stone. Commonly seen on hearths or treads.

rodding - the reinforcing of a structurally unsound piece of stone, generally marble or granite, by cementing or epoxying steel or fiberglass rods into channels cut into the back of the material.




sandblasted - a dull non-glossy finish applied to stone; usually accomplished by blasting air blended with sand across the surface.

sandstone - a sedimentary rock consisting usually of quartz, cemented with silica, iron oxide or calcium carbonate. Sandstone is extremely durable. Varieties of sandstone are often designated by the prominence of bonding materials or minerals. Ex: bluestone and brownstone.

sawed edge - a clean cut edge generally achieved by cutting with a diamond blade, gang saw or wire saw.

sawed face - a finish obtained from the process used in producing building stone. Varies in texture from smooth to rough and coincident with the type of materials used in sawing; characterized as diamond sawn, sand sawn, chat sawn, and shot sawn.

Scratch coat - the first coat of plaster or stucco applied to a surface in three-coat work; usually cross-raked or scratched to form a mechanical key with the brown coat. Necessary in all thin veneer work.

Sealant - A material used to fill and seal a joint or opening.

Sealer - a continuous film or penetrant to prevent the passage of liquids or gaseous media; product used to protect natural stone, such as marble and granite, against stains or scratching. Sealers are of low pigmentation.

Sedimentary Rock - One of three classes of rock which make up the earth's outer crust; formed from the disintegration and collection of rocks, mineral grain, and organic material.

Serpentine - A hydrous magnesium silicate of igneous origin. Usually green, lustrous, and translucent, but could also be red, yellow, black or white. Serpentine stone takes a high polish but can crack or discolor easily.

Self-spacing tile - tile with lugs, spacers, or protuberances on the sides. These devices automatically space the tile for the grout joints. Usually only found on wall tiles.

Siliceous - Silica-bearing rock.

slab - a lengthwise cut of large quarry block of stone approximately 5'x 8'in size or larger.

Slate - A fine-grained metamorphic rock derived from sedimentary rock clays and shales.

soapstone - a massive variety of talc with a soapy or greasy feel used for hearths, washtubs, table tops, carved ornaments, chemical laboratories, etc., known for its stain-proof qualities.

Spacers - t-shaped and y-shaped, they are used in installation to separate tile on walls and floors. They vary in thickness from 1/16" to 3/8"

split face (sawed bed) - usually split face is sawed on the beds and is split either by hand or with machine so that the surface face of the stone exhibits the natural quarry texture.

stone - sometimes synonymous with rock, but more properly applied to individual blocks, masses or fragments taken from their original formation or considered for commercial use.

Strip rubble - a product term for stone used for building purposes. These are commonly irregularly shaped pieces with one split and one finished face. Most commonly found in walls, step risers, foundations, and veneers.

surround - an efframement.




template - a pattern for repetitive marking or fabrication purposes

terra cotta - hard baked clayware, including tile, of variable color, averaging reddish red-yellow in hue and of saturation.

terrazzo - a type of concrete in which chips or pieces of stone, usually marble, are mixed with cement and are ground to a flat surface, exposing the chips, which take a high polish.

thin-set - a term used to describe the bonding of tile with suitable materials applied approximately 1/8" thick. Also refers to dry-set mortar.

tile - a thin modular stone or ceramic unit.

Travertine - a calcium carbonate rock formed from the deposits of underground waters; may or may not take a high sheen; can be called either marble or limestone.

tread - a flat stone used as the top walking surface on steps.

trim - stone or tile used as decorative items only, such as sills, coping, enframements, etc.




veinings - colored markings in stone.

veneer stone - any stone used as a decorative facing material which is not meant to be load-bearing.

verd (or verde) antique - a marble composed chiefly of serpentine and capable of being polished. It is commonly crossed by veins of other minerals.




waxing - an expression used in the marble finishing trade to indicate the filling of natural voids with color blended materials.

wall tile - a glazed tile with a body that is suitable for interior use and which is usually nonvitreous, and is not required nor expected to withstand excessive impact.

Waterproof membrane - a membrane, usually made of built-up roofing, to provide a positive waterproof floor over the substrate, which is to receive a tile installation using a wire reinforced mortar bed.

wear - the removal of material or impairment of surface finishing through friction or use.

Window Sill - The bottom section of a window frame and/or the bottom section of an exterior masonry window opening.