Clear, easy-to-understand meanings of terms used in granite, marble, quartzite, sandstone, and the natural stone industry.
Ability of stone to resist wear from friction.
A flat, non-reflective surface finish.
Measurement of abrasion resistance.
How much liquid a stone can absorb.
Support structure for arches and beams.
Material added to speed curing.
Chemical or mechanical etching technique.
Acrylic-based latex used in coatings.
Acrylic polymer resins used in stone coatings.
Solids content in a coating formula.
Veneer attached using bonding agents.
Volcanic stone with colorful aggregates.
Variegated quartz with layered patterns.
Engineered stone made from chips + resin.
Natural or man-made fragments in mortar.
Soft, translucent gypsum stone.
Change or modification to structure.
Aluminum oxide compound.
Anti-settling agent used in coatings.
Surrounding environmental temperature.
A substance containing no water molecules.
Dark igneous rock with large mineral grains.
A distressed, aged texture on stone.
Topmost stone in pediment or arch.
Trim piece beneath a countertop edge.
Calcium carbonate mineral found in shells.
Architecture using arches and vaults.
Hard sedimentary rock similar to slate.
Hydrocarbon-based organic solvents.
The sharp edge where two stone surfaces meet.
Man-made marble imitation.
Man-made stone alternative.
Hidden arch supporting masonry loads.
Refilling soil or masonry behind structure.
Support layer behind stone veneers.
Compressible filler for joints.
Tile used on walls behind sinks and ranges.
Stoneworker’s bench for cutting and finishing.
Dense volcanic rock, usually black or charcoal.
Block at the base of a column.
Lower layer of masonry or wall support.
Finish featuring parallel tool marks.
Natural layer or stratum of stone.
Horizontal joint between stones.
Natural horizontal plane in sedimentary stone.
Continuous horizontal row of stone.
Cutting platform in a quarry or block step.
Raised boundary or bank of earth.
Black or dark mica mineral in granite.
Dark igneous rock with visible grains.
Staining caused by migrating compounds.
Mixture formulated as water repellent.
Sandstone quarried in Pennsylvania and New York.
Stone made of angular fragments.
Containing calcium carbonate.
Primary mineral in marble and limestone.
Limestone with low magnesium content.
Crystalline marble low in magnesium.
White or milky natural markings.
Caustic alkaline compound.
Slight convex curve in a surface.
Volcanic stone from Mexico.
Top stone on a wall or structure.
Ability of stone to store heat.
Movement of water through stone pores.
Salt compounds containing CO₃.
Weak acid formed from CO₂ in water.
Concrete product made to resemble natural stone.
Material that speeds chemical reactions.
Waterproof filler for joints.
Binder used in concrete and mortar.
Beveled edge connecting two surfaces.
Textured finish made using chat sand.
Small broken piece causing raw edge.
Convex curved stone surface.
Concave curved stone surface.
Exterior stone covering for walls.
Rock made of fragments of older rocks.
Fine-grained earthy material.
Mortar made using clay instead of lime.
Visible back end of a stone unit.
Openings for removing debris before grouting.
Transparent protective coating.
Space needed for installation movement.
Stone's natural ability to split along planes.
Barrier that prevents mortar from bonding.
Natural plane where stone splits easily.
Natural split finish from stone separation.
Protective or decorative layer on stone.
Rounded stones used for paving.
Flooring designed for heavy traffic areas.
Marble or marble-like stone capable of polish.
Dense limestone traded as marble.
Material made of combined minerals.
Water forming on cold stone surfaces.
Stone made of rounded rock fragments.
Strengthening stone to slow decay.
Crust formation blocking sulfate formation.
Joint that manages cracking and movement.
Flat protective top stone of a wall.
Protective cap stone atop a wall.
Soft limestone made of shell fragments.
Limestone made of coral skeletons.
Primary ceremonial stone at building corner.
Decorative molding where wall meets ceiling.
Material treated to resist corrosion.
Flat working surfaces in kitchens or bathrooms.
Continuous horizontal layer of stone.
Veneer laid in uniform horizontal rows.
Support stones for the lowest arch stone.
Concave strip for floor-to-wall transition.
Joint where wall meets floor.
Visible separation or fissure in stone.
Anchor that ties two stones together.
Tool with pointed bars for stone dressing.
Small depressions caused by trapped bubbles.
Projection at stone corner in openings.
Technique for dressing stone with pointed tool.
Fine-grained volcanic rock between rhyolite and basalt.
Lower decorative wall section.
Lower wall section finished with stone.
Layer preventing moisture rise.
Treatment to stop water penetration.
Impermeable layer blocking moisture.
Bending of a structure under load.
Layers separating due to poor adhesion.
Visual depth seen in a polished surface.
Process of planning spaces or surfaces.
Dark igneous rock similar to basalt.
Vertical stone facing on walls.
Stone cut to specific sizes for construction.
Coarse speckled igneous rock.
Carbonate mineral in limestone and marble.
Marble rich in magnesium carbonate.
Limestone with high magnesium content.
Sedimentary rock high in dolomite.
Anchor inserted into dovetail-shaped slot.
Zigzag molding resembling dovetails.
Stone cut into square or rectangular shape.
Shaping or squaring stone for use.
Groove cut to divert water off surfaces.
Projection designed to shed rainwater.
Chisel used for dressing stone.
Dense mortar placed by force.
Unhealed natural fracture in stone.
Stone wall built without mortar.
Stone surface featuring two finishes.
Stone's ability to resist wear and damage.
Inserted stone piece used for repair.
White mineral deposits on stone surface.
Low-sheen matte surface finish.
Corrugated finish with parallel marks.
Mixture with suspended particles.
Marble filled with fossilized shells.
Process of coloring stone internally.
Man-made composite stone product.
Horizontal assembly above columns.
Slight convex curve in columns.
Strong adhesive for stone bonding.
Thermosetting resin used in stone coatings.
Setting stone in vertical structures.
Surface erosion from acids.
Peeling of thin stone layers.
Increase in volume due to heat or moisture.
Concrete surface exposing decorative stones.
Process of turning quarry blocks into finished stone.
The exposed visible surface of a stone.
Mineral groups formed under specific pressures and temperatures.
Multiplier used to ensure structural safety.
Stone finished in factory rather than on-site.
A groove or line that mimics a real joint.
Flat band or molding between surfaces.
Sticky mortar with high cement content.
Natural fracture in stone layers.
Fine tapered edge created by beveling stone.
Primary mineral in granite.
Stone containing iron oxide.
Naturally weathered stone gathered from the surface.
Naturally weathered stones used for construction.
Material placed in joints before sealant.
Thin molding strip used to separate ornamentation.
Material used to fill natural voids in stone.
Powdery residue from stone processing.
Final surface texture of stone.
Fireproof structure for housing a fire.
Process of making surfaces resistant to fire.
European term for installing stonework.
Thin stone slabs used for outdoor paving.
Rough, textured finish created using intense heat.
Barrier used to prevent water penetration.
Pattern achieved by cutting stone parallel to bedding.
Cut the stone parallel to bedding plane.
Very hard, dark-colored silica stone.
Tool for smoothing mortar or plaster.
Thin layer of mortar applied for smoothing.
Materials used to cover interior floors.
Decorative grooves carved into stone.
Carved shallow grooves for decoration.
Coarse hammered stone texture.
Rough stones weighing under 750 lbs.
Entrance hall of a building.
Stone that can be cut in any direction.
Decorative horizontal band on a wall.
Indented area on brick surface.
Primary façade of a building.
Applying mortar across the full substrate.
Method of creating space for insulation or leveling.
Dark, coarse-grained igneous rock.
Triangular upper part of a wall.
Small chip of stone used in joints.
Machine used to cut large quarry blocks.
Rough surface after gang saw cutting.
Single-blade saw with movable rail system.
Inserting stone chips into mortar joints.
Material ground to uniform thickness.
Small glass tiles for decorative patterns.
Narrow streak resembling glass.
Degree of surface shine.
Metamorphic rock with banded patterns.
Waterproofed course at grade level.
Natural alignment in stone structure.
Dense igneous rock used widely in construction.
Granite slab used as a work surface.
Large cut slab of granite.
Texture composed of small grains.
Small stones used for landscaping.
Mortar that has set but not fully dried.
Igneous stone with greenish color.
Dark sandstone with mixed mineral fragments.
Stones installed then polished on-site.
Crushed brick mixed with clay.
Cement paste used for filling joints.
Filling hollow masonry with grout.
Height of grout placement in joints.
Total height of grout in a wall.
Masonry with filled joints and cavities.
Recommended specifications for stone installation.
Thin superficial surface cracks.
Rounded convex edge for counters.
Semi-circular molding or edge.
Mineral form of rock salt.
Geometric stones hand-cut for patterns.
Clay products fired at high temperature.
Resistance to scratching or abrasion.
Exposed end of a stone block.
Vertical mortar joint between stones.
Stone overlapping adjacent units.
Primary stone in key structural locations.
Fire-resistant area in front of a fireplace.
Mineral hydrate containing half water molecules.
Angled zig-zag tile or stone pattern.
Stone shaped by hand tools.
Strong bonding agent for stone.
Smooth, satin, non-glossy finish.
Dark mineral found in igneous stones.
Mineral combined with water molecules.
Lime product used in mortar and plaster.
Hardens in or under water.
Material that absorbs or mixes with water.
Material that repels water.
Rock formed from solidified magma.
Agent facilitating stone imports.
Business that buys and distributes foreign stone.
Applying chemicals that penetrate stone.
Chemical sealer that absorbs into stone.
To cut or engrave stone.
Leaving stones out for future bonding.
Space between two stones or tiles.
Steel reinforcement placed in mortar joints.
Finishing masonry joints before mortar sets.
Architectural plan showing all stone joints.
Clay mineral used in ceramics and bricks.
Slot cut by a saw blade for anchoring.
First block removed when opening a quarry ledge.
Wedge-shaped top stone of an arch.
Furnace used for firing clay or bricks.
Unsorted bricks from a kiln batch.
Brick tapered for corner or bond patterns.
Bonding two stone pieces together.
Stones used for outdoor landscaping designs.
Overlapping one material over another.
Bracing provided by adjoining structures.
Water-based adhesive with latex polymers.
Volcanic rock formed from molten material.
Mortar with low cement content.
Pre-assembled stacked stone panels.
Flat horizontal stone used in foundations.
Vertical stone pieces used in architectural openings.
Anchoring bolt used for lifting large stones.
Holes drilled into stone for lifting hardware.
Hydrated lime used in mortar mixes.
Soft hydrated lime paste for mortar.
Lime that hardens with water.
Sedimentary rock composed of calcium carbonate.
Metal pin used to hold alignment strings.
Engineered inserts to strengthen masonry.
Horizontal support above a door or window.
Uneven tile or stone edges on a floor.
High or low edges where tiles meet.
Wall designed to support structural loads.
Small stone projection for fixing.
Stone sill set into jambs on both sides.
Stone surface shaped by mechanical tools.
Dark volcanic rock found in rough terrain.
Support stone or beam above a fireplace.
Fabricated stones ready for installation.
Company that fabricates stone products.
Metamorphic stone capable of high polish.
Rock altered by heat and pressure.
Synthetic fabric with very fine fibers.
Standard scale measuring mineral hardness.
Pattern made from small stone or tile pieces.
Small tiles mounted in patterns.
Decorative arrangements of small tiles.
Stone set on its original bedding plane.
Cement made from clay-rich limestone.
Stone split along natural planes.
Naturally occurring stone materials.
Mosaic sheets made from natural stone.
Pure cement without sand.
Tile installed slightly lower than adjacent pieces.
Labeled size that differs from actual size.
Material that does not ignite.
Material that resists rust and oxidation.
Metal containing little or no iron.
Mortar formulated not to discolor stone.
Rounded front edge of a step.
Stone extracted directly from a quarry.
A person or company that extracts stone.
A site where stone is extracted.
Large raw stone block cut from a quarry.
Mixed-quality, unsorted quarry material.
Natural moisture retained in freshly quarried stone.
A convex molding with a quarter-circle profile.
Hard mineral found in many stones.
Stone primarily composed of quartz.
Metamorphosed sandstone rich in quartz.
Extremely hard metamorphic stone.
Brick cut to create a two-inch face.
Calcium oxide created by heating limestone.
External corner stones of a wall.
A recessed groove cut into stone or wood.
Alternate spelling of rabbet.
Staggered layout of masonry courses.
A stone face cut at an angle.
A masonry style with irregular joint patterns.
Ashlar stonework arranged in varied heights.
Stonework laid in uneven heights.
Thickness of a masonry course.
Variation in stone shade and pattern.
Limestone with mineral changes through recrystallization.
Replacing or repairing mortar joints.
A deeper kerf cut for anchoring stone.
A pre-formed shower base structure.
Semi-cylindrical groove-like molding.
Refreshing a stone surface by removing buildup.
Strengthening masonry or stone structures.
Carved or raised decorative stone detail.
Filling stone voids with resin.
Flooring designed for commercial food spaces.
Repairing or rejuvenating stone surfaces.
Stone used to build walls that resist lateral pressure.
Chemical that slows mortar or grout curing.
Rehydrating mortar to restore workability.
Diamond-patterned ancient masonry.
A right-angle turn in a wall or molding.
Corner stone finished on two visible faces.
Depth of stone surface around an opening.
Direction of strongest cleavage in stone.
Loose stone used for erosion control or foundations.
Vertical height of a stone course.
Moisture rising upward through masonry.
Stone split along natural cleavage planes.
Naturally occurring solid mineral material.
Bold, rough stone face created by pitching.
A hammered, textured stone surface.
Reinforcing stone by embedding rods.
Semi-circular arch made with wedge-shaped stones.
Circular stone window with radial design.
Back side of stone left unworked.
Stone surface left with saw marks.
Initial shaping of stone to remove bulk material.
Brick laid on its face with end exposed.
Smooth finish achieved by rubbing stone.
Abrasive stone used for smoothing edges.
Irregular stone pieces used for walls.
Coarse-textured or hand-finished stone.
Stone with recessed or beveled joints.
Process of recessing stone joints.
Matte finish created using high-pressure sand.
Sedimentary stone made of sand-sized minerals.
Straight edge cut with a diamond saw.
Surface showing visible saw marks.
Applying a protective layer to resist water and stains.
Rocks formed by sediment accumulation.
Green mineral with smooth texture.
Skilled craftsman installing stone or tile.
Soft layered sedimentary rock.
Fine-grained metamorphic stone that splits easily.
Measure of stone’s structural integrity.
Fragment breaking off a larger stone.
Practices for keeping stone clean and protected.
Whitish stress marks in stone.
Authority on tile installation standards.
Pattern used for shaping stone or layouts.
Composite flooring with stone chips.
Surface feel and appearance of stone.
Stone surface with intentional roughness.
Flame-applied rough surface finish.
Stone veneer less than 2 inches thick.
Flat stone strip under doorways.
Thin pieces of ceramic, porcelain, or stone.
Allowed variation in stone size.
Ability of stone to transmit light.
Porous limestone formed near hot springs.
Soft, weathered look from mechanical tumbling.
Travertine with rounded edges and aged texture.
Rotating drum that creates tumbled finishes.
Natural mineral streak in stone.
Stone cut perpendicular to natural layers.
Thin layer of stone used on walls.
Fusing clay particles through high heat.
Wedge-shaped stone used in arches.
Natural cavity in stone, sometimes with crystals.
Tiles used on vertical wall surfaces.
Stone or tile bent or twisted from flatness.
Sloped area designed for water runoff.
Coating or solution carried in water.
Stain caused by minerals or moisture.
Water held within a crystal structure.
Making surfaces resistant to water penetration.
Filling stone voids with wax or shellac.
Surface erosion from friction or impact.
Mortar joint sloped outward for water shedding.
Surface changes caused by natural elements.
Splitting stone using driven wedges.
Openings that allow trapped moisture to escape.
Ability of a coating to spread across a surface.
Business that buys products to resell.
Warp in a semi-finished stone slab.
Horizontal stone ledge beneath a window.
Interior horizontal shelf at a window base.
Saw using abrasive-coated wire for cutting stone.
Finish or cut produced using a wire saw.
Coating or film covering all edges and sides.
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