Natural Stone Industry Glossary

Glossary is usually defined as an alphabetical list of technical terms in some specialized field of knowledge. This Natural Stone industry glossary provides a collection of industry terms that define many products and technical terms. These terms are arranged alphabetically, but you can quickly jump to specific term by selecting its first letter from the index of the glossary below.

ALL A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Search Results: 22 Terms Found

BACK ARCH
A hidden arch that carries the load of a wall when the exterior face is carried by a lintel

BACK FILLING
The process of refilling dirt removed during construction or the masonry built behind a facing.

BACKING ROD
Also known as a filler strip that is composed of a compressible and flexible substance often installed at joints.

BACKING
The exterior facing of a veneer that is designed to resist load.

BACKSPLASH TILE
Tiles that are used for kitchen wall areas - above sinks, ranges, and other areas.

BANKER
The surface (often times a workbench) where stone is cut, polished and finished.

BASALT
A volcanic rock with fine grains that often has a columnar structure. Low in silica and is generally charcoal or black in color. Unlike granite, it contains little or no quartz or feldspars.

BASE BLOCK
A block at the base of a column or casing which the baseboard abuts.

BASE COURSE
Sub layer of walls, supports or piers.

BATTED
A finish applied to stone type surfaces featuring parallel tool marks.

BED JOINT
A joint, normally horizontal, between stones that is filled with sealant or mortar.

BED
Geological formation of rock marked by planes separating layers from layers as in sedimentary strata. Beds can be differentiated by particle size, mineral type or rock.

BEDDING PLANE
The sedimentary stone in its original horizontal plane.

BELT COURSE
Romanesque style of architecture that features continuous layers or rows of tiles, bricks, shingles, or stones on a vertical surface.

BENCH
A seat of cubic stone or the steps that are formed in quarries as a result of the removing of stone slabs in bed joints.

BERM
Raised banks or a strip of land that borders a river or canal.

BIOTITE
A micaceous mineral that is black, dark brown or green.

BLACK GRANITE
A deep black igneous rock with medium to coarse visible grains and veins.

BLEED
The staining of surrounding areas caused by putties, mastics, paints, caulks, and other compounds.

BLENDS
A water repellent mixture comprised of raw materials.

BLUESTONE
Sandstone that is quarried exclusively in western Pennsylvania or New York state.

BRECCIA
Angular fragments of stones joined together. "Monogenetic Breccia" is comprised of a single mineral or rock. "Polygenetic Breccia" is comprised of a variety of rocks.