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.

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Search Results: 49 Terms Found

PERPENDER
A stone or piece of wood that extends through a wall as an ornamental design that is finished on both ends.

PERRONS
An external platform of slabs of stones for steps. A feature of Palladian architecture.

PETROGLYPHY
A prehistoric rock carving often times depicting animals, symbols and people.

PHENOCYRST
A large crystal in a porphritic or igneous rock.

PHENOL
A mild acidic toxic white crystalline solid used in the manufacturing of resins.

PICKED
A finish for stone that has been dressed with a masonry point.

PIER
A support structure made from stone that is smaller than a column.

PILASTER
From classical architecture, a rectangular column that projects 1/3 of its width from a wall.

PISCINA
In ancient Roman architecture, a pool or pond for swimming or bathing. Also refers to a stone basin set near an altar in a Catholic church.

PITCHED STONE
A finish for a stone crafted by a pitching chisel creating a rough cut face.

PITCHED
A finish for stone that resembles a rock face that is crafted with a pitching tool.

PLANER
A machine that gauges stone and produces finishes.

PLATE TRACERY
A design that has been carved from a flat plate of stone.

PLINTHS
The lower slab at the base of a column that provides support and stability.

PLUCKED FINISH
A finish for stone that is created through a rough planing of the surface while breaking and plucking particles to give a rough texture.

PLUG AND FEATHERS
Tools that are used to split stones and rocks.

PLUMB BOMB
A lead or heavy metal weight that suspended from a line to determine vertical trueness.

PLUMB RULE
A plumb line that is attached to a board with lines of measurement, like a ruler, used for determining the vertical plane.

POINT FINISH
A finish for stone that is rough and tooled.

POINT
A spike or nail that has a point formed by 2 sides meeting at a sharp angle.

POINTING
In masonry and tiling, refers to the final finishing and filling of mortar joints.

POLISHED
A finish that has been rubbed or sanded to a smooth shiny finish. Can be accomplished on dense materials such as granite, marble, and others to bring out full character and colors inherent in stone.

POLYESTER RESIN
An unsaturated resin that is formed by diabasic organic acids and polyhydric alcohols. Used in the composite industry for reinforcement of plastics and fiberglasses.

POLYETHYLENE FILM
A film with very low absorption rates.

PORCELAIN
A ceramic made from clay and fired to over 2500 degrees for strength and toughness.

POROSITY
The property of being porous; the total measurement of absorption.

PORPHYRY
A hard igneous rock that contains crystals, usual feldspar (granite) in a fine-granite groundmass.

PORTLAND CEMENT
A cement manufactured from clay and limestone that hardens under water.

POSITIVE LIP
The result when a factory-finished stone or tile is intentionally installed higher than adjacent tiles.

POULTICING
The method and process of drawing stains or other soluble out of stone by applying an absorbent material like clay that is mixed with a cleaning solvent.

PREFABRICATED GRANITE
A mass produced granite product that is cut, finished and polished in the factory.

PREASSEMBLED UNITS
In masonry, two or more stones or rocks that are combined into a single unit with epoxies, mesh backings, or steel frames.

PRE-CAST
A concrete product that has been intentionally shaped and poured off-site. Examples include concrete slabs.

PREFABRICATED COUNTERTOPS
A mass produced countertop that is cut, finished and polished at the factory. Can be granite, marble, composites, quartz, or other countertop materials.

PRESSURE RELIEVING JOINT
The open horizontal joint typically below floors that are caulked and sealed to prevent moisture absorption.

PRODUCER
In masonry, the individual or company that quarries stone.

PROFILE MACHINE
A machine that cuts molding on stone.

PROFILE
The outline an object as seen from the side.

PROJECTIONS
In masonry, refers to the process of removing stones or rocks in veneer walls to create rough visual characteristics.

PYRITE
An iron sulfide with yellow and brass metallic hues.

PALLETIZED
The system for safely stacking stones on wooden pallets for storage or shipment.

PANEL
In masonry refers to a fabricated unit of stone veneer.

PARGING
A cover of plaster or mortar that provides damp proofing.

PARQUETRY
Inlaid work and designs of woods, stones, or tiles for floors, furniture or countertops.

PATCH
A compound that is used to fill cracks, chips or naturally occurring voids.

PATINA
The green or brown color that occurs on metals through oxidation.

PAVER
A fabricated interlocking stone used for pathways, patios and driveways.

PEDESTAL
A supporting structure crafted from stone or wood.

PERMEABILITY
The state or quality of a material that causes it to allow gases or liquids to pass through it.