Stone Masonry: Definition, Materials, and Key Technical Terms
Stone masonry is the traditional craft of building structures using stone or brick units bound together with mortar. It plays a crucial role in modern construction, offering structural strength, fire resistance, thermal and sound insulation, and aesthetic value. The primary materials used are durable stones and mortars like lime, cement, or a combination.
Stone Masonry This comprehensive guide covers everything from types of mortar (cement-lime, lime-cement) to the selection of stones based on quality and usage. It also includes 30+ essential technical terms in masonry, such as natural bed, sill, corbel, cornice, coping, throating, plinth, quoins, through stones, and buttresses, making it a valuable resource for engineers, architects, and construction professionals. Whether you’re studying or working in the field, understanding stone masonry fundamentals is key to building strong and resilient structures.
Definition
In a very precise sense, the term masonry refers to the craft of constructing structures using stones. But broadly speaking, the term masonry is used to indicate the art of building the structures in either stones or bricks. The first type is known as stone masonry, while the second type is referred to as brick masonry.
It is to be noted that the masonry work by itself is one of the most important traditional technology. Even though new principles of construction and new materials of construction are adopted in the building construction processes, the masonry has got as such the highest importance in the building industry.
Masonry is employed in the construction of foundations, walls, columns, and other related components of a structure. The main advantage of masonry in load-bearing structures is that it carries out several functions such as:
- Affording architectural effect,
- Granting fire and weather protection,
- Providing acoustic and thermal insulation,
- Subdividing space,
- Supporting loads, etc.
MATERIALS REQUIRED FOR STONE MASONRY
For stone masonry, the following two materials are required:
- Stones
- Mortar.
1. Stones:
Depending upon the availability, the stones are selected. The stones selected for the work should be strong, long-lasting, resistant to wear, and free from defects such as cracks, cavities, discoloration, etc.
2. Mortar:
The mortar is required to keep the stones in position. It is prepared by mixing lime or cement with sand and after adding water, it is placed in the joints. The type of mortar to be used will depend on the strength required, the load coming on the structure, the resistance desired for weathering agencies, etc. The common types are: lime mortar, cement mortar, cement-lime mortar, and lime-cement mortar.
Want it to sound more technical or simplified further?
In cement-lime mortar, part of the cement is substituted with hydrated lime. It spreads more easily under the trowel and produces a more plastic material.
In lime-cement mortar, a part of the lime is replaced with cement. This makes the mortar stronger, more plastic, and workable, and it also sets earlier.
The choice of mortar and its composition will be governed by several factors like the type of masonry, the situation of structure, intensity of load, degree of exposure to weather, type of bond, durability desired, and some other special requirements like fire resistance, insulation, rate of hardening, etc.
Some Definitions
The definitions associated with certain technical terms used in masonry are provided below for quick reference. Some of these terms are applicable to both stonework and brickwork. The rest of the definitions related to brick masonry are included in the chapter on Brick Masonry. These technical terms are as follows:
1. Natural bed: Building stones are derived from rocks, which possess a distinct plane of separation along which the stones can be easily split. This plane is known as the natural bed, and in stone masonry, the general guideline is that the orientation of the natural bed should be perpendicular, or nearly perpendicular, to the direction of the applied pressure.
2. Sill: The lower surface of a door or window opening is called a sill, and the sill stones are finished in a way that prevents water from entering the interior of the building.
3. Corbel: A corbel is a projecting stone typically provided to support elements like a roof truss, beam, weather shed, etc. Corbels are often shaped and decorated with ornamental designs. They should extend at least two-thirds of their total length into the wall.
4. Course: A course refers to a layer of stones or bricks, and its thickness is usually equal to that of a stone or brick along with the thickness of one mortar joint Stone Masonry.
5. Cornice: A cornice is a stone course placed at the top of a wall, as illustrated. It is usually moulded and adorned with decorative detailing. The cornice is sloped and grooved to direct rainwater away. To prevent the cornice from overturning, adequate bearing and additional weight, such as a parapet wall, should be provided at the top.
6. Coping: Coping is a course of stone placed at the top of a wall to protect it from rainwater. This layer is typically provided on the top of a compound wall or parapet wall and is properly sloped and grooved, the term coping also refers to the process of cutting stones using feathers, plugs, and wedges Stone Masonry.
7. Weathering: The top surface of stones used in sills, cornices, and copings is shaped with a slope to allow water to drain off easily. This treatment is known as weathering. The term weathering is also occasionally used to describe the gradual erosion of stone surfaces due to exposure to weather conditions.
8. Throating: A groove is cut on the underside of sills, cornices, and copings to ensure that rainwater is diverted away from the wall surface. This feature is known as throating Stone Masonry.
9. Plinth: The projecting course at the ground floor level is called the plinth. It also represents the height of the ground floor above the natural ground level. The plinth course safeguards the interior of a building from rain, surface water, frost, and similar elements. It is sometimes moulded and decorated for aesthetic purposes. The offset at the plinth level may occasionally be omitted for architectural reasons.
10. String course: A horizontal course placed at appropriate intervals between the plinth and the cornice is known as a string course. It serves to break the monotony of a plain surface and is often moulded and given architectural detailing. The string course is properly sloped and grooved to direct rainwater away from the wall surface.
11. Lacing course: A horizontal course inserted to reinforce a wall made of irregular small stones is called a lacing course. It can be constructed using ashlar masonry, coursed rubble masonry, or brick masonry.
12. Spalls: These are small stone chips used to fill the gaps between large, irregular stone blocks in order to shape them into more regular and stable stone units.
13. Quoins: The outer corners or angles of a wall are referred to as quoins, and the stones or bricks forming these corners are called quoin stones or quoin bricks. Quoin stones are chosen from large, sound pieces and their bedding surfaces are carefully dressed Stone Masonry.
14 Bond: A bond is the arrangement of stone or brick layers in such a way that continuous vertical joints are avoided. This arrangement helps distribute the structural load evenly and prevents the development of vertical cracks.
15. Through stone: In stone masonry, certain stones are placed at regular intervals extending entirely across the wall. These are called through stones, throughs, or bond stones. For thick walls, two overlapping through stones are used. Through stones should cover approximately one-fourth to one-half of the wall surface area. They must be non-porous to prevent moisture penetration, and they should be strong and thick enough to ensure stability and safety.
16. Jambs: The vertical sides of openings such as doors and windows are known as jambs, and they are built in a manner similar to quoins. Jambs can be plain or square. Splayed jambs are often preferred, as they allow shutters to open at an obtuse angle, thereby letting in more light and air into the room Stone Masonry.
17. Reveals: The visible vertical surfaces that are perpendicular to the door or window frames are referred to as reveals.
18. Heads: The horizontal stones placed above openings such as doors and windows are called heads or lintels. A bearing length of 150 mm to 200 mm should be provided on each side of the opening.
19. Stoolings: The horizontal seatings designed to support jambs and mullions are known as stoolings. They are formed at the ends of sills, transoms, and heads Stone Masonry.
20. Label: A label is the projecting course above an arch or window head. It is typically moulded and is sometimes referred to as a drip stone Stone Masonry.
21. Apex: The coping installed at the topmost point of a gable wall is called the apex or summit stone.
22. Skew corbel: A corbel positioned beneath the gable coping is referred to as a skew corbel.
23. Kneeler: In a gable wall, the coping piece placed between the apex and the skew corbel is called a kneeler Stone Masonry.
24. Springer: The coping placed at the base of a gable wall is referred to as a springer.
25. Finial: The decorative feature added to the top of an apex or summit stone is known as a finial.
26. Buttress: A buttress is a sloping or stepped pier provided to offer lateral support to a wall.
27. Pilaster: A pilaster is a rectangular, column-like projection extending from a wall or pier.
28. Face: The surface of a wall that is exposed to weather conditions is called the face.
29. Facing: The material applied to the exterior surface of a wall is known as facing.
30. Back: The inner surface of a wall that is not exposed to weather is referred to as the back.
31 Backing: The material used to construct the inner portion or back of a wall is called backing.
32. Hearting: The part of a wall located between the facing and the backing is known as the hearting. which illustrate the components of a building and highlight various technical terms used in Stone Masonry.
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