Resources
Know Before
You Build.
Informed clients make better decisions and have better projects. Use these resources before your site walk — or to vet any contractor you're considering.
Stone Care Guides
Modernist Profile
Modern Stone Care Manual
Cut Ashlar & Ledgestone
Seasonal cleaning, sealing protocol, and joint maintenance for modern stone styles.
Take Quiz to UnlockHeritage Builder Profile
Heritage Stone Preservation Guide
Fieldstone & Rustic Masonry
Managing patina, efflorescence, organic growth, and mortar integrity for organic stone.
Take Quiz to UnlockTransitional Artisan Profile
Transitional Stone Guide
Ledgestone & Multi-texture
Care protocols for mixed stone surfaces with deep-recessed mortar and varied textures.
Take Quiz to UnlockFrequently Asked Questions
Stone Masonry Glossary
Ashlar
Stone that has been cut to a uniform shape with flat faces and right-angle edges. More formal and structured than natural fieldstone.
Batter
The backward lean (toward the hillside) intentionally built into a retaining wall. A wall without proper batter will eventually tip forward.
Coursed
Stone laid in horizontal rows (courses) of consistent height, like brick. Opposed to 'random' or 'rubble' work where heights vary.
Dry-stack
Masonry built without mortar. Stones interlock by weight and friction. Proper dry-stack requires precise stone selection and fitting.
Efflorescence
White powdery mineral deposits that migrate through masonry to the surface. Normal in new work, usually temporary. Not a structural issue.
Ledgestone
Flat, thin stones with natural cleft faces, typically laid in horizontal courses. Popular for veneer applications.
Lintel
A horizontal stone (or beam) spanning an opening — a door, window, or fireplace opening — that carries the weight of masonry above it.
Pointing
The finishing of mortar joints in stonework. Repointing is the process of removing deteriorated mortar and replacing it.
Spalling
When the face of a stone pops off, typically caused by water freezing in the stone. A sign of wrong stone selection or improper sealing.
Wythe
A single vertical layer (one stone thick) in a wall. A double-wythe wall is two stones thick with a cavity between them.
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