STONE AS A BUILDING

MATERIAL
 Sandstone
Stone type: Sedimentary

Standard description:
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed of sand-size
grains of mineral, rock, or organic material. It also
contains a cementing material that binds the sand grains
together and may contain a matrix of silt- or clay-size
particles that occupy the spaces between the sand grains.
Like sandpaper, sandstones usually have a rough, granular
texture, but to really identify a sandstone, you have to
peer closely at its surface and look for individual sand
grains.

Standard dimension:
Brick – 19 cm × 9 cm x 9 cm

Countertops – 60 cm in depth

Stepping-stones – 60 cm x 60 cm

Different uses:
1. Paving and outdoor patios 6. Exterior Wall cladding
2. Interior Flooring 7. Sculptures and accents
3. Bathroom tiles 8. Stepping-stones
4. Countertop 9. Pool deck
5. Interior Decoration 10. Stair steps

Mode of assembly or anchorage:

It is typically anchored through cement, adhesive or with sand.

Other Observations:
It has different colours, red, brown, yellow, and green. The colour depends on the presence of iron
oxides in the clasts, cement, matrix, of sandstone.
Granite
Stone type: Igneous Rock

Standard description:
Granite is a common, coarse-grained, hard igneous rock consisting chiefly of quartz, orthoclase or
microcline, and mica. Granite has been used as a building material since ancient times. It is one of
the oldest and most durable building products available and will far outlast the building in which it is
installed. Granites usually have a coarse texture (individual minerals are visible without
magnification), because the magma cools slowly underground, allowing larger crystal growth.
Granites are most easily characterized as light coloured and coarse grained because of cooling slowly
below the surface.

Standard dimension:
Countertops – 60 cm in depth

Tiles – 60 cm x 60 cm, 40 cm x 40 cm, 30 cm x 30 cm

Different uses:
1. Flooring 6. Staircases
2. Paving 7. Countertops
3. External Cladding 8. Monuments
4. Backsplashes 9. Gravestones
5. Mantlepieces 10. Building Material

Mode of assembly or anchorage:

It is typically anchored through cement, adhesive, or mortar.

Other Observations:
Granite has unique patterns and is usually known for being used as countertops. Known for its
smooth surface but just like every other stone, it is pretty rough if not polished.
Limestone
Stone type: Sedimentary Rock

Standard description:
Limestone is a common type of carbonate sedimentary rock. It is composed mostly of the minerals
calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate. Limestone forms when
these minerals precipitate out of water containing dissolved calcium.

Standard dimension:
Countertops – 60 cm in depth

Tiles – 60 cm x 60 cm, 40 cm x 40 cm, 30 cm x 30 cm

Cornices – 90 mm, 100 mm, 135 mm

Different uses:
1. Flooring 6. Base for roads and asphalt
2. Paving 7. Staircases
3. Interior Cladding 8. Countertops
4. External Cladding 9. Sculptures
5. Building material 10. Cornices

Mode of assembly or anchorage:

It is typically anchored thin layer of white, latex additive thin set mortar.

Other Observations:
They are usually seen in historical structures such as the Parthenon from the Greeks and the Great
Pyramid of Giza from the Egyptians.