STONE

As a building material, stone may be used in two different manners: as a masonry unit laid with
mortar, similar to brick or concrete blocks, or as a thin, non-load-bearing veneer facing attached
to a backup wall and structural frame. Stone colors, textures, and patterns are highly varied, as
are the design and detailing of unit masonry and cladding systems.

SEDIMENTARY ROCK Stone masonry includes

(rock deposited as a result of rubble stone (irregular quar-
natural action or wind)
ried fragments), dimension
Limestone: Colors limited mostly to stone (quarried and cut into
white, buff, and gray. Very porous and
limestone

wet when quarried, though after air

rectangular forms called cut
seasoning, quarry sap evaporates and stone when large and ashlar
stone becomes harder. Suitable for wall when small), and lagstone
and loor surfaces, but does not accept
a polish. (thin slabs of paving stone,
irregular or cut).
Sandstone: Colors range from buff to
chocolate brown to red. Suitable for
most building applications, but also does
not accept a high polish. Masonry Patterns
sandstone

IGNEOUS ROCK
(rock deposited in a molten state)

Granite: Wide range of grains and Random (Uncoursed) Rubble

colors including gray, black, brown,
red, pink, buff, and green. Nonporous
and very hard. Suitable for use in the
granite

ground and with exposure to weather.

Comes in many textures and may be
highly polished.

Coursed Rubble
METAMORPHIC ROCK
(sedimentary or igneous rock
transformed into another rock
type by heat or pressure)
Slate: Colors range from red and brown
to grayish-green to purple and black.
Sheetlike nature makes it ideal for
slate

paving, rooing, and veneer panels.

Random (Uncoursed) Ashlar
Marble: Highly varied in both color
and streaking patterns. Color range
includes white, black, blue, green, red,
and pink, and all tones between. Suit-
able for use as a building stone but is
most often highly polished and used as
a veneer panel.
marble

Coursed Ashlar