GABBRO - An igneous granular stone composed chiefly of pyroxene, augite or diallage, and plagioclase.
GABLE - The exterior triangular section of a wall extending upward from the level of the eaves to the apex. Also, a member resembling the triangular end of a roof.
GALLET - A stone chip or spall.
GANG SAW - A machine with multiple blades used to saw rough quarry block into slabs. Also known as a frame saw.
GANG SAWED - Description of the granular surface of stone resulting from gang sawing alone.
GANTRY SAW - A usually single diamond blade saw with a mobile rail and blade that can be repositioned along its tracks between cuts.
GARRETING - The insertion of small splinters of stone in the mortar joints before the mortar has firmly set.
GAUGED or GAUGING - A grinding process to make all pieces of material to be used together the same thickness.
GLASS SEAM - Description of a narrow glass-like streak occurring in stone. It is a joint plane that has been recemented by deposition of translucent crystalline calcite in the crack and is usually structurally sound.
GLOSS - Luster or shininess, measured as light reflectance.
GNEISS - A metamorphic rock with a banded or coarsely foliated structure, often called "Trade Granite". Composed essentially of silicate minerals with interlocking and visibly granular texture in which the foliation is due primarily to alternating layers, regular or irregular, of contrasting mineralogic composition.
GRADE COURSE - Beginning course at the grade level, generally waterproofed with a dampcheck or damp course.
GRAIN - The easiest cleavage direction in a stone. Also the particles (crystals, sand grain, etc…) in a stone.
GRANITE - A very hard, crystalline, igneous rock, gray to pink in color, composed of feldspar, quartz, and lesser amounts of dark ferromagnesium materials. Black "granites" are similar to true "granites" in structure and texture, but are composed of different minerals.
GRANULAR - Stones having a texture characterized by particles that are apparent to the unaided eye. For sedimentary rocks
GRAVEL - Composed chiefly of quartz, but may contain granite, limestone, basalt, and other rocks.
GRAYWACKE - A grainy conglomerate stone composed of firmly cemented fragments of quartz.
GREEN MORTAR - Mortar that has set but not dried.
GREENSTONE - Includes stones that have been metamorphosed or otherwise altered that they have assumed a distinctive greenish color owing to the presence of one or more of the following minerals
GRIT FINISH - A smooth non-reflective finish primarily used on marble and limestone marble.
GROG - Crushed brick that is blended with clay to form new brick.
GROSS CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA - The area delineated by the out-to-out dimensions of masonry or a masonry unit in the plane under construction.
GROUP CLASSIFICATION FOR SOUNDNESS - Standard trade practice term setting forth extent of shop fabrication normally required for group A,B, C, and D marbles.
GROUT - A mixture of cement material and aggregate to which sufficient water is added to produce pouring consistency without segregation of the constituents.
GROUT CORE MASONRY - Masonry construction made with hollow units in which all or specific cores are filled with grout.
GROUT LIFT - The height to which grout is placed in a cell, collar joint or cavity without stopping; an increment of the total grout pour.
GROUT POUR - The total height of a masonry wall to be grouted prior to the placement of additional masonry. A grout pour may consist of one or more grout lifts.
GROUTED MASONRY - Masonry construction made with solid masonry in which the interior joints and voids are filled with grout.
GUIDE SPECIFICATION - A recommended specification for the furnishing and installation of building stone.
GUY - A rope or wire which, with others, prevents a post or derrick from having side sway.
GYPSUM - A hydrated calcium sulfate. It is formed naturally as the result of the reaction of sulfuric acid produced by decomposition of pyrite upon the calcium carbonate of shells existing in clay; a sedimentary rock.
HACKING - The procedure of stacking brick in a kiln or a kiln car. Or, laying brick with the bottom edge set in from the plane surface of the wall.
HAIRLINE CRACKING - Random pattern of superficial cracking in an exposed concrete surface. Usually surface openings of 20 mils or less.
HALF BULL NOSE - A convex semicircular molding used on exposed edges or stone units such as stair treads, tops and window stools.
HALF ROUND - An exposed edge or molding with a semi-circular section or radii.
HALITE - Rock salt; sodium chloride; a sedimentary rock.
HAND CUT RANDOM RECTANGULAR - A pattern where all the stone is hand cut into squares and rectangles; joints are fairly consistent. Similar to sawed-bed ashlar in appearance.
HAND OR MACHINE PITCH-FACED ROCK-FACED - A finish given to both veneer stone and cutting stock. This is created by establishing a straight line back from the irregular face of the stone. Proper tools are then used to cut along the tile line leaving a straight arris and the intended rustic finish on the face.
HARD-BURNED - Nearly vitrified clay products that have been fired at high temperatures.
HARDNESS - A quality of stone determined by ASTM C241 test.
HEAD - The end of a stone which has been tooled to match the face of the stone. Heads are used at outside corners, windows, door jams, or any place where the veneering will be visible from the side.
HEAD JOINT - The vertical mortar joint between ends of masonry units. Also called a cross-joint or a vertical joint.
HEADED COURSE - A continuous course of header brick; also called heading course.
HEADER - A masonry unit that overlaps two or more adjacent wythes of masonry to tie them together. Also called a bonder.
HEADER - BLIND HEADER - A concealed brick header in the interior of a wall, not showing on the face.
HEADER - CLIPPED HEADER - A bat placed to look like a header for purposes of establishing a pattern; also called a false header.
HEADER - FLARE/FLASHED HEADER - A header of darker color than the field of the wall.
HEADSTONE - A principle stone, as in keystone or cornerstone.
HEARTH - That part of the floor of a room made of stone on which the fire is made or above is a stove, fireplace, furnace, etc…
HEMIHYDRATE - A hydrate which contains one-half of a molecule of water compared to one molecule of the principal element or compound forming the hydrate.
HERRINGBONE - A pattern of setting in which the units are laid aslant, with the direction of incline reversing in alternate courses, forming a zigzag effect.
HEWN STONE - To rough form by mallet and chisel.
HIGH-STRENGTH ADHESIVE - A bonding agent of high ultimate strength used to join individual pieces of stone into pre-assembled units.
HOLES - Sinkages in the top beds of stones to engage Lewis pins for hoisting.
HOLLOW BRICK UNIT - A brick unit in which the net cross-sectional area in any plane parallel to the bearing surface is less than 75% of its gross cross-sectional area measured in the same plane.
HOLLOW WALL - A cavity wall, usually exterior, built in two separate parts, structurally connected as necessity with space between for checking the passage of water, or for better insulation created by the closed air space.
HONED/ HONE FINISH - A very fine, satin smooth finish on stone. This is the last step before polishing. A super fine smooth finish with little or no gloss. Recommended for commercial floors.
HORNBLENDE - A group of minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium, and aluminum silicates. May be present in igneous stones.
HYDRATE - A mineral formed by the combination of water and some other elements or compounds.
HYDRATED LIME - Quicklime to which sufficient water has been added to convert the oxides to hydroxides.
HYDRAULIC - To harden under (or with) water.
HYDROPHILIC - Substance which absorbs or has exhibited affinity for water.
HYDROPHOBIC - Having no affinity for or is repellent to water. The quality of beading water on a substrate.
HYDROUS - Containing chemically combined water.
HYGROSCOPIC MOISTURE - Water absorbed by hydrophilic porous materials.
IGNEOUS ROCK - One of three principle groups of rock that make up the earth’s surface; formed by the solidification of molten matter.
IMPORT BROKER - One who acts as an independent sales representative in the United States, its territories and Canada for foreign suppliers.
IMPORTER - One who purchases, stocks, and distributes foreign materials in the United States, its territories and Canada, in substantial quantities and reliable quality.
INCISE - To cut inwardly or engrave, as in an inscription.
INDENTING - Omission of some stones to allow for future bonding-in work.
INITIAL RATE OF ABSORPTION - The weight of water absorbed when a brick is partially immersed in water for one minute, expressed in grams per 30 square inches of contact surface, also called suction.
INITIAL SET - The first setting action of mortar, the beginning of the set.
INLAY - Surface decoration achieved by the insertion of lines or patterns of contrasting material.
INSCRIPTION - Lettering cut in stone.
INSTALLATION - See erection.
INTERIOR - The inside of a room or of a building.
GABLE - The exterior triangular section of a wall extending upward from the level of the eaves to the apex. Also, a member resembling the triangular end of a roof.
GALLET - A stone chip or spall.
GANG SAW - A machine with multiple blades used to saw rough quarry block into slabs. Also known as a frame saw.
GANG SAWED - Description of the granular surface of stone resulting from gang sawing alone.
GANTRY SAW - A usually single diamond blade saw with a mobile rail and blade that can be repositioned along its tracks between cuts.
GARRETING - The insertion of small splinters of stone in the mortar joints before the mortar has firmly set.
GAUGED or GAUGING - A grinding process to make all pieces of material to be used together the same thickness.
GLASS SEAM - Description of a narrow glass-like streak occurring in stone. It is a joint plane that has been recemented by deposition of translucent crystalline calcite in the crack and is usually structurally sound.
GLOSS - Luster or shininess, measured as light reflectance.
GNEISS - A metamorphic rock with a banded or coarsely foliated structure, often called "Trade Granite". Composed essentially of silicate minerals with interlocking and visibly granular texture in which the foliation is due primarily to alternating layers, regular or irregular, of contrasting mineralogic composition.
GRADE COURSE - Beginning course at the grade level, generally waterproofed with a dampcheck or damp course.
GRAIN - The easiest cleavage direction in a stone. Also the particles (crystals, sand grain, etc…) in a stone.
GRANITE - A very hard, crystalline, igneous rock, gray to pink in color, composed of feldspar, quartz, and lesser amounts of dark ferromagnesium materials. Black "granites" are similar to true "granites" in structure and texture, but are composed of different minerals.
GRANULAR - Stones having a texture characterized by particles that are apparent to the unaided eye. For sedimentary rocks
GRAVEL - Composed chiefly of quartz, but may contain granite, limestone, basalt, and other rocks.
GRAYWACKE - A grainy conglomerate stone composed of firmly cemented fragments of quartz.
GREEN MORTAR - Mortar that has set but not dried.
GREENSTONE - Includes stones that have been metamorphosed or otherwise altered that they have assumed a distinctive greenish color owing to the presence of one or more of the following minerals
GRIT FINISH - A smooth non-reflective finish primarily used on marble and limestone marble.
GROG - Crushed brick that is blended with clay to form new brick.
GROSS CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA - The area delineated by the out-to-out dimensions of masonry or a masonry unit in the plane under construction.
GROUP CLASSIFICATION FOR SOUNDNESS - Standard trade practice term setting forth extent of shop fabrication normally required for group A,B, C, and D marbles.
GROUT - A mixture of cement material and aggregate to which sufficient water is added to produce pouring consistency without segregation of the constituents.
GROUT CORE MASONRY - Masonry construction made with hollow units in which all or specific cores are filled with grout.
GROUT LIFT - The height to which grout is placed in a cell, collar joint or cavity without stopping; an increment of the total grout pour.
GROUT POUR - The total height of a masonry wall to be grouted prior to the placement of additional masonry. A grout pour may consist of one or more grout lifts.
GROUTED MASONRY - Masonry construction made with solid masonry in which the interior joints and voids are filled with grout.
GUIDE SPECIFICATION - A recommended specification for the furnishing and installation of building stone.
GUY - A rope or wire which, with others, prevents a post or derrick from having side sway.
GYPSUM - A hydrated calcium sulfate. It is formed naturally as the result of the reaction of sulfuric acid produced by decomposition of pyrite upon the calcium carbonate of shells existing in clay; a sedimentary rock.
HACKING - The procedure of stacking brick in a kiln or a kiln car. Or, laying brick with the bottom edge set in from the plane surface of the wall.
HAIRLINE CRACKING - Random pattern of superficial cracking in an exposed concrete surface. Usually surface openings of 20 mils or less.
HALF BULL NOSE - A convex semicircular molding used on exposed edges or stone units such as stair treads, tops and window stools.
HALF ROUND - An exposed edge or molding with a semi-circular section or radii.
HALITE - Rock salt; sodium chloride; a sedimentary rock.
HAND CUT RANDOM RECTANGULAR - A pattern where all the stone is hand cut into squares and rectangles; joints are fairly consistent. Similar to sawed-bed ashlar in appearance.
HAND OR MACHINE PITCH-FACED ROCK-FACED - A finish given to both veneer stone and cutting stock. This is created by establishing a straight line back from the irregular face of the stone. Proper tools are then used to cut along the tile line leaving a straight arris and the intended rustic finish on the face.
HARD-BURNED - Nearly vitrified clay products that have been fired at high temperatures.
HARDNESS - A quality of stone determined by ASTM C241 test.
HEAD - The end of a stone which has been tooled to match the face of the stone. Heads are used at outside corners, windows, door jams, or any place where the veneering will be visible from the side.
HEAD JOINT - The vertical mortar joint between ends of masonry units. Also called a cross-joint or a vertical joint.
HEADED COURSE - A continuous course of header brick; also called heading course.
HEADER - A masonry unit that overlaps two or more adjacent wythes of masonry to tie them together. Also called a bonder.
HEADER - BLIND HEADER - A concealed brick header in the interior of a wall, not showing on the face.
HEADER - CLIPPED HEADER - A bat placed to look like a header for purposes of establishing a pattern; also called a false header.
HEADER - FLARE/FLASHED HEADER - A header of darker color than the field of the wall.
HEADSTONE - A principle stone, as in keystone or cornerstone.
HEARTH - That part of the floor of a room made of stone on which the fire is made or above is a stove, fireplace, furnace, etc…
HEMIHYDRATE - A hydrate which contains one-half of a molecule of water compared to one molecule of the principal element or compound forming the hydrate.
HERRINGBONE - A pattern of setting in which the units are laid aslant, with the direction of incline reversing in alternate courses, forming a zigzag effect.
HEWN STONE - To rough form by mallet and chisel.
HIGH-STRENGTH ADHESIVE - A bonding agent of high ultimate strength used to join individual pieces of stone into pre-assembled units.
HOLES - Sinkages in the top beds of stones to engage Lewis pins for hoisting.
HOLLOW BRICK UNIT - A brick unit in which the net cross-sectional area in any plane parallel to the bearing surface is less than 75% of its gross cross-sectional area measured in the same plane.
HOLLOW WALL - A cavity wall, usually exterior, built in two separate parts, structurally connected as necessity with space between for checking the passage of water, or for better insulation created by the closed air space.
HONED/ HONE FINISH - A very fine, satin smooth finish on stone. This is the last step before polishing. A super fine smooth finish with little or no gloss. Recommended for commercial floors.
HORNBLENDE - A group of minerals including calcium, iron, magnesium, and aluminum silicates. May be present in igneous stones.
HYDRATE - A mineral formed by the combination of water and some other elements or compounds.
HYDRATED LIME - Quicklime to which sufficient water has been added to convert the oxides to hydroxides.
HYDRAULIC - To harden under (or with) water.
HYDROPHILIC - Substance which absorbs or has exhibited affinity for water.
HYDROPHOBIC - Having no affinity for or is repellent to water. The quality of beading water on a substrate.
HYDROUS - Containing chemically combined water.
HYGROSCOPIC MOISTURE - Water absorbed by hydrophilic porous materials.
IGNEOUS ROCK - One of three principle groups of rock that make up the earth’s surface; formed by the solidification of molten matter.
IMPORT BROKER - One who acts as an independent sales representative in the United States, its territories and Canada for foreign suppliers.
IMPORTER - One who purchases, stocks, and distributes foreign materials in the United States, its territories and Canada, in substantial quantities and reliable quality.
INCISE - To cut inwardly or engrave, as in an inscription.
INDENTING - Omission of some stones to allow for future bonding-in work.
INITIAL RATE OF ABSORPTION - The weight of water absorbed when a brick is partially immersed in water for one minute, expressed in grams per 30 square inches of contact surface, also called suction.
INITIAL SET - The first setting action of mortar, the beginning of the set.
INLAY - Surface decoration achieved by the insertion of lines or patterns of contrasting material.
INSCRIPTION - Lettering cut in stone.
INSTALLATION - See erection.
INTERIOR - The inside of a room or of a building.