broad category of coarse particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, and recycled concrete.
Cut, squared building stone finely dressed on all sides adjacent to other stones. Requires only very thin mortar joints.
A squared or rectangular block of building stone. Large finished stone block, which is set face bedded; often incorporated into facades of mausoleums, crypts, and historic masonry structures.
A dark, dense volcanic rock difficult to shape.
In rock, the flat surface of a stone parallel to its stratification.
The horizontal layer of mortar on which a masonry unit is laid
Stone used on vertical applications such as site walls, building facades, retaining walls, etc.
Stone that has been crushed and graded by screens to certain size classes. It is widely used in concrete and as a surfacing for roads, driveways, and landscaping.
One of the continuous horizontal layers (rows) of masonry that forms a structure.
Cobbles are roughly rounded rocks usually between 2.5”-18” that have historically been used for paving. Today cobbles have taken a life of their own and are used to decorate a landscape setting. Due to their naturally tumbled appearance, cobbles are commonly used to simulate a stream bed or to create natural looking borders along plantings.
A granular stone surfacing material usually consisting of particle sizes ranging from 3/8” down to rock dust. This mixture of sizes allows for the correct blend of large particles “strength”, medium sizes “space filler”, and fines “binders”, ideally suited for stable surface once wet and compacted and work great for low traffic walkways, driveways, garden trails, or xeriscape ground cover.
Separation of stone layers along its bedding planes.
A stone masonry unit which has been squared and shaped for precise fit with other stones. Undressed stone has naturally rough and irregular shapes.
Stonework with mortar recessed so that it is invisible.
A stone wall built without mortar.
The white or grayish crust sometimes formed on the surface of masonry or stone, often as calcium sulfate. It is caused by the leeching-out of soluble chemical salts, from the stone, brick or mortar joints through the forces of capillary action and evaporation.
There are three different methods for incorporating the decorative aggregate into concrete slabs for later exposure:
1) Seed the aggregate onto the surface-The most commonly used method is to seed the decorative aggregate onto the slab surface immediately after the concrete has been placed, struck off, and bull floated. This involves sprinkling the aggregate by hand or shovel uniformly onto the surface and then embedding it with a bull float or darby until it's completely covered by a thin layer of cement paste.
2) Mix the aggregate into the concrete-You can also have the ready-mix producer put the decorative aggregate right into the concrete mix during batching, which eliminates the step of seeding it onto the surface after concrete placement. However, depending on the cost of the aggregate you choose, this method can be more expensive than seeding because it requires using greater quantities of decorative aggregate.
3) Put the aggregate into a thin topping-Another alternative is to place a thin topping course of concrete containing the decorative aggregate over a base slab of conventional concrete. The topping can range in thickness from 1 to 2 inches, depending on the aggregate size. This method generally works best when smaller decorative aggregates are specified.
In all instances After a time of curing, the unhardened layer of matrix at the surface of the panel is removed by a high pressure water washing, thus, exposing the aggregate used in the concrete. Because of its durability and skid resistance, an exposed aggregate finish is ideal for most flatwork
Stratified stone that is split into thin slabs suitable for paving surfaces such as walkways, driveways, patios, etc.
Rough uncut stones as they are picked from a field.
Rock formed as molten magma cools and hardens under ground. Granite is the most common example.
Pattern of stonework utilizing horizontal joints.
A sedimentary rock formed from shells and organic sea matter. If undergoes metamorphosis becomes marble. Limestone was often used in nineteenth century monuments as a base. May be difficult to distinguish from marble, but tends to be grayer in color then the originally white marble.
A horizontal support for masonry or a stone spanning an opening; A horizontal beam, over a door or window which carries the weight of the wall above.
Metamorphisized Limestone. The most common stone type used from the late 1700s in some areas through present day. Predominantly used during the Victorian era for gravestones, monuments, and sculpture. Most sought after in its purest white form of calcium carbonate. Unfortunately the stone most adversely effected be acid rain.
Rock formed or changed by heat and compression. Formed under high pressure and heat over a long period of time. Examples include: Limestone becomes marble, shale becomes slate, and some sandstones become quartzite.
A scale devised by the Austrian mineralogist Friedrich Mohs that measures the hardness of mineral by scratching. It is based on a scale which ranges form one to ten. Talc represents the number one, with diamond being at the top of the scale, as a ten in hardness.
A mixture of Portland cement and sand, with other possible ingredients. It is used chiefly for bonding masonry units together.
The surface of a stone, parallel to its stratification.
Technological advances in stone fabrication have allowed many natural stone products to be fabricated to only 3/4" to 1 1/2" thick that can be adhered to a conventionally framed structure with standard masonry cement. This eliminates the need for any additional foundations. Thin cut natural stone is the ideal material when weight or space limitations are a problem. It is installed in the same way as manufactured stone. and is a less expensive option to full bed stone veneers.
Metamorphic sandstone. A harder, denser sandstone.
uses rectangular stones in discontinuous courses. Coursed ashlar uses rectangular stones of the same height in each horizontal course, but each course may vary in height. Broken rangework arranges ashlar units into horizontal courses of varying heights, which may be divided into horizontal groups at various intervals.
To remove some of the mortar from a joint to a uniform depth, before it hardens.
1. To protect the soil from the erosive forces of concentrated runoff.
2. To slow the velocity of concentrated runoff while enhancing the potential for infiltration.
3. To stabilize slopes with seepage problems and/or non-cohesive soils.
A permanent, erosion-resistant ground cover of large, loose, angular stone with filter fabric or granular underling.
Masonry construction using stones of irregular shape and size. A random rubble wall has discontinuous courses and may include smaller garrets, small stones used to wedge larger ones into position or fill gaps. A coursed rubble wall is more organized and built to a level course at various intervals. A squared rubble wall is built of roughly squared stones of varying size which are brought to level courses every third of fourth stone.
This is the same as common bond, with continuous horizontal joints, but the vertical joints are offset or inline.
A sedimentary rock made up of compressed sand.
To make scratches in mortar or cement, so the next coat has a stronger bond.
A metamorphic crystalline rock which easily splits along its bedding planes. Used to create gravestones in some geographic locations.
The first coat in infill, stucco, or plaster.
Rock that forms at the Earths surface. It consists of layers or rock fragments or other substances that have been deposited on top of each other. Examples include; lake and river beds become sandstone, sea beds become limestone.
The tendency of particles of the same size in a given mass of aggregate to gather together whenever the material is being loaded, transported, or otherwise distributed.
Thinly layered soft stone of clay origin. Becomes slate if undergoes metamorphosis.
Stone quarried with explosives.
A hard durable rock which comes from metamorphic shale composed mainly of clay. Formed in layers it sometimes delaminates along its bedding planes.
A course of brick laid with the brick standing on edge with the thin side on the face
Stone which is produced by sawing top and bottom beds to a desired height +/- 1/8”, then placing the slab in a hydraulic press “Guillotine”. The Hydraulic press has upper and lower teeth mounted in a straight row on jaws one above the other. As pressure is applied, the stone will separate from the slab at its weakest points, thus producing a naturally rough surface. The break produces a slight concave or convex shape. The stone is cut to length in the field by the installer. The face may be dressed and the ends finished the installer.
A long stone which extends across a wall.
A layer or bricks or stones that serve as a facing.
Stone chips used for leveling or metal tools used in conjunction with feathers to split stone by hammering on, when used in groups along a row.
The openings made in mortar joints that facilitate drainage of built-up moisture.
The most common delivery truck for DSS products. They transport DG, gravel and cobbles. Capacity is 25 tons total, 12.5 each in the truck and the trailer box. The features of the truck allow it to drop the trailer, making it able to fit into tighter jobsites. Check out our blog post all about trucks here: All About Trucking
Typically delivers DSS boulders and material larger than 10". Capactiy is 20-23 tons. Ample room on the jobsite is needed to manuver this truck, as it is 55' in length. A flat dump site is needed to avoid the truck tipping over. The jobsite must have a height clearance of 30' to deliver the load. Check out our blog post all about trucks here: All About Trucking
Smaller end dump or dump trucks. Capacity is approximately 15-20 tons, depending on the material delivered. Can handle all materials including Boulders. These trucks are shorter and more manuverable for jobsites with tight areas. Read more about trucking here: All About Trucking
This trailer is ideal for delivering our supersacked and palletized products like our beautiful beach pebbles. A great feature of this deliver method is that the forklift arrives on the trailer, making it easy for the driver to unload the product. 21 tons of mateiral is the max capacity for the flatbed forklift truck. Read more about trucking here: All About Trucking
