Stonework – A Short Review

Masonry in action is actually stonework Northern NJ with masons working with real stones and real age-old standards and rules. The stone materials are not really required to have a smoother finish but are classified under their respective uses.

Roughly grouped as rubble, ashlar and trimmings, these quarried materials taken from natural sources are classified according to the uses that fit them. The texture are more or less dictated by the stone’s place in an arch, a wall or and intended project in a building.

Stereotomy

For masons, the science of making patterns (templates) where a stone is assigned to fill a certain place in an arch or some other piece of masonry is called stereotomy. The engineer first makes a drawing of the intended piece of work in stone. The engineer is expected to know the exact finishes which the stones are going to be dressed (the finish).

The drawing shall have the clear places where joints are to be made and located. The cutter is informed of the details of the drawing so that he can detail each block and cut them to fit exactly with the others.

Working with stones

This type of work is actually an old engineering art with a sprinkling of science. Natural stones are actually used to make stone blocks with which to make stone-based structures for decorative and other purposes.

Nowadays, it had developed into a lucrative industry which had produced its own artistic and creative group of people who are all experts in their fields. Artistry comes in when stone blocks are decided if they can be dressed or rough.

The art of the stonework Northern NJ will then emerge from the envisioned patchwork of stones, either cut roughly, finished roughly or is smoothened and polished just so. The projects would run from simple door and window jambs to corners, and other decorative items.

Dressed / rough stones

In masonry, dressed stones are referred to as ashlar masonry, and those that were hewn roughly and are uneven are sometimes referred to as rubble masonry. In rubble masonry, uneven or irregularly-shaped stones are used, highlightingon the beauty of its naturally irregular shape.

The rubble and ashlar masonry are usually laid out in course row of even sizes or height through the careful selection of cutting the stones. On the other hand, most of stone masonry is un-coursed, and the free-for-all sometimes creates one of a kind wonders.

Business

Most of today’s masonry projects hinges on some kind of landscaping using stones and cutting them to sizes and assembled and put in placed by mortars and cement. These projects range from creating stone facades and entrances for house or building owners, veneered and cultured stones structures, stone accent walls, fireplaces, stone pillars, walkways, porches,

More projects are being offered by companies who cashed to the undying demand of clients watching gloriously-arranged stones in beautiful designs and cuts to form as accent walls within residences, stone fireplaces, wine cellars, stone walls and many more.

Stonework hasn’t lost its appeal through the past hundreds of years, although new techniques are discovered every now and then and helps make the ancient art into an industry.