A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

-A-

Abutment
The supporting wall or pier that receives the thrust of an arch.

Aggregate
Granular material consisting of normal weight or lightweight particles used with a cementing medium to form concrete masonry, mortar or grout.

Anchors
Metal rods w/bolts or straps usually made of brass, stainless steel, or galvanized steel. Anchors are used to tie a wall (brick, block or stone) to another structure.

Arch
A circular like section of masonry work that spans an opening and supports not only its own weight, but also the weight of the masonry work above it.

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- B -

Bond
Adhesion between mortar and masonry units; tying together parts of two or more wythes of masonry walls by overlapping masonry units.

Bond Stone
Masonry unit that projects back from the facing wall into a backup wall. Bond stone is designed to tie the two walls or wythes together. A bond stone may not project completely through the two walls or wythes.

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Caulk
Sealing material, the process of sealing cracks around doors, windows and other cracks with a caulking gun.

Cavity Wall
A wall built in two wythes of masonry tied together with a continuous air space in between.

Cavity Wall Ties
Metal ties or bonding units used to tie together the wythes on a cavity wall.

Column
Vertical support member used to transfer load from one level to an other.

Compressive Strength
The vertical forces on a masonry structure.

Concrete
A strong construction material consisting of sand, conglomerate gravel, pebbles, broken stone, or slag in a mortar or cement matrix.

Control Joint
Vertical joint made to allow for shrinkage movement. Used to prevent random cracking of the wall caused by contraction.

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Dead Load
A type of force applied on a wall by the weight of the building.

Deflection
Deviation from normal position of a structural member.

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Epoxy Mortar
Mortar of a thermosetting resins containing epoxy groups that are blended with other chemicals to form strong, hard chemically resistant mortar.

Expansion Joint
Vertical or horizontal joints used to separate masonry into segments to control cracking.

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- G -

Gunite
Construction method used to form irregular shaped concrete objects by the use of spraying concrete to forms.

Grout
A cementious component of high water-cement ratio, permitting it to be poured into spaces within a masonry wall. Grout consists of Portland cement, lime and aggregate.

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Jamb
The vertical sides of an opening such as the side of a door or window.

Joints
The material between to masonry units capable of forming a bond. Joins can be: Concave; V; Flush; Raked; Extruded; Beaded; Struck’ Weathered.

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- L -

Ladder –Type Wall Reinforcing
A type of horizontal wall reinforcement system.

Lateral Force
Force placed on a structure by wind or earth pressure pushing laterally against a wall.

Level
A tool for determining, or adjusting a surface to an even horizontal plane.

Lift
Height of grout (or concrete) placed at one time from one pour.

Limestone
Formed below water and compacted this is a highly concentrated crystalline calcium carbonate (calcite) but also contains silica, alumina, iron oxide and magnesia.

Lintel
Horizontal structural unit (beam) over an opening; support member over a door or window opening.

Live Loads
A type of vertical force, forces applied by the contents and occupants of a building.

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- P -

Parging
Process of applying a coat of mortar to masonry construction, especially used for foundation walls.

Pier
A short masonry or concrete column supporting the foundations of the floor structure in spaces without a basement. Pier may be freestanding or bonded at its sides to other masonry or concrete. A masonry column used to support a garden wall. A freestanding

Pilaster
A pier or column forming part of a masonry or concrete wall, partially projecting from it and bonded to it. Designed to receive joist or beam load.

Plaster
Used in interior stone installations to adhere the anchors in place as well as to fill butt jointed stone.

Plumb
Exactly vertical. Measured with a plumb line.

Point
Tip of the trowel blade.

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Quarry Sap
The water present in block stone when removed from the ground. Quarry sap seasons out anywhere from sixty days to eight months, depending on the type of stone.

Quoin
Large squared stone or brick set at the corner formed by two masonry walls. Projects out from the corner in some cases.

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- S -

Sample Panel
A test panel designed to 1) demonstrate the quality of materials and the kind of workmanship that will be used through-out the construction period or 2) be observed throughout construction of the job for any change or damage as a result of changes in weather conditions.

Sandstone
Generally quartz based, cemented together with a high percent of silica, sandstone also contains calcium, carbonate and iron compounds, this stone generally is formed without sediment grains.

Sealant
Silicone, polyurethane or polysulphate based chemicals with elastomeric (elastic) characteristics used at various conditions in stone joints.

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