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Contractors School Online - Building contractor terms Category: Architecture and Buildings > Building contractor information Date & country: 24/09/2013, USA Words: 431

Expansion Bolt
A socket that grips a drilled hole in stone by expanding as the bolt is

Expansion-Contraction Joint
A joint in a wall designed to allow the expansion and contraction of the wall due to temperature change. An expansion joint compresses as panels expand, a contraction joint expands as panel

Exposed Aggregate
Phrase applied to the larger pieces of stone aggregate purposefully exposed for their color and texture in a cast slab.

Face Shell
The outer wall of a hollow concrete masonry unit.

Expansion Anchor
An anchoring device (based on a friction grip) in which an expandable socket expands, causing a wedge action, as a bolt is tightened into it.

Encases
The curve of the upper two-thirds of a column.

Entablature
In classical architecture, the upper part of an order, comprising architrave,

Equivalent Thickness
The solid thickness to which a hollow unit would be reduced if the material in the unit were recast into a unit with the same face dimensions (height and length) but without voids. The equivalent thickness of a 100% solid unit is equal to the actual thickness and used primarily to determine masonry fire resistance ratings.

Effective Height
Clear height of a braced member between lateral supports and used for calculating the slenderness ratio of the member.

Effective Thickness
The assumed thickness of a member used to calculate the slenderness ratio.

Efflorescence
A crystalline deposit appearing on stone surfaces typically caused by soluble salts carried through or onto the stone by moisture, which has sometimes been found to come from brick, tile, concrete blocks, cement, mortar, concrete, and similar materials in the wall or above.

Eccentricity
The distance between the resultant of an applied load and the centroidal axis of the masonry element under load.

Dry wall
A dry wall is a stone wall that is constructed one stone upon the other without the use of any mortar. Generally used for retaining walls.

Drying Shrinkage
The change in linear dimension of a concrete masonry wall or unit due to drying.

Durability
The measure of the ability of natural building stone to endure and to maintain its essential and distinctive characteristics of strength, resistance to decay, and appearance, with relation to a specific manner, purpose, and environment of use.

Dry Stack
Masonry work laid without mortar.

Drip
A recess cut beneath and slightly behind projecting stone to prevent water from running down the face of the wall below.

Dry
An open or unhealed joint plane not filled with calcite and not structurally sound.

Dolomitic Limestone
A limestone rich in magnesium carbonate, frequently somewhat crystalline in character, found in ledge formations in a wide variety of color tones and textures. Generally speaking, it

Dowel
A metal reinforcing bar used to connect masonry to masonry or to concrete. Short piece of non-ferrous metal or slate fixed into a mortise or sinking in the joints of adjoining stones to prevent movement. Dressed or hand-dressed and the cutting of rough chunks of stone by hand to create a square or rectangular shape. A stone which is sold as dressed stone generally refers to stone ready for installation and sometimes called scabbling.

Dimension, Actual
The measured size of a concrete masonry unit or assemblage.

Dimension, Nominal
The specified dimension plus an allowance for mortar joints, typically 3/8 in. (9.5 mm). Nominal dimensions are usually stated in whole numbers. Width (thickness) is given first, followed by height and then length.

Dimension, Specified
The dimensions specified for the manufacture or construction of a unit, joint or element. Unless otherwise stated, all calculations are based on specified dimensions. Actual dimensions may vary from specified dimensions by permissible variations.

Dentils
Small, rectangular blocks under a classical cornice, resembling a row of teeth.

Diaphragm
A roof or floor system designed to transmit lateral forces to shear walls or other lateral load resisting elements.

Dimension Stone
Quarried stones, generally two feet or more square, of a specified thickness and usually with one or more mechanically dressed surfaces.

Dentil Course
The lower part of the cornice with dentils. The cornice is jointed to allow machines production of the dentils.

Damp-Proofing
One or more coatings of a compound that is impervious to water applied to a surface above grade.

Defect
Those features which affect or have the potential of affecting the structural soundness of building stone, or may affect the durability of the building stone. Sometimes used for visual features such as xenoliths or veins.

Dentil
Block projections on an entablature.

Damp Check
An impervious horizontal layer to prevent vertical penetration of water in a wall or other masonry element. A damp check consists of either a course of solid masonry, metal or a thin layer of asphaltic or bituminous material. It is generally placed near grade to prevent upward migration of moisture by capillary action.

Dacite
A fine-grained, extrusive (volcanic) rock, intermediate in color and composition between basalt and rhyolite

Curbing
Slabs, blocks of stone bordering streets and walks etc.

Curing
(1) The maintenance of proper conditions of moisture and temperature during initial set to develop a required strength and reduce shrinkage in products containing Portland cement. (2) The initial time period during which cementitious materials gain strength.

Cutting Stock
A term used to describe slabs of varying size, finish, and thickness which are used in fabrication treads, risers, copings, borders, sills, stools, hearths, mantels, and other special purpose stones.

Crowfoot (styolite)
Description of a dark gray to black zigzag marking occurring in stone. Usually structurally sound.

Crystalline Limestone
A limestone, either calcitic or dolomitic, composed of interlocking crystalline grains of the constituent minerals and of phaneritic texture; commonly used synonymously with marble and thus representing a recrystallized limestone; improperly applied to limestone

CUll
A masonry unit that does not meet the standards or specifications and therefore has been rejected.

Crack Control
Methods used to control the extent, size and location of cracking in masonry including reinforcing steel, control joints and dimensional stability of masonry materials.

Cross-Bedding
The arrangement of laminations of strata transverse or oblique to the main planes of stratification.

Crack
A break, split, fracture, fissure, separation, cleavage, or elongated narrow opening, however caused, visible without magnification to the human eye and extending from the surface into the stone that must extend through the grain or matrix.

Corrosion Resistant
A material that is treated or coated to retard corrosive action. An example is steel that is galvanized after fabrication.

Course
A horizontal range of stone units the length of the wall and horizontal layer of masonry units in a wall or, much less commonly, curved over an arch.

Coursed Veneer
This is achieved by using stones of the same or approximately the same heights. Horizontal joints run the entire length of the veneered area. Vertical joints are constantly broken so that no two joints will be over one another.

Coping Block
A solid concrete masonry unit intended for use as the top finished course in wall construction.

Corbel
A projection of successive courses from the face of masonry.

Cornerstone
A stone forming a part of a corner or angle in a wall. Also a stone laid at the formal inauguration of the erection of a building, not necessarily at a corner, usually incorporating a date or inscription.

Cornice
A molded projecting stone at the top or an entablature.

Control Joint
Provided so that the movement of different parts of the structure due to shrinkage, expansion, temperature changes or other causes do not transfer loads across the joint.

Coping
A Flat stone used as a cap on free-standing walls. The materials or masonry units used to form the finished top of a wall, pier, chimney or pilaster to protect the masonry below from water penetration.

Connector
A mechanical device for securing two or more pieces, parts or members together; includes anchors, wall ties, fasteners and may be either structural or nonstructural.

Contraction Joints
Spaces where panels are joined and which expand as the panel

Control Joint
A continuous unbonded masonry joint that is formed, sawed or tooled in a masonry structure to regulate the location and amount of cracking and separation resulting from dimensional changes of different parts of the structure, thereby avoiding the development of high stresses.

Concrete
A composite material that consists of a water reactive binding medium, water and aggregate (usually a combination of fine aggregate and coarse aggregate) with or without admixtures. In Portland cement concrete, the binder is a mixture of Portland cement, water and may contain admixtures.

Concrete Block
A hollow or solid concrete masonry unit larger in size than a concrete brick.

Concrete Brick
A concrete hollow or solid unit smaller in size than a concrete block.

Concrete Masonry Unit
Hollow or solid masonry unit, manufactured using low frequency, high amplitude vibration to consolidate concrete of stiff or extremely dry consistency.

Composite Action
Transfer of stress between components of a member designed so that in resisting loads, the combined components act together as a single member.

Compressive strength
The maximum compressive load that a specimen will support divided by the net cross-sectional area of the specimen.

Commercial Marble
A crystalline rock composed predominantly of one or more of the following materials calcite dolomite or serpentine, and capable of taking a polish.

Composite
A construction unit in which stone that is to be exposed in the final use is permanently bonded or joined to other material, which may be stone manufactured material that will be concealed.

Cold Weather Construction
Procedures used to construct masonry when ambient air temperature or masonry unit temperature is below 40

Color (pigment)
A compatible, color fast, chemically stable admixture that gives a cementitious matrix its coloring.

Column
(1) In structures, a relatively long, slender structural compression member such as a post, pillar, or strut. Usually vertical, a column supports loads that act primarily in the direction of its longitudinal axis. (2) For the purposes of design, an isolated vertical member whose horizontal dimension measured at right angles to the thickness does not exceed 3 times its thickness and whose height is greater than 4 times it thickness.

Cleavage Plane
Plane or planes along which a stone may likely break or delaminate.

Coating
A protective or decorative covering applied to the surface or impregnated into stone for such purposes as waterproofing, enhancing resistance to weathering, wear, and chemical action, or improving appearance of the stone.

Cobblestone
A natural rounded stone, large enough for use in paving; commonly used to describe paving blocks, usually granite, generally cut to rectangular shapes.

Chamfer
To bevel the junction of an exterior angle.

Chat-Sawn Finish
A rough gangsaw finish produced by sawing with coarse chat.

Cladding
Non-load-bearing thin stone slabs used for facing buildings.

Cleavage
The ability of a rock mass to break along natural surfaces; a surface of natural parting.

Cell
The hollow space within a concrete masonry unit formed by the face shells and webs. Also called core.

Cement Putty-Cream-Butter
A thick creamy mixture made with pure cement and water which is used to strengthen the bond between the stone and the setting bed.

Cementitious Material
A generic term for any inorganic material including cement, pozzolanic or other finely divided mineral admixtures or other reactive admixtures, or a mixture of such materials that sets and develops strength by chemical reaction with water. In general, the following are considered cementitious materials

Caulking
Making a marble joint tight or leak-proof by sealing with an elastic adhesive compound.

Cavity Vent
A vent or opening in the joints between stones to provide even atmospheric pressure and humidity between the cavity and outside air; to prevent condensation and the migration of water into the structure.

Canopy
A sheltering roof, as over a niche or a doorway.

Capital
The culminating stone at the top of a column or pilaster, often richly carved.

Carve
Shaping, by cutting a design to form the trade of a sculptor.

Calcite Limestone
A limestone containing not more than 5% of magnesium carbonate.

Calcite Streaks
Description of a white or milky-like streak occurring in stone. It is a joint plane usually wider than a glass seam and has been re-cemented by deposition of calcite in the crack and is structurally sound.

Building Stone, Natural
Rock material in its natural state of composition and aggregation as it exists in the quarry and is usable in construction as dimension building stone.

Bull Nose
Convex rounding of a stone member, such as a stair tread.

Buttering
Placing mortar on stone with a trowel before setting into place.

Calcarenite
Limestone composed predominantly of clastic sand-size grains of calcite, or rarely aragonite, usually as fragments of shells or other skeletal structures. Some calcarenites contain oolites (small, spherical grains of calcium carbonate that resemble roe) and may be termed oolite limestone. Calcareous sandstones, in which the calcium carbonate is present chiefly as bonding material, are not included in this category.

Brick
A solid or hollow manufactured masonry unit of either concrete, clay or stone.

Broach
To drill or cut out material left between closely spaced drill holes; a mason's sharp-pointed chisel for dressing stone; an inclined piece of masonry filling the triangular space between the base of an octagonal spire and the top of a square tower; a type of chisel used for working narrow surfaces.

Brownstone
A sandstone of characteristic brown or reddish-brown color that is due to a prominent amount of iron oxide, as interstitial material.

Brushed Finish
Obtained by brushing the stone with a coarse rotary-type wire brush.

Border Stone
Usually a flat stone used as an edging material. A border stone is generally used to retain the field of the terrace or platform.

Box
A tapered metal box wedged in the top of columns or other heavy stones for hoisting.

Bond, Stack
For structural design purposes, Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures considers all masonry not laid in running bond as stack bond. In common use, stack bond typically refers to masonry laid so head joints in successive courses are vertically aligned. Also called plumb joint bond, straight stack, jack bond, jack-on-jack and checkerboard bond.

Bond Breaker
A material used to prevent adhesion between two surfaces.

Bond Stone
Used in varying percentages to anchor or bond the stone veneer to the backing material. Bond stones are generally cut to twice the bed thickness of the material being used.

Bond Strength
The resistance to separation of mortar from masonry units and of mortar and grout from reinforcing steel and other materials with which it is in contact.

Bond, Running
The placement of masonry units such that head joints in successive courses are horizontally offset at least one-quarter the unit length. Centering head joints over the unit below, called center or half bond is the most common form of running bond. A horizontal offset between head joints in successive courses of one-third and one-quarter the unit length is called third bond and quarter bond, respectively.

Bond
(1) The arrangement of units to provide strength, stability or a unique visual effect created by laying units in a prescribed pattern. See reference 6 for illustrations and descriptions of common masonry bond patterns. (2) The physical adhesive or mechanical binding between masonry units, mortar, grout and reinforcement. (3) To connect wythes or masonry units.

Bond Beam
(1) The grouted course or courses of masonry units reinforced with longitudinal bars and designed to take the longitudinal flexural and tensile forces that may be induced in a masonry wall. (2) A horizontal grouted element within masonry in which reinforcement is embedded.

Bluestone
A dense, hard, fine-grained, commonly feldspathic sandstone or siltstone of medium to dark or bluish-gray color that splits readily along original bedding planes to form thin slabs. Bluestone is not a technical geologic term. It is considered to be a variety of flagstone, the thin relatively smooth-surfaced slabs being suitable for use as flagging. The term has been applied particularly to sandstones of Devonian age that are being or have been quarried in eastern New York and Pennsylvania and in western New Jersey, but similar stones that occur elsewhere may be included. It has also been applied in places to thinly layered gneisses and schist

Bevel
When the angle between two sides is greater or less than a right angle.