What is Stone Masonry?

Whether you are building a stone wall or anything else, stone masonry is one of the oldest professions in the world. When constructing buildings with staying power, stone masonry is still an incredibly effective and heavy material. With this in mind, what is stone masonry?

Stone masonry (otherwise known as stonecraft) is the creation of structures using stone as the primary material. Stonemasons shape rough rock into appealing geometric shapes using combinations of heat and physical effort. There are many types of masons that have different specializations.

While some might believe stone masonry is a dying profession, the need for hard stone in our daily lives is still apparent. Below, we will address the different jobs you can get with stone masonry and how it exists today.

A Quick History of Stone Masonry

Today, stone masonry involves the use of heavy-duty equipment to build impressive shapes and structures. However, it started back in 10,000 BC, where we first began to settle in static villages.

With our nomadic culture becoming less prevalent, humankind sought more permanent structures. You may note the most famous example of stone masonry: the pyramids.

Some of our longest-lasting structures have contributions from stonemasons. Castles and statues are a few of the extreme examples. Cathedrals are known to have centuries of staying power.

In the modern age, masonry construction differs based on materials and style:

Different Types of Masonry

The masonry you desire may change based on the types of stone you choose. Because not all sheets of rock are created equal, your power tool selected will likely vary based on the stone block you use. Here are some examples:

Brick Masonry Construction

Brick masonry is one of the more popular forms because of the unique color and texture of bricks outside of a house. Bricks can be large, thick, and constructive in their builds. It also delves into our following form of masonry.

Veneer Masonry

Veneer masonry is a form of stonework that doesn’t support buildings. Instead, the stone architecture is primarily for appearance purposes. The result is building a home with the appearance of masonry with none of the support. For example, an exterior application of a brick veneer is common for homes that want brick but can’t afford it.

Rubble Masonry

Rubble masonry is with small pieces of stone spread along with a structure. The “uneven” nature of these stones is appealing to wall construction, creating a whimsical feel to them. The stones are usually hammer dressed, making them more uniform and easier to work with during construction. When you have “dressed stone,” all that means is that it molds to meet structural needs.

Ashlar Masonry

Ashlar masonry is similar to rubble masonry in the fact that it is squared. The pieces of rock are finely dressed and resistant to almost any weather condition. It is pickier with an extremely fine bed. It also has end joints.

There are also ashlar patterns, so you can also pay for the veneer form of this.

What are Some Tools Used in Stone Masonry?

Whether you want to start your own masonry business or just curious, the three essential masonry tools include a hammer, a chisel, and a straight edge.

However, you might imagine that we’ve gone through some upgrades to include power tools in masonry work. When it comes to stone cutting, you need some heavy-duty equipment. Here’s a list of standard means you can expect in modern stone machinery:

Stone Grinders

Stone grinders allow you to perform heavy-duty grinding work. A grinder is where you might start a concrete block or other forms of stone in specific shapes. There are many types of grinders that include column grinders, profile grinders, and travel grinders.

Stone Lathes

Stone lathes shape stone into a more acceptable shape. Using a lathe can combine multiple shaping operations into a single unit. For example, a lathe can help you do the following:

Cutting
Sanding
Drilling
Knurling

The idea is to rotate the piece of stone around the tool to get your desired shape.

Stone Saws

Saws are often associated with wood, but cutting off chunks of stone to build a masonry wall or window frame requires heavy-duty materials. Saws can help shape blocks of rock into smaller pieces. For a stonemason that only requires simple material, a saw is likely on their list.

Larger saws, like bridge saws or wire saws, can be used for larger stones.

Stone Polishers

Stone polishers, typically coming in the form of radial arms, are a way to shape natural stone into a smooth shape. When creating fixtures in building material or other forms of masonry, polishers can work to help with the desired texture.

Advanced Tools in Masonry

Many of the precision tools listed above include robotic variants. Because of the amount of detail needed, a regular construction laborer or masonry specialist may not have the ability to meet precision demands.

To address this, many of the advanced tools, like multitask machines, involve programs that you can transfer via the internet and USB drives. If you own a 3D printer, this is a similar concept.

Final Thoughts

While some may tell you that the only true stone masonry is by hand, there’s much effort that goes into these precision machines. Many forms of masonry can go into making anything from stone cladding to a building foundation.

There are also many forms of simple stone to be aware of, and your choice of stone can impact your final product.

If you are looking for stone machinery for your business, check out our listings on Stone Machinery Direct. Our experienced sales staff can help you find the right tools for any level.