The Northwest Masonry Guide - Glossary of Masonry Terminology

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

QUARRY. An open excavation at the earth's surface for the purpose of extracting usable stone.
Quarry Run. Unselected materials of building stone within the ranges of color and texture available from the quarry that is the source.
Quarry Sap. Colloquial term for the natural moisture in stone as it comes from the quarry ledge. Varies in amount with the porosity.
QUARTZITE. 1. Geologically, metamorphic rock resulting from the annealing of quartz sandstone. 2. In stone industry, a variety of sandstone composed largely of granular quartz and indurated either by metamorphism or cementation with silica to material that breaks with glassy fracture across grains and cementation alike.
QUARTZITIC SANDSTONE. Dimension stone trade term for a type of sandstone in which most of the grains are quartz and the cementing material is silica.
QUEEN CLOSER. A cut brick having a nominal two-inch horizontal face dimension.
QUOIN. A projecting right angle masonry corner, usually ornamental.

RACKING. A method entailing stepping back successive courses of masonry.
RAGGLE. A groove in a joint or special unit to receive roofing or flashing.
Raglin. A joint raked in masonry to receive mortared-in flashing.
RAKED JOINT. See joint.
RANGE WORK. A course of any thickness that, once started, is continued across the entire face; but all courses need not be of the same thickness.
REBATE. A rectangular groove or slot, as to receive a frame insert in a door or window opening. (sash groove).
RECESS. A depth of some inches in the thickness of a wall such as a niche.
REGLET. A recess to receive and secure metal flashing.
REINFORCED GROUTED MASONRY. Masonry units, reinforcing steel, grout and/or mortar combined to act together in resisting forces.
(UBC)
REINFORCED HOLLOW UNIT MASONRY. That
type of construction made with hollow masonry units in which certain cells are continuously filled with concrete or grout and in which reinforcement is embedded. (UBC)
RELIEVED WORK. Ornamentation done in relief--that is, extending forward from a surface by shallow carving or molding.
RELIEVING ARCH. An arch, usually blind, built in to the wall above a lintel or flat arch to carry the load to walls or other supporting members.
REPOINTING OR TUCKPOINTING. Replacing mortar in masonry joints.
RETARDING AGENT. A chemical additive in mortar that slows setting or hardening.
RETEMPERING. To moisten mortar and re-mix, after original mixing, to the proper consistency for use.
RETICULATED WORK. 1. Stone surface hand dressed to show a netlike or veinlike raised pattern. 2. A wall built of square blocks set diagonally, the joints showing a netlike pattern.
RETURN. Any surface turned back from the face of a principal surface.
REVEAL. That portion of a jamb or recess which is visible from the face of a wall.
REVET. To face a sloping foundation or embankment with stone or concrete.
RIB. An arch member which forms a support for an arch or vault.
RIFT. Direction in which stone splits most readily. Term commonly used for granite or other stone without visible stratification of foliation.
RIPRAP. Irregularly broken and random-sized large pieces of rock.
RISE. The distance at the center of an arch between the springing line and intrados or soffit.
ROCK. 1. Geologically, any natural mass of earth material that has appreciable extent. 2. In engineering, solid natural material that requires mechanical or explosive techniques for removal. 3. In the quarry industries, the term stone is more common and means firm, coherent, relatively hard earth material.
ROCK RASH. A patchwork application of odd-shaped stone slabs, used on edge as a veneer, often further embellished with cobbles or geodes.
RODDING. 1. Strengthening of stone slabs or panels by cementing steel reinforcing rods into routings in the back. Practice largely restricted to marble. 2. Slang for puddling or consolidating grout in a cavity or core.
ROMAN ARCH. A semicircular arch. If built of stone, all units are wedge-shaped.
ROSE WINDOW. Large circular window, usually in a church facade, ornamented with tracery.
ROUGHBACK. 1. A concealed end of a stone laid as a bondstone. 2. Side cut (slab), having one side sawed and the other rough, from a block fed through a gangsaw.
ROWLOCK or ROLOK. A brick laid on its face edge so that the normal bedding area is visible in the wall face.
RUBBED FINISH. A stone finish between a smooth machine finish and a honed finish obtained by mechanical rubbing to a very smooth surface.
RUBBLE. Pieces of broken stone, irregular in shape and size, used in the rough construction of walls, foundations, and paving.
Coursed Rubble. Masonry composed of roughly shaped stones fitting on approximately level beds, well bounded, and brought at vertical intervals to continuous level beds or courses.
Random Rubble. Masonry composed of roughly shaped stones, well bonded and brought at irregular vertical intervals to discontinuous but approximately level beds or courses.
Rough or Ordinary Rubble. Masonry composed of non-shaped field stones laid without regularity of coursing, but well bonded.
RUNNING BOND. See bond.
RUSTIC. 1. A term describing masonry, generally of local stone, that is roughly hand dressed, and intentionally laid with high relief in relatively modest structures of rural character. 2. A grade of building limestone, characterized by coarse texture.
Rustic Joint. A deeply sunk mortar joint that has been emphasized by having the edges of the adjacent stones chamfered or recessed below the surface of the face.
Rustic Stone. A trade term for rough, broken stone suitable for rustic masonry. Generally set with the elongate dimension exposed horizontally. Most commonly limestone or sandstone, but can be any sound stone.
Rusticated or Rustication. Term describing cut stone walling with strongly emphasized recessed joints and smooth or roughly textured block faces. The border of each block may be rebated, chamfered, or beveled on all four sides, at top and bottom only, or on two adjacent sides. The face of the block may be flat, pitched, or diamond point, and if smooth may be hand or machine tooled.

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