Glossary of Terms
Bark
Tree bark, commonly fir or cedar, used as mulch in landscaping. Shredded or walk-on barks are best for areas with foot traffic or slopes.
Example: Medium Bark
Blended Soil
Basic topsoil mixed with another material, such as compost to add nutrients, or sand for healthy, well draining soil.
Example: Custom Topsoil
Bluestone
A dense, fine grained commonly feldspathic sandstone or siltstone of characteristic blue, gray, plum, and/or brown colors that splits readily along original bedding planes to form thin slabs.
Example: Bluestone
Boulders
Large fieldstone or quarried rock ranging from 200 to 2000 pounds.
Example: Arizona Sandstone
Cobble
Stones larger than gravel, ranging from 1/2 inches to 12 inches in diameter.
Example: 1/2 inch Cobble
Fabrication
Any of a variety of processes used to create uniformity or specification to natural stone. Stone tumbling, water jet for radius work, cross cutting, bull nose and coring are types of stone fabrication available.
Example: Bluestone L&W Stone
Fieldstone
A thick stone found on top of and in the soil. It is gathered from fields, prairies, or even deserts where it has lain for many years. The exposed surface of the rock is weathered and often covered with moss or lichen.
Example: Pancake Fieldstone
Flagstone
Any kind of stone that splits into shallow, flat slabs suitable for paving. Commonly referred to as flat rock.
Example: Chocolate Arizona
Free Standing Wall
A wall that is not holding back soil and may be accessed from all sides. Often an ornamental accent to landscapes, or a dividing wall between boundary areas.
Example: Highland Free Standing Wall
Granite
A fine to course grained igneous rock, generally consisting of quartz, feldspar and rock, formed by volcanic action and cooled slowly under great pressure. It is the hardest building stone with a very dense grain.
Example: Granite Boulders
Gravel
Naturally rounded or mechanically crushed stones ranging in size from 3/8 to 1 1/2 inches. Often used for driveways, pathways and water features.
Example: Black Chip
Igneous
One of the three main classes of rock (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic) solidified from a molten material or magma. It solidifies as it pushes its way from the molten core of the earth to the surface. Granite is one of the most common igneous rocks used in construction.
Example: Granite Boulders
Ledge
Stone that is split by hand or machine into square or rectangular pieces. May meet specification for height, weight and length, or be randomly sized.
Example: Quartzite
Limestone
A sedimentary rock composed of calcites and dolomites. Limestone is non-crystalline and possesses uniform composition, texture and structure. Limestone ranges in color from white to gray and cannot be polished.
Example: Limestone Crushed
Metamorphic
One of the three main classes of rock (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic), which has been altered in appearance, density, or crystalline structure by heat or pressure into a different type of rock. Slate and marble are metamorphic rocks used in construction.
Example: Black Slate
Mulch
Any product used to keep moisture in the soil, discourage weeds and eliminate rain spatter. Common mulch products are bark and decorative gravel.
Example: Medium Bark
Patio Stones
Large pieces of manufactured paving material, usually 12 to 24 inches.
Example: Bella Cobble
Pavers/Paving Systems
Man made concrete or natural stone fabrications, usually 2 to 3 inches high and geometrically shaped. Can be laid in patterns for walkways, patios, driveways or larger commercial or urban paved areas.
Example: Adirondack
Quartzite
A compact granular rock composed of quartz crystals, usually so firmly cemented as to make the mass homogenous. The stone is generally quarried in stratified layers, the surfaces of which are unusually smooth. Its crushing and tensile strengths are very high.
Example: Quartzite Boulders
Retaining Wall
A wall built across the face of a bank or slop to hold soil back, thereby creating a level place behind the wall.
Example: Diamond Pro Stone Cut
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock made of compacted sand, cemented with calcium, silicone of ferrous minerals. It varies in color based on the presence of other minerals. Sandstone is soft and easy to quarry and shape.
Example: Las Vegas Sandstone
Sedimentary
One of the three main classes of rock (igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic). Sedimentary rock is formed from materials deposited as sediments, such as sand, silt and marine organisms. Sandstone and Limestone are the sedimentary rocks most often used in construction.
Example: Sunrise Sandstone
Serpentine
A hydrous magnesium silicate of igneous origin, generally a very dark green color with markings of white, light green, or black. One of the hardest varieties of natural building stone.
Example: Serpentine Gravel
Slate
A very fine-grained metamorphic rock derived from sedimentary rock shale. Has an excellent parallel cleavage and can be split easily in relatively thin slabs.
Example: Iron Slate L&W Stone
Veneer
A cosmetic, non-structural facing of stone attached to a backing for the purpose of ornamentation, protection or insulation. Veneer should support no load other than its own weight and possibly the vertical dead load of veneer above.
Example: Arizona Sandstone
Wall Rock
Rock Usually fieldstone or other types of angular stone that fit together to create dry stack or mortared walls.
Example: Black Lichen Boulders
Wall Systems
Man made blocks that fit together to create small and large wall structures. Wall blocks vary in size and structure depending on the design and purpose of the wall.
Example: Diamond Pro Stone Cut