Mason Glossary

  • Aggregate: The sand, gravel, or crushed stone used as a component in concrete or mortar.
  • Anchor bolt: A bolt embedded in concrete or masonry used to secure structural elements.
  • Angle iron: L-shaped iron used to reinforce corners or as lintels.
  • Asphalt: A dark, bituminous substance used in masonry for waterproofing.
  • Bed: The horizontal surface on which a stone or masonry unit rests.
  • Bond: The pattern in which bricks are laid, such as running bond or stack bond.
  • Brick: A rectangular block used in masonry, typically made of fired clay.
  • Bullnose: A rounded edge or corner of a masonry unit.
  • Caulk: Material used to seal joints or cracks.
  • Chase: A groove cut into masonry to receive pipes or conduits.
  • Chimney: A vertical structure used to vent gases from a fireplace or furnace.
  • Coping: The top course or cap of a wall or parapet.
  • Course: A horizontal layer of masonry units.
  • Crack stitching: Technique to repair cracks in masonry by embedding metal rods or bars.
  • Crazing: Fine cracks on the surface of masonry units due to shrinkage or weathering.
  • Curing: The process of maintaining moisture in newly laid masonry to ensure proper hydration.
  • Damp-proof course (DPC): A layer of material (e.g., bitumen) to prevent rising damp in masonry.
  • Dowel: A pin or peg used to strengthen masonry joints.
  • Efflorescence: White deposits on masonry caused by salt migration to the surface.
  • Expansion joint: A joint designed to allow for the expansion and contraction of masonry.
  • Face: The exposed surface of a masonry unit.
  • Flashing: Thin metal sheet used to direct water away from masonry.
  • Footing: The base or foundation of a masonry structure.
  • Gable: The triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof.
  • Grout: Fluid mixture of cement, sand, and water used to fill gaps in masonry.
  • Header: A brick laid with its end facing outwards.
  • Hollow brick: Brick with voids or holes to reduce weight and improve insulation.
  • Jamb: The vertical sides of an opening in masonry, such as a door or window.
  • Joist: Horizontal supporting member, often in floors or ceilings.
  • Keystone: The central wedge-shaped stone in an arch.
  • Lime mortar: Mortar made from lime, sand, and water.
  • Lintel: Horizontal structural element above a door or window opening.
  • Masonry: Construction using units such as bricks, stones, or concrete blocks.
  • Mortar: Cementitious material used to bond masonry units together.
  • Parapet: A low protective wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony.
  • Parging: Thin coat of mortar applied to masonry for smoothness or protection.
  • Paver: Thin, flat masonry unit used for paving surfaces.
  • Pier: Vertical masonry support, often used in foundations or bridges.
  • Pointing: Process of finishing mortar joints.
  • Quoin: Cornerstone or angle brick in masonry, often decorative.
  • Rebar: Reinforcing bar used to strengthen concrete or masonry.
  • Render: Coating applied to masonry for protection or decoration.
  • Rubble: Irregularly shaped stones used in masonry.
  • Screed: A flat board used to level or smooth concrete or mortar.
  • Sealer: Material applied to masonry to protect against water penetration.
  • Sill: Horizontal member beneath a window or door opening.
  • Skewback: The angled support for an arch.
  • Soffit: The underside of an architectural feature, often in masonry.
  • Spall: Fragmentation or chipping of masonry due to weathering or impact.
  • Stucco: Exterior plaster finish for masonry walls.
  • Tie: Metal connector used to join two wythes of masonry.
  • Tuckpointing: Process of filling mortar joints to match the color of masonry units.
  • Veneer: Thin facing material applied to masonry for aesthetic purposes.
  • Void: An empty space within masonry, often for insulation or ventilation.
  • Wall tie: Metal connector used to attach masonry to structural elements.
  • Waterproofing: Treatment applied to masonry to prevent water penetration.
  • Weep hole: Small opening in masonry to allow drainage of water.
  • Wythe: A vertical section of masonry one unit thick.
  • Xeriscaping: Landscaping technique that reduces or eliminates the need for irrigation.
  • Yield point: The stress at which a material begins to deform permanently.
  • Z-bar: A metal bar used to secure panels or sheets together.
  • Abrasion resistance: The ability of a material to resist surface wear.
  • Absorption: The ability of a material to take in liquids or gases.
  • Adhesion: The bonding strength between two materials.
  • Aggregate: Inert filler material in concrete, such as sand, gravel, or crushed stone.
  • Air entrainment: The incorporation of air bubbles in concrete to improve freeze-thaw resistance.
  • Alkali-aggregate reaction (AAR): Chemical reaction between alkalies in cement and reactive minerals in aggregate.
  • Anchor bolt: Bolt embedded in concrete or masonry to attach structural elements.
  • Architectural concrete: Concrete designed for aesthetic purposes.
  • Ballast: Coarse aggregate used in concrete, often from crushed stone.
  • Bleeding: The migration of water to the surface of freshly placed concrete.
  • Blinding: A thin layer of fine material applied over a surface to cover irregularities.
  • Bond: The adhesion or grip between masonry units or between masonry and mortar.
  • Bulking: The increase in volume of sand due to the presence of moisture.
  • Cement: Binder material in concrete, typically Portland cement.
  • Cementitious: Material containing or resembling cement.
  • Cement hydration: Chemical reaction between cement and water, forming hardened paste.
  • Cement paste: Mixture of cement and water that coats aggregate particles.
  • Chloride: Chemical compound that can accelerate corrosion of steel reinforcement in concrete.
  • Clinker: Material produced by heating limestone and clay to form Portland cement.
  • Cold joint: Interface between successive batches of concrete placed at different times.
  • Compaction: Process of reducing voids in concrete by mechanical means.
  • Concrete: Mixture of cement, aggregate, and water that hardens over time.
  • Concrete cover: Distance between reinforcing steel and outer surface of concrete.
  • Concrete strength: Ability of concrete to withstand applied loads or forces.
  • Consistency: Workability or fluidity of freshly mixed concrete.
  • Crazing: Fine cracks on the surface of hardened concrete.
  • Creep: Time-dependent deformation of concrete under sustained load.
  • Curing: Process of maintaining adequate moisture and temperature in freshly placed concrete.
  • Efflorescence: White crystalline deposits on concrete surface due to soluble salts.
  • Elastic modulus: Measure of stiffness or rigidity of concrete.
  • Expansion joint: Separation between adjacent parts of concrete to accommodate thermal or moisture changes.
  • Fiber reinforcement: Addition of fibers (e.g., steel, synthetic) to concrete for improved tensile strength.
  • Formwork: Temporary structure or mold used to hold concrete in place until it hardens.
  • Grout: Fluid mixture of cement, sand, and water used to fill gaps or voids.
  • Honeycombing: Voids or gaps left in concrete due to inadequate vibration or compaction.
  • Hydration: Chemical reaction between cement and water that forms hardened concrete.
  • Laitance: Thin layer of weak, fine particles on the surface of concrete due to improper finishing.
  • Permeability: Ability of concrete to allow fluids (e.g., water, air) to pass through.
  • Plasticizer: Admixture added to concrete to improve workability without increasing water content.