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Natural Stone Definitions

R

Rabbet

A groove cut into the surface along an edge so as to receive another piece.

Rain Screen

A curtain wall system in which the outer façade shields, or “screens,” rain from infiltrating the wall cavity, but is not actually sealed. The cavity is pressure equalized with the outside air, avoiding pressure differences that would otherwise draw water into the cavity. Minor amounts of water that penetrate the rain screen are evacuated via weep systems designed into the system.

Raked Joint

A mortar joint in which the mortar, while still soft, has been scraped back to a specified dimension with a square-edged tool. It is generally used to accentuate the joint due to the pronounced shadow line produced.

Random Slab

A stone slab of length and width that are not prespecified, but rather determined by the size of the block from which it was cut.

Rebated Kerf

A kerf that includes a second cut at 90° to the kerf axis which accommodates position of the anchor so that it doesn’t occupy any of the joint region, allowing full movement capability of the joint dimension.

Recess

Any feature cut into a stone that is set back or indented from the balance of the stone surface, either to accommodate another element, such as anchorage, or for aesthetic appeal.

Reclaimed Stone

Old stone that has been salvaged from roads, bridges, etc. which are no longer in use, and are repurposed to create something new. Granite, limestone, and sandstone are the most common reclaimed stone types.

Reclaimed Steps

Reclaimed stone that originally was used as steps.

Recrystallized Limestone

A limestone in which a new pattern of crystallinity has pervasively replaced the crystal orientation in the original clastic particles, fossils, or fossil fragments, and interstitial cement.

Refinishing

The process of in situ finishing of existing stonework to return it to its near original appearance.

Reglet

A narrow groove cut in stone to receive flashing.

Reinforcement

Any element, metal, fiberglass, stone, etc. that is embedded in or applied to the stone panel for the purpose of increasing strength.

Relief

Carving or embossing raised above a background plane, as in a bas-relief.

Relieving Arch

One built over a lintel, flat arch or smaller arch to divert loads, thus relieving the lower member from excessive loading.

Remnant

A leftover portion of a slab that cannot be utilized in the primary project, but is salvaged for possible use in another project.

Reprise

The line formed by the intersection of two like profiles upon meeting at an interior corner.

Resin

Any of a number of clear or translucent substances, either from plant origin or synthetics, used in producing lacquers, adhesives, plastics, polyesters, epoxies, silicones, etc.

Resin Patching Sticks

A stone patching material supplied as a solid substance and installed in a heated condition to facilitate flowing into surface imperfections to be filled.

Resin Polishing

A reference to abrasive pads used for hand tool polishing, in which abrasives are embedded in a resin matrix.

Resined Slab

Slabs that have been treated with a cosmetic improvement process prior to polishing, in which a resinous adhesive, usually epoxy, is applied to the face of the slab, filling various voids in the stone surface. The resin is cured at elevated temperature, after which it is polished, allowing the resin to remain in the voids. This produces a more cosmetically attractive surface without the interruptions of the natural defects.

Restoration

Remedial action taken to return an existing installation of stone to its original or acceptable near original condition.

Return

The right-angle turn of a stone surface, either a molding or flat, as in a window jamb condition.

Return Head
See Head.
Reveal

The exposed portion of a stone between its outer face and a window or door set into an opening.

Ribbon

Narrow bands of rock within the quarry deposit of contrasting color and/or texture due to varying mineralogical composition.

Rift

Direction in which stone splits most readily. The term is most commonly used for granite or other stone without visible stratification or foliation.

Riprap

Large, irregular shaped stones randomly placed on an embankment to prevent or minimize soil erosion.

Rise

Often used in reference to veneer stone, rise refers to the height of the stone. 

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 Faced Finish

A rustic finish for veneer stone created with a split or chiseled face, and dressed along the stone’s perimeter to produce convex projection. This finish is most often used on the sawn edge of the stone to make it look like a natural cleft or split-face surface. It’s created with a hammer and chisel, across the face of the stone, resulting in a natural look. Surface roughness can vary from rough (1/4-2″) to very rough (>2”) depending on the process. Other chiseled patterns include point stalk, pillowed and pineapple. While fabrication can be machine-aided, hand-made versions are generally considered to be more attractive.

Learn more about Natural Stone Finishes.

Rodding
A reinforcement technique used principally in countertop fabrication wherein metal or fiberglass rods are embedded into shallow kerfs in the underside of the stone slab at narrow regions of the countertop, such as the portion in form of a sink. See Reinforcement.
Roman Arch

A semicircular arch. If built of stone, all units are wedge-shaped.

Rough Back

The outermost slab produced when slabs are sawn from a block, having one side sawed and the other rough from the original quarry block face. Also known as “skin.”

Rough Sawn Finish

A surface finish resulting from the gang or wire sawing process.

Learn more about Natural Stone Finishes.

Rubbed Finish

A stone finish between smooth machine finish and honed, obtained by mechanical rubbing to a very smooth surface.

Learn more about Natural Stone Finishes.

Rubble

A term applied to dimensional stone used chiefly for walls and foundations, consisting of stone units that may be highly irregular or partly trimmed or squared, generally with one or more split faces, and selected and specified with a size range. Rubble stone may be installed randomly or coursed.

Rustication

Any embellishment done to the joints in stonework, either chamfers or grooves, for the purpose of visually accentuating the joint by increasing the shadow line.

Created in collaboration with the Natural Stone Institute (NSI).
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