Graphical Construction Glossary >> masonry. >> stonework >> Rock Faced Stonework

Rock Faced Stonework

Squared or dimensioned stonework that has the face pitched off to give a natural rock surface. also known as Pitched face stonework.

Pitching Chisel

A stonemason's steel chisel, in between a bolster and a cold chisel in width and with a single bevel.

Late middle ages stonework seen in Florence Italy.

There are many varieties of stone face work and this would have to be one of the most used. The blocks on stone are dimensioned and the time and effort spent in doing this determines the thickness of the mortar bed. Some are rough and others are made to extremely close tolerances as in ashlar work.

The removal excess material from the faces of the blocks is of course optional and so within certain limits it can be left lout entirely. So the ruggedness of the face is up to the individual builder or client.

A rock faced church wall.

An ashlar and rock faced wall to a church in Bromley Kent, UK. The harder stone that has been used for the rough face has stood up well to the ravages of the 150 or so years since it was built. Not so the lighter coloured stone that has been used for the ashlar work. A problem that is a hard one to solve, choosing a stone that is easy to work yet having durability also.

Almost rock faced work. Modern imitation leaves saw marks on the face.

This rough face work started as a practical thing, the fact of just saving labour. Because there are so many instances of old heritage work using stone pitched faces it then became desirable even when technology can produce accurate dimensioned stone cheaply to recreate the effect using modern machinery. Above is a modern wall that consists of factory blocks that have this pitched look applied, in some cases leaving the saw marks showing.

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"When we build, let us think that we build for ever."John Ruskin 1819-1900