The past quarter century has seen a near revolution in the availability, versatility, and cost of architectural stone. Enormous technological advances in fabrication, transportation, and installation have combined with the emergence of new sources of stone in China, India, Southeast Asia, and the former Soviet Union to produce an astounding variety of choices for architects interested in incorporating stone into their designs. But, beyond the visual aesthetic of a sample, how can an architect determine whether a particular stone possesses characteristics suitable for a specific project? This is a crucial question, since an improper selection can cost thousands, or even millions, of dollars to correct. In Architectural Stone, Mark Chacon takes the guesswork out of stone selection, design, and installation. He provides detailed information on geological formation, physical characteristics, and fabrication techniques for igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic stone, and explains how these factors affect design and installation. Taking a how-to approach, he offers detailed instructions for all major installation techniques and examines the materials, systems, and specifications required for each technique, as well as methods of finishing, sealing, and maintaining installed stone. Finally, he presents detailed guidelines for the selection of stone, including selection criteria and practical concerns, special considerations for interior and exterior installations, informal testing and practical analysis, and the availability and suitability of particular types of stone. The only one-stop source for complete information on building stone, Architectural Stone also provides:

* More than 100 field photographs detailing the quarrying, fabrication, and installation of a wide variety of building stone

* Architectural details that describe the intent and use of stone in building systems

* Computer-generated images of the geological formation of stone

The first and only comprehensive reference for owners, architects, interior designers, and other building professionals working with stone, this book provides authoritative, up-to-date answers to critical questions on every aspect of using stone as a building material.

Comprehensive, convenient, authoritative– a one-stop resource for architects, structural engineers, building managers, and interior designers

Architectural Stone provides complete, detailed, reliable information on the use of stone as a modern building material. Topics covered include:

Fabrication

Quarrying and fabrication of limestone, sandstone, marble, and granite from blocks; quarrying and fabrication of foliated stone deposits, such as slate and quartzite; special stone fabrications; production of finishes and textures.

Installation

Sand bed installations; mortar bed installations for floor applications; thinset installations; adhered veneer; anchored veneer; stone integrated curtain wall systems and precast concrete panel systems; mortars, setting materials, and grout systems; installation master specifications.

Selection

Selection criteria and practical considerations; professional testing standards and classification systems; special consideration for interior and exterior use of stone; informal testing and practical analysis; availability of stone; suitability of the stone for the intended application.

The one-stop reference for state-of-the-art information on building stone, Architectural Stone provides:

• More than 100 field photographs detailing the quarrying, fabrication, and installation of a wide variety of building stone
• Architectural details that describe the intent and use of stone in building systems
• Computer-generated images of the geological formation of stone

Includes bibliographical references (p. 217-218) and index.

MARK A. CHACON is Vice President and Partner at Associated Imports, a supplier of marble, granite, limestone, and tile, based in Atlanta, Georgia. A trained interior architect, he spent twelve years at Callison Architecture as design manager and retail interior designer, where he developed his expertise in stone materials and finishes designing for clients such as Nordstrom, May Centers, and Prudential. He has written and lectured frequently on designing with stone.

Characteristics of Building Stone.

Stone Fabrication.

Installation Methods.

Protection and Maintenance of Stone Installations.

Guidelines for the Selection of Stone.

Glossary of Common Stoneworking Terms.

Bibliography.

Index.