Category: Construction
-
Ashlar-Faced Rubble
One type of construction often seen in high-end stonework is ashlar-faced rubble masonry. In this type of work, a strong facing of tight-fitting ashlar protects a core made of looser rubble masonry, allowing cost savings.
-
The Timeless Stone Arch Bridge
The stone arch bridge remains a form of construction that has never been equaled. Here are some considerations in favor of stone bridges even with modern advances in structures and materials.
-
Structural Considerations of Low-Rise Arches
Low-rise arches make for daring designs with minimal “humps” in the road. However, there are certain structural considerations that need to be seriously taken into account when designing a low-rise arch.
-
Pros and Cons of Mortarless Masonry
Mortarless masonry has several construction advantages over its mortared counterparts. However, with these advantages come a greater precision and skill required for long-term durability.
-
The Middle-Third Rule
The middle-third rule is a classic rule in masonry design. In this post we explain what this rule is, why it is associated with stability, and how it is derived, as well as its limitations.
-
Masonry: Always Moving
Gravity, aided by natural forces like freeze/thaw cycles, is always at work on a masonry structure either pushing it more firmly in place or pulling it apart. By working with these forces, better structures can be built.
-
Stepped Foundations
Building a good foundation is critical for long-term stability of a masonry structure. That said, it is often beneficial to change the depth of the foundation to accommodate sloping ground. In this post we investigate the topic.
-
Natural Bedding
The natural bed of a stone is the direction in which it was resting before it was quarried. A stone placed on its natural bed will tend to outlast one laid on end.
-
The Camp Quaker Haven Bridge: A New Cowley Stone Bridge Built the Old Way (Part 4)
We recently built a stone arch bridge at Camp Quaker Haven, a Christian retreat in Cowley County, Kansas. In this final post on this bridge, we describe how it was completed.
Stone Arch Bridges 