Masonry Magazine December 2005 Page. 23
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ON NOV. 10, 2004, THE CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS INSTITUTE (CSI) released a major revision to the 2004 edition of Master Format™ that refined the definition of cast stone. It is now properly defined within the construction world as "cast stone masonry" under Division 04 72 00.
Cast stone is indeed a masonry product that provides architectural trim, ornamentation or functional features to buildings and other structures. The earliest known use of cast stone was in the year 1138. The product was first used extensively in London in the year 1900, and in the United States around 1920. The Cast Stone Institute was incorporated in 1927. Since the early 1920s, cast stone has earned widespread acceptance in the architectural community as a suitable replacement for many masonry materials and for all types of natural cut building stone.
It is made from fine and coarse aggregates such as limestone, marble, calcite, granite, quartz, natural sands, Portland cement, mineral oxide coloring pigments, chemical admixtures and water. Not surprising, then, cast stone is available in any color and can look like limestone, brownstone, bluestone, granite, slate, travertine or marble. It can match terra cotta or brick and makes a perfect substitute for brick shapes. The use of a high percentage of durable fine aggregate in cast stone creates a very smooth, consistent texture for the building elements being cast. Applications that use cast stone can range from the simplest windowsill to the most complicated classical architecture.
Cast Stone or Architectural Precast Concrete?
SINCE ASTM DEFINES cast stone as a type of architectural pre-cast concrete, the question was formerly too often asked: "What is the difference between cast stone and architectural precast concrete?" Once upon a time, all forms of ornamental precast concrete were made to fill the terms of architectural precast, precast stone, cast stone and other similar terminology, while masons usually performed the setting.
The Voice of the Mason Contractor
THOKNESS MUST BE
GREATER THAN HEIGHT
MORTAR OR
NON-SHRINK
GROUT
PERIMETER BAR
0
RECESSED
DOWEL HOLES
AT ENDS
THREADED
INSERT TO
RECEME
THREADED
CHOR
REBAR
December 2005
Masonry
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