Natural stone is a durable and timeless material widely used in landscaping and masonry projects. Whether for steps, stone walls, edgings, or facings, it offers great resistance and a unique aesthetic. Before being transformed into products for construction or landscaping, the stone is first extracted directly from the quarry in the form of raw blocks. Understanding the natural structure of these blocks helps to better grasp the different stone formats used in projects.
Dimensions and faces of the stone
In landscaping elements, the indicated dimensions generally correspond to the measurements of the stone once installed on the ground. This refers to length, width, and thickness. Depending on the use, different faces can be visible, including the surface (top), the sides or ends, as well as the underside. In masonry works, certain faces also have specific functions, such as the bedding face (bottom of the stone) and the receiving bed (top of the stone), which contribute to the stability of the structure. Visible faces can have different finishes depending on the type of product and the desired effect: they can be natural (split), guillotined, or sawn.
Raw block extracted from the quarry
Raw blocks are extracted directly from the quarry. Two main elements allow identifying the different faces of the stone.
The top of the bed (or natural top) corresponds to the natural surface of the stone that was exposed to the elements in its geological environment. This surface generally has a relatively uniform and smooth texture. In landscaping projects, this face often becomes the visible surface as it offers good durability.
On the sides of the block, one can observe the different natural layers of the stone, called stratification. When the stone is blasted or guillotined, this creates what is called a split face. This surface reveals the natural structure of the stone and exposes its rougher, more textured appearance.
The jumper (Ducharme quarry's term)
The jumper is one of the most used stone formats in landscaping. When installed on the ground, the visible surface is the top of the bed. This orientation is very common for elements such as natural steps, garden stepping stones, edgings, or paved surfaces. The top of the bed offers a relatively smooth surface with a uniform finish, ideal for traffic areas.
The jumper can also be installed on a wall. In this case, the top of the bed is the exposed face.
The batten
The batten is a stone format primarily used in masonry work. Unlike the jumper, when a batten is installed on a wall, the visible face is generally the split face. This exposes the stratification. Battens are therefore often used for natural stone walls, masonry often referred to as "cut stone."
