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Characteristics of good building stones
Short answer
Good building stones must have high crushing strength (≥3.5 N/mm²), low porosity (<5% water absorption), specific gravity ≥2.6, durability against weathering and acids, hardness, toughness, fire resistance, uniform colour, workability, and be free from cracks, cavities, and soft patches. They should be well-seasoned, economical, and locally available.
Write down the characteristics (requirements/selection criteria) of good building stones.
A good building stone should have the following characteristics.
- Strength: high crushing strength (not less than 3.5 N/mm² for ordinary work; granite is 100 N/mm² or more).
- Durability: resists weathering, frost and chemical attack.
- Hardness and toughness: good resistance to abrasion and impact, with a coefficient of hardness above 17 for road work.
- Porosity and water absorption: low, not more than 5% of its weight after 24 hours, otherwise frost and salts damage it.
- Specific gravity: at least 2.6, giving a dense, heavy stone.
- Fire resistance: should not crack or lose strength on heating. Granite is poor; sandstone is good.
- Appearance: uniform colour, fine texture, free from patches, and able to take a good polish.
- Workability: easy to dress and carve without much cost, while still being hard after dressing.
- Seasoning: the quarry sap should have evaporated, so that the stone becomes harder and stronger.
- Structure and soundness: free from cracks, cavities, veins, clay, soft patches, iron pyrites and flaws; a dull sound on striking shows defects.
- Cost and availability: should be economical and available near the site.
- Resistance to acids: should not contain soluble or acid-attacked constituents such as carbonates and sulphates when used in polluted environments.
✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)
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