---
title: "Dressing of stones and methods"
subject: "Civil Engineering Materials"
chapter: 2
key: "semester_3/civil_engineering_materials:dressing-stone-methods"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/dressing-stone-methods
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Dressing of stones and methods

Civil Engineering Materials · Chapter 2: Building Stones

- Asked in: 2081 Chaitra (new course), 1+1 marks
- Video: [The Ultimate Stone Dressing Guide: All You Need to Know!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZQwHdM9SzM) — MFA Civil Engineering
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/dressing-stone-methods
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/chapter-2

## Question

What is dressing of stones and how can dressing of stones be done?

## Short answer

Dressing is cutting and shaping stone to size and finish. Methods include sawing, hammer dressing for rough finish, chiseling or punching for plane surfaces, boasting for evenness, rubbing and grinding for smooth polish, and carving for ornamental work, done with hand or machine tools.

## Answer

**Dressing of stones** is the process of cutting and shaping the quarried stone to the required size, shape and surface finish.

#### How it is done
1. **Sawing:** large blocks are cut with hand or machine saws.
2. **Hammer dressing:** the rough surface is removed with a hammer (quarry-faced or rock-faced finish).
3. **Chisel and punch:** stone is chiselled to a plane surface (chisel drafted, punched, furrowed or tooled finish).
4. **Boasting or bush hammering:** the surface is made even by a boaster or bush hammer.
5. **Rubbing, grinding and polishing:** machines with abrasive carborundum and polishing powder give a smooth glossy surface (marble, granite).
6. **Sunk and moulded finish:** carved by hand or machine for cornices and ornamental work.

Dressing is done at the quarry or the site using hand tools or machines.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which method gives a glossy surface to marble or granite?
   A. Rubbing, grinding and polishing with carborundum
   B. Hammer dressing
   C. Sawing only
   D. Punching
   Answer: A. Abrasives and polishing powder give smooth glossy finish. (Key point: Polishing)

2. Hammer dressing gives which finish?
   A. Mirror polished
   B. Quarry-faced or rock-faced
   C. Moulded
   D. Sunk
   Answer: B. A hammer removes rough surface leaving a rock-faced finish. (Key point: Hammer dressing)

3. Sunk and moulded finishes are used for:
   A. Foundation blocks
   B. Road metal
   C. Cornices and ornamental work
   D. Rubble walls
   Answer: C. They are carved by hand or machine for decorative work. (Key point: Moulded finish)

## Related in other subjects

- [Grinding wheel specification and selection](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fmanufacturing_and_production_processes%3Agrinding-wheel-designation-selection) — Manufacturing and Production Processes, chapter 8