Stone 101
Stone 101

Bullnose
Convex rounding of a stone member, such as a stair tread. A convex, semicircular molding formed on the end of a piece of stone, usually bluestone, travertine, or granite.

Rock Face
Rock Face stone is hand-chipped around the perimeter to produce a bold, convex projection along its face. This finish creates a more massive appearance than split face. Detail character ranges from low to high for fine grain through coarse grain stones, respectively.

Tumbled
The process of rounding or softening the edges of a piece of stone and its face to provide a smoother, more rustic appearance. Commonly tumbled stone includes pavers, wall stone, and cobblestones.

Natural Cleft
Generally pertains to stones that are formed in layers in the ground. When such stones are cleaved or separated along a natural bedding plane, the remaining surface is referred to as a natural cleft.