dressedstone

Dressed stone refers to stone that has been worked by quarrying and shaping to produce smooth faces, true edges, and regular dimensions suitable for masonry. It is prepared stone intended for precise construction where the joints between blocks are concealed or minimized. Dressed stone contrasts with rough or rubble stone, which has not been worked to a uniform shape, and with fully precut masonry blocks that are ready for assembly.

The dressing process involves removing natural irregularities and trimming the stone to achieve straight faces and parallel or perpendicular edges. Traditional tools such as chisels and hammers are used, while modern practices employ saws, planers, and milling machines. Finishes can range from smooth, planed faces to textured surfaces produced by tooling or hammering.

In masonry, dressed stone is associated with ashlar construction, where uniformly cut stones are laid in regular rows. When all faces are dressed to a fine finish, the blocks form fine ashlar; if faces are smooth but edges are rusticated or weathered, the effect is a rusticated ashlar. Dressed stone is commonly used for facades, columns, lintels, and other architectural elements where precision and appearance are important.

Materials commonly dressed include limestone, sandstone, granite, and marble, though nearly any durable stone can be treated in this way. The choice of finish and size depends on structural requirements, climate, and stylistic goals. In archaeology and historic preservation, dressed stones help identify construction phases and techniques, and may indicate the intended permanence and status of a structure.

See also: ashlar masonry, rubble masonry, stone masonry, quarrying, stone finishing.