Types of Rock Finish:

Polished (pol)- smooth glossy finish
Steeled (stl) - smooth dull finish (grounded/dusted finish)
Sawed (swd) - straight off the saw, no clean up
Balance Rock Pitch (brp) - rough natural looking finish

pol 1 - polished face
pol 2 - polished face and back
pol 3 - polished face, back, and top
pol 5 - polished face, back, top, and ends
stl 1 - steeled face
stl 2 - steeled face and back
stl 3 - steeled face, back, and top
stl 5 - steeled face, back, top, and ends
pft - polished flat top
sft - steeled flat top
bs - bottom sawed
pbt - polished bevel top
psf - polished slant face
ste - straight ends

Types of Tops:

Serpentine - top in which the central curve is convex (usually 1" to 2" rise)
Oval - top of monument is rounded
Apex - top that comes to a point from back to front and side to side (pyramid top)
Ridge - top that comes to a crest from back to front and side to side
Gable - top that rises in the center (roof top)
Gothic - similar to the gable top but shoulders are rounded
Straight - top with no slope, tilt, or curvature

Types of Ends:

Straight - sides with no curvature
Concave - sides with an inward curvature
Convex - sides with an outward curvature
Taper - sides that gradually move outward from the top creating a larger bottom
Reverse Taper - sides that gradually move inward from the top creating a smaller bottom

Monument Terms:

Broke Out - a term used to describe a monument that is not fully complete
Chamfer - the sunken area on a base or bevel marker where lettering is placed
Check - an indention that is located around the edges of the monument (often 1" x 1")
Coping - stones that surround the grave area (usually 4" wide & 6" high)
Cornerpost - typically placed at two intersecting copings (corners of a grave area)
Dowel Holes - small holes used to secure two pieces together
Drop Wash - typically found around the top edge of a base or ledger (usually 4" wide & 1/2" drop)
Epitaph - an inscription on a tombstone honoring the deceased
Epoxy - an adhesive used to keep two or more monuments from sliding, shifting, or tilting over
Etching - process of placing a design on the monument by scratching the surface with a diamond tipped utensil
Facet - a flat polished or steeled surface cut around the border of a monument
Footstone - stone placed at the foot of a grave
Spot Joint(sawed inside)- a sawed portion on a monument that enables two pieces to rest snugly together
Margin - a border sawn around the top of a base, ledger, or bevel (usually about 1" to 2")
Member - term used to describe the amount of saw turns needed to create a speciific monument design (maximum length 1')
OGEE - common finish found around the edges of a ledger (four members)
Pedestal - commonly used to support a vase or column
Pencil rounds - polished or grounded round edges commonly found on markers
Rounds - steeled or polished round edge (one and a half members)
Scallop - a continuous series of circle segments made to form a border
Scotia - concave segment that usually located around the edges of a monument (one and a half members)
Wing - a monument which consist of two dies, base and usually a pedestal and/or vase

Sandblasting Terms:

Lithochrome (litho) - A white or black paint used to enhance the contrast between the lettering and stone(not permenant)
Flute - a sandblasted rounded groove commonly found on columns
Font- letter style (standard Modified Roman V-Sunk
Frosted Panel - Panel that is lightly sandblasted, creating a contrast between the panel and the surface of the monument.
Panel - area in which lettering is placed
Raised Letters - when stone around the letters are sandblasted, which leaves letters raised from the surrounding stone
Rubbing - used to transfer lettering and/or carving to paper so it can be used to replicate an existing monument
Sandblast - the use of high pressured sand to engrave letters or designs onto a stone
Stencil - a rubber pattern used to protect the area where lettering and/or carving is not needed during the sandblasting process (used as template)
V-Sunk - letters are sunken into the monument in the shape of a V