When it comes to running a construction business, it’s easy for contractors to look at technology to provide immediate solutions. That’s what drives so many to rush out and buy that latest greatest gadget without truly considering how they will benefit from and effectively utilize their fancy new purchase. But here is the hard truth: Technology does not solve problems; it’s merely a tool that can leverage a company’s strengths.

The discussion that follows is an expanded version of the talk presented by Ken Burn during the Building Science Insight program. Stone is said to represent the epitome of durability and since there is a reviving interest in the use of stone, particularly as a facade material, it seems appropriate to gather material pertaining to this technology and to present an update on historical development and some fundamentals of the use of stone on our new buildings. This presentation is of particular interest to designers, as it brings to the fore the little-known problems associated with the use of stone as a veneer.