Masons perform this technique on historic or heavily weathered stone blocks to restore their original appearance and structural integrity. By carefully tooling, scraping, or grinding away the degraded outer layer, the sound, unweathered stone beneath is revealed. It requires careful handling to avoid removing too much material and compromising the block's dimensions.
Heard on the job
We'll need to regrate the ashlar blocks on the south elevation before we can begin the restoration work.