Dry
Dry turns up in 2 fields: asphalt, building. Here is what it means to the people in each one.
Dry in asphalt
Describes mix short on binder: dull brown, harsh to rake and likely to ravel early.
Field description of mix with too little binder, or too many fines soaking it up. Dry mix looks brown or dusty instead of black, feels harsh under the lute, resists compaction and leaves an open surface that ravels within a few seasons. It has nothing to do with moisture: a dry load can come from a binder pump problem, a calibration error or a coarse shift in gradation.
"Mix looks dry and brown in the hopper, rakers can't close it up, call the plant and get a burn on that truck."
Dry in building
Constructed entirely by stacking stones or masonry units without the use of mortar.
This describes masonry work where structural stability relies entirely on gravity, friction, and the careful interlocking of the units. Builders carefully select and fit stones together to create load-bearing walls or retaining structures that drain water naturally. Because there is no binding agent, the skill lies in placing tie stones and managing the center of gravity.
"The specs call for a dry retaining wall along the driveway to handle the groundwater runoff."