Freeze-Thaw Damage in Natural Stone & How to Read Those ASTM Test Reports

Join us for our Final Fall Build Smarter Seminar with Foster Lyons, hosted at Gault Stone & Landscape Supplies in Westport!

4:30 PM – Networking

5:00 PM – Presentation

In this engaging in-person session, building scientist and industry expert Foster Lyons will share practical strategies to help you build smarter, safer, and more sustainably.

Enjoy a Stone Yard Sampler you won’t want to miss! Enjoy chicken, beef, and shrimp skewers alongside a refreshing cranberry wine cocktail as we wrap up the fall seminar series. This event will feature a white and red wine tasting with Foster.

Earn AIA Credit for Attending our Seminars

Attend any seminar and earn AIA credits for your professional development. A form and instructions will be provided at the event for you to complete and submit to receive credit.

Freeze-Thaw Damage in Natural Stone & How to Read Those ASTM Test Reports

Go beyond the simple “water expands when it freezes” explanation to understand how pore structure, moisture, temperature, and stone characteristics contribute to freeze-thaw damage. Learn how to interpret stone test reports and combine laboratory data with real-world conditions to make more informed decisions about exterior stone performance.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain how water, pore structure, temperature, and moisture conditions contribute to freeze-thaw damage in natural stone.
• Understand what common ASTM stone tests measure—and what their results do and do not tell you about field performance.
• Evaluate stone test reports by considering specimen preparation, conditioning, variability, failure criteria, and relevance to the intended application.
• Apply laboratory data alongside petrography, climate, drainage, drying potential, stone orientation, and detailing to better assess freeze-thaw suitability.

Interested in more Build Smarter events? Visit the Foster Lyons Seminar Series to see our fall lineup and mark your calendar!