Stone Work

Stonework is a major folk craft in Bhutan. Most of the built structures including dzongs, temples, farm houses, religious monuments and footpaths are built using stone. Stone masonry is a specialized professional skill which is in high demand in Bhutanese communities. Traditionally, Bhutanese houses would be built by a combination two experts: the head stone mason and the heap carpenter. Stone is generally extracted from surrounding areas although today there are commercial quarries which supply stones to the construction projects. Stones are broken down or cut into preferred shapes using metal tools such as hammer and chisel. They are then plastered with mud to be used for building walls. Stone slabs are used as tiles for floors.