"Like a sponge."

Although your stone may appear to be solid and impenetrable, wet stones are actually very much like a sponge saturated with water. When drying a stone in an oven for example, you will find that a hot, dry rock will appear damp again, after a period of time. This is because there is still moisture inside the stone. The moisture comes out of the stone the same way it comes out of a sponge, but reaching the surface much more slowly.

Stones must therefore be dried carefully to avoid splitting. Drying is a simple procedure which, when done with care, will ensure the long life of your stone.