honed finish

  • Granite Finishes

    Granite Finishes

    Granite is most popular for kitchen and bathroom countertops. Granitecan be finished with different textures and sheens, each of which has its own specifics.Most granite is very hard and does not scratch or stain easily and repairs well. Granite finishes include polish, honed, flamed and leathered.

    Polished Finish

    Polished granite finish is created when the stone is buffed with the help of fine polishing pads, giving the surface a glossy, reflective appearance. Polished granite has a glossy, mirror like shine that reflects light well. There are many hues, including shades of gold, black, white (great substitute for white marble in a kitchen), and gray.

    Honed Finish

    Honed granite finish is created as polishing process ends before buffing to create a matte or low-gloss sheen that lacks the highly reflective, mirror like look of polished granite. The surface is very smooth and velvety to the touch but lacks the shine and the high degree of reflection characteristic of a polished finish. 

    Flamed Finish

    Flamed granite is a smooth but dull appearance. A honed finish refers to any level that is less than polished and therefore encompasses many levels of dullness. Flamed finish is produced when an intense flame is fired at the stone, causing the surface to burst and become rough.

    Leathered Finish

    Leathered granite surface usually has a soft sheen to it, but is much less shiny than the glossy look of a polished slab. Leathered granite hides fingerprints, water spots and smudges well. A leathered finish is most often used for countertops, vanities and outdoor applications.

  • Limestone Finishes

    Limestone Finishes

    Polished Finish

    Polished limestone is a popular option for floors, fireplaces, bathroom and kitchen countertops. There should be caution with acidic foods and use of some house hold cleaners as they may cause etch damage.

    Honed Finish

    Honed limestone has a soft texture in a matte/satin finish and is a low sheen. Honed limestone wears well and doesn’t show acid etch and scratch damage as polished limestone and repairs well.

  • Marble Finishes

    Marble Finishes

    Polished Finish

    Polished marble is a popular option for floors, fireplaces, bathroom and kitchen countertops. There should be caution with acidic foods and use of some house hold cleaners as they may cause etch mark damage.

    Honed Finish

    Honed marble has a soft texture in a matte to satin finish and is of low sheen. Honed marble wears well and doesn’t show acid etch marks and scratch damage as polished marble does and repairs well.

  • Marble In The Kitchen

    Marble in the Kitchen

    Polished marble is a great natural stone for kitchens as long as you know the correct way to maintain your investment. While granite would be more durable in a kitchen setting there are some choices in finishes of marble.

    You see kitchen design magazines that show beautiful polished marble on countertops and floors.
    Some customers will insist to the builder, remodeling company, or natural stone fabricator this is what they want because they have seen this elsewhere and or it came recommended for the look they want.

    Many people get marble because they are looking for a white stone. There are several white granite that can be used as an alternative to marble.

    Polished marble, travertine and limestone can dull from foods and beverages that are acidic. There are many of our foods and beverages that contain acids which will etch or burn the stone’s finish, requiring periodic restoration if precautions are not taken.

    Unless you are very cautious about spills or don't mind calling a natural stone restoration professional when the finish needs to repaired, consider another stone such as granite or a different finish other than polished marble, travertine or limestone. There are alternatives in the finish of these stones that require less maintenance, affording the homeowner to have the stone of their choice.

    Hone and Antique Finishes

    Marble, travertine and limestone can have a honed finish that has less of a shine or no shine at all and may be easier to care for because the etch and scratch damage of the stone is less apparent and is more maintainable by the home owner. Honed finished natural stone may be sold by the manufacturer or preformed on site if in the polished state by a natural stone restoration specialist.

    There is another finish called "Antiqued" that may perform in a kitchen or other areas very well with these natural stones and can even be of a matte finish to a polished finish that is easier to maintain. This unique finish gives the stone texture and is very forgiving.

    Antiquing marble, limestone and travertine can be an 'old world' or a modern look depending on the sheen desired.

     

  • Slate

    Slate 

    Slate is a natural stone flooring material that is quarried from out of the earth, usually from mountains. Slate is a metamorphic rock, which simply means that it is formed over long periods of time out of other existing rock types. These minerals and sediments include quartz, mica, muscovite, calcite, and often biotite, chlorite, hematite, and pyrite, with occasional instances of apatite, graphite, kaolinite (the main mineral in ceramic clay), magnetite, zircon, and feldspar. These are all then compressed over long periods of time by heat and pressure until they bond into a homogenous, finely grained stone, which we know as slate. Slate is a durable, finely foliated, and brittle stone, which comes in a wide range of colors, depending on the location and minerals of the slate in question. It is often black, dark green, and gray, but can also include instances of red, purple, gold, and blue. Slate is quarried in large slabs, which are then cleaved, parallel to the foliation, into tiles of generally uniform size. Slate is quarried around the world as well as domestically, but is mainly manufactured in Asia. 

    Slate is probably the most common natural stone in general use as tiles for flooring, showers, roof shingles, walls and comes in polished, honed, tumbled and chisel edged finishes. Slate wears well should be sealed to protect from stains and freeze and thaw damage if used outside in colder climates.

  • Travertine Finishes

    What is Travertine?

    Travertine is a metamorphic rock formed in limestone caves or hot springs, is often recognizable by the naturally occurring pits and holes throughout its body caused by carbon dioxide evasion. Though technically a type of limestone that has been impacted by additional heat and pressure from the earth.

    The color of travertine, which falls into the warm neutral range, is influenced by the amount of iron and other organic impurities found within the earth's crust where particular slabs are mined. On the lighter side, travertine showcases ivory and beige though it can be more golden or even dark brown.      

     

    Travertine Finishes

     Honed Finish

    Honed travertine has a smooth and soft textured finish that can range from a matte/satin to a high sheen that is achieved by grinding one side of the unfinished stone.

    Tumbled Finish

    Tumbled travertine is a process where many pieces of stone that have been cut to the same size are placed in a rubber coated or plastic barrel with an abrasive grit and water. The items are packed in such a way that the pieces rub against each other with the grit between them.

    Depending on the finish desired, this process can take 3-5 weeks and three or more steps using different types of grit.

    Brushed Finish

    Brushed travertine finish is obtained by brushing the surface of the stone with a rotary wire wheel or brush until the desired texture is achieved. Brushed stone is often unfilled and not as common as honed or tumbled stone. 

    Polished Finish

    Polished travertine finish is acquired much the same way as a honed finish. In most cases polished stone has been filled. Polished travertine has a smooth texture and a gloss or semi-gloss finish that can sometimes be reflective.

    Saw Cut Finish

    Saw cut edge travertine has a finish that ranges from smooth to rough based on the quality of the stone, type of stone and type of blade used to cut the stone. It is a popular finish for pavers, but can be found in other sizes for use inside and out.

    Chiseled Edge Finish

    Chiseled edge travertine has a rough irregular edge instead of the straight or beveled edge that most other cuts of stone would have. The chiseled edge is intended to give the stone an aged or weathered appearance.

     

    Popular Travertine Finishes

    Polished Finish 

    Polished travertine is a popular option for floors, fireplaces, bathroom and kitchen countertops. There should be caution with acidic foods and use of some house hold cleaners as they may cause etch damage.

    Honed Finish

    Honed travertine has a soft texture in a matte-satin finish and is a low sheen. Honed travertine wears well and doesn’t show acid etch and scratch damage as polished travertine.