HIGH GLOSS POLISHED MARBLE

• High Gloss Polished surfaces have a very smooth, highly reflective, mirror finish achieved by using diamond abrasive pads and polishing compounds
• Polishing is usually carried out on marble, limestone, onyx and travertine kitchen benchtops, bathroom vanities, tables, showers, floors and foyers
• Polishing accentuates the natural grain the stone and makes the colours more vibrant

SEMI-GLOSS HONED MARBLE

• Semi-Gloss Honed surfaces have a very smooth, silky, low sheen appearance and are not as shiny as a high-gloss finish and not as dull as a matt honed finish
• This surface is still quite porous and susceptible to staining and requires a penetrating sealer for protection
• It is a common finish on marble, limestone and travertine floors, kitchen benchtops and bathroom vanities

MATT HONED TRAVERTINE

• Matt Honed surfaces have a smooth, dull appearance
• They can be quite porous and need to be sealed with a penetrating sealer
• Floor areas prone to high traffic will often have a honed surface
• The colour of a honed surface is not quite as bright as a highly polished surface
• It has a soft appearance and doesn’t show marks and flaws like a highly polished surface

BUSH HAMMERED STONE

• Bush hammered surfaces are rough and dimpled and have a naturally weathered look
• This effect is achieved by beating the natural stone with a mechanical implement like a hammer with teeth
• It can aid in making a surface more slip resistant and is often applied to outdoor surfaces such as paving, steps or walls
• It can be carried out on any stone however it is more commonly applied to granite

SANDBLASTED STONE

• Sandblasted surfaces have a dull, matt and irregular appearance
• Sand or other gritty material is sprayed onto the surface of the stone using a high pressure hose or spraying device
• The roughness of the finished product depends on the size of the grit used
• This process is often applied to sandstone in outdoor areas to give a slightly textured look and provide some slip resistance

FLAMED STONE

• Flamed surfaces have a rustic look and texture that is not rough but not quite smooth
• The look is between that of a bush hammered and a sandblasted surface.  It is achieved by applying extreme heat to the natural stone
• A textured surface is created when a flame is passed over the stone causing the crystals in the stone to burst
• This is often applied to granite in outdoor areas to create a non-slip finish

RUBBED STONE

• Rubbed surfaces have a smooth, shiny finish similar to polished
• This finish is created when the surface of the stone is rubbed either by hand or with a machine by a softer stone in conjunction with sand and water
• The longer they are rubbed the glossier they become
• The most common rubbed stones are sandstone, limestone, marble and granite

ACID WASHED STONE

• Acid washed surfaces can have a weathered, slightly corroded look or a mildly antique look, depending on the chemicals used, how long they are left on the stone and the type of stone being treated
• A rugged effect can be achieved by leaving acid on the surface for longer and by using a stronger solution
• Acid washing is often used on floors, walls and paving

UNFILLED & FILLED STONE

• Unfilled surfaces expose the natural holes formed underground in stones such as travertine
• Often used for floors and tables, travertine can remain unfilled to retain its unique flaws
• It is sometimes left in this state when used on exterior cladding to give a natural look
• Filled holes have resins and colour pigments added which then allows the stone to be polished to a high shine enabling easier cleaning
• This treatment is common on travertine floors

SAW CUT STONE

• Saw cut surfaces show the parallel saw marks on the surface of the stone and also expose the grain in the stone
• A gang saw is usually used to cut across the surface of the stone
• It is then roughly polished to give a more rugged look, rough and irregular look
• Areas where this effect would be used includes paving around pools, pathways, steps and driveways

ANTIQUED STONE

• Antique surfaces (also known as antik) are rough and worn looking
• They are created by first flaming the surface of the stone then brushing it with abrasives using either hand or mechanical brushes
• This causes the stone to take on a vintage look to suit the design of heritage buildings or homes requiring a rustic look
• Stone tiles often seen with this finish include granite, limestone and travertine

BRUSHED STONE

• Brushed surfaces are rough and textured and give the stone a rustic, worn look
• They are achieved by using a mechanical, wire brush tool to scrap the soft surface of the stone
• It is a similar look to antique however the surface of the stone is not flamed so it doesn’t have the aged appearance
• Brushed surfaces are usually seen on sandstone or granite pavers or stone requiring slip resistance