“Explore the captivating textures of natural stone that enhance depth and dimension.”
Team Stone International
Surface finishes and textures for natural stones:
Quarried stone surface:
Natural stone’s charm lies in its distinctive appearance and texture that can be maintained by extracting its natural cleft surface. The stone’s natural beauty is accentuated by leaving the stone surface untouched, offering a truly authentic look to any project it is used in. Therefore, embracing the natural state of this material creates an opportunity to showcase its inherent beauty and create a truly stunning result.
Natural split or riven finish:
Some natural stone types have a remarkable ability to split into distinct layers. These layers can then be transformed into elegant tiles or slabs through a meticulous process. The result is a stunning riven finish highlighting the stone’s inherent beauty, providing a natural and unique appearance.
Processed stone surface:
All surfaces mentioned below are processed mechanically with the aid of machines and tools.
Planed or smoothed surface:
Achieving a polished and flawless stone surface requires smoothening. Using coarse abrasives, the surface is carefully smoothened in multiple stages until the desired level of smoothness is attained. The stone’s mineral composition may cause scratches and discolorations, but careful attention can overcome these. After installation, manual honing and polishing may be needed to achieve the perfect finish. Thus, a beautiful stone surface can be achieved with careful smoothening and attention to detail.
Honed surface:
Achieving a smooth and polished surface is a crucial aspect of any project. Honing plays a vital role in this process, ensuring the consistency is flawless and ready to take the following steps. Fillers can help mask minor imperfections, while colored epoxy is an option for darker shades. However, it’s essential to remember that using colored epoxy for surface color changes is not a permanent solution and may not yield the desired results over time. Taking a measured approach to achieving the perfect surface finish is always recommended.
Polished/Mirror Polished:
Achieving a highly reflective surface for polished and mirror-polished surfaces requires finer abrasive grains. The smoother and more reflective the surface, the smaller the grains used. It’s important to remember that slipping can be a concern in wet areas. Therefore, applying anti-slip chemicals to the surface of the floors is crucial to ensure the safety and security of those who walk on them.
Shot Blasted:
To achieve a smooth and leveled surface on natural stone, it’s vital to undergo the shot blasting process. Using steel or cast-iron shots as an abrasive removes any dirt or contaminants at a high velocity with the help of a compressor. The size and coarseness of the shots used in this process significantly determine the final texture and smoothness. Selecting the appropriate shots based on desired outcomes is essential for achieving the desired results.
Sand Blasted:
Using coarse-grained sand as an abrasive instead of steel shots, surfaces can be aesthetically pleasing and safe. This method provides a smoother, non-slippery finish that resembles the shot blasting of natural stone surfaces. With the added benefit of silica being substantially harder than steel shots, this technique is highly effective.
Thermal flamed finished:
As the processors subject the natural stone surfaces to very high temperatures, they transform remarkably, resulting in a stunning flamed finish. The surface becomes smooth with excellent friction, rendering it slip-resistant. Moreover, the process enhances the stone’s color, giving it a beautiful appearance. Flamed surfaces can intensify the hues, making them look even more refined while maintaining their non-slip properties.
Antique brushed finished:
Achieving an antique look on a natural stone surface is a meticulous process that requires abrasive brushes to achieve a brushed finish. Age brushing involves a combination of one or more of the processes like smoothening, honing, polishing, or flaming before we finally use the abrasive brushes. The result is a stunning and timeless piece that exudes elegance and sophistication.
Tumbled finish:
The industry tumbles natural stone using any of the two main methods depending on the size and type of natural stone. The first method involves placing small-sized tiles or pieces of stone in a centrifugal concrete mixing machine, typically used for road building. The process uses sand as an abrasive to gradually smoothen the surface and round the edges to render an antique look and feel. Thus, we receive a smooth surface that is no longer sharp or jagged.
One can use a different tumbling process for tumbling larger tiles or stones. The process involves placing the stone in a circular tank containing abrasive materials and agitating in different directions to achieve the desired level of rounding at the edges. This process can take longer than the centrifugal method, but it is often necessary for larger stones that cannot fit in a mixing machine.
In addition to creating a smooth and polished surface, tumbling natural stones can give them an antiquated look and feel. This makes them ideal for use in various settings, from outdoor landscaping to indoor décor. Whether you want to create a rustic, natural look or add texture and character to your space, tumbling natural stones are a great option.
Leather finish:
The industry uses different processes on the natural stones to render various textures and looks. One such finish is the leather finish, a three-dimensional textured surface with slight elevation to create a leathery appearance. The processing facility combines honing and abrasive brushes to achieve this result. In contrast, polished and honed surfaces are two-dimensional finishes that give stones a flatter look.
The beauty of the leather finish lies in its ability to provide a rustic charm that is perfect for outdoor projects. This finish adds character to stones and makes them stand out in any setting. Furthermore, the texture of the leather finish offers slip resistance, making it a functional choice for outdoor applications. If you’re looking to improve the visual appeal of your outdoor area or make it more functional, leather finish is a good option.
Lapatora finish:
Architects and designers specify the Lapatora finish, a popular texture that has its origins in Italy. The Italian Granite and Marble Industry developed this texture to enhance the aesthetic appeal of granite and marble. Achieving this unique texture involves two distinct stages: honing and texturizing. Firstly, we meticulously hone the stone’s surface to the desired smoothness level. Then, we subject it to a carefully controlled texturizing process using abrasives and brushes. This process creates a three-dimensional matte texture that adds depth and character to the stone’s appearance. This results in a beautifully textured and visually appealing surface that will impress.
Satin finish:
The processors subject honed surfaces to further processing with abrasive pads, resulting in a flat two-dimensional texture satin finish. The industry commonly uses this technique on granite surfaces in modern architecture to preserve the stone’s color and depth derived from its original honed surface. A smooth and sleek finish adds a touch of elegance and sophistication to any space.
Glacial Finish:
The Glacial Finish or Gletcherschliff surface is a sight to behold, with its stunning origins stemming from the German word Gletcher, meaning glacier. The artisans polish the natural contours to perfection, resulting in a highly reflective texture. Yet, the surface retains its original contours. The result is a surface that exudes elegance and sophistication, making it the perfect choice for those who appreciate the finer things in life. Therefore, the industry uses this finish mainly for monuments and murals.
Grooved textures:
Grooved textures are available in the following forms:
- Linen – Fine line grooving.
- Flute – Medium-sized channels.
- Scoop – Large-sized channels.
- Pyramid – Pointed texture having an effect of small pyramids on the surface.
We have also described natural stone color variations, natural stone formats and logistics in our other pages. Please remember to visit the linked pages.
We want to provide you with the best information about stone surface finishes and textures. However, we have limitations on how much we can describe to you. For us, it is only possible to discuss the options that we regularly handle in large volumes. We recommend that you purchase and refer to the ‘Manual of Natural Stone’ if you want to know about many more surfaces. It’s a great resource you can refer to whenever needed