Natural Stone Finishes

Stone remains as popular as it is because of the diversities in terms of surface finishes. The finish can determine whether the stone looks aged and rustic, or sleek and sharp. Texture can also be added to the stone for aesthetic or practical purposes. Please see the list of finishes below: 

 

Brushed - The stone is conditioned with a wire brush to create a consistent textured finish. This type of finish will typically have straight, sharp edges. 

 

Honed - Abrasives are applied to the tile to make it smooth, with no visible grooves. The surface may have a sheen to it, or may be matte, depending on the density of the stone.The edges are cut precisely making them straight and uniform. 

 

Etched - Machine’s will sand-blast the stone in order to give it texture. This texture can provide more grip, so may be used in area’s where there is a chance of slipping. Sand blasting will also lighten the appearance of the stone as it takes off the initial top layer. The edges will be straight and uniform. 

 

Tumbled - A tile with a tumbled finish will have soft, worn edges. This finish is used to replicate light aging. A tumbled tile will be mostly smooth, but will have a slightly grained surface. 

 

Seasoned - A seasoned stone will have heavily worn edges to replicate prolonged aging. The surface of the stone will be heavily textured, and may have grooves and undulations. 

 

Pillowed - The stone will have a smooth, flat surface. The edges will be straight, but will be rounded off to create a pillowed effect. 

 

Riven - Typically found on slate, this effect refers to the process of splitting the stone along its natural cleavage plane. The present layers will create texture on the surface of the stone, similar to ripples in the water. Riven stones can be left with fettered edges or can be cut straight. 

 

Satino - The tiles are first cut with straight edges, and are then flamed. After, they will be brushed to create texture on the surface of the stone. 

 

Velvet - Similar to an etched finish, the stone is sandblasted to give a bleached affect, and is then processed to give a tactile, velvety feel. This leave the stone with a smooth, but textured surface. 

 

Weathered - A very heavy tumble is applied to the stone to create fettered edges. This causes the stone to look naturally weathered, and leaves it with an open-grain surface.