Finishing Natural Stone in Various Ways
As you research your own stone counter top selection, no doubt you’ll be discovering the different types of stone that are available and the color choices that you can select. Yet, a stone’s appearance may well also be impacted by what kind of finish it has. This article will look at a number of stone finishes that are seen in the stone industry.
In this post, I am going to review some industry terms that are a factor in the wide range of stone finishes which are found in homes all over.
The first element of stone finishes that we are going to talk a little about is the routine that is used to cut the stone. Then I will talk a little about the various treatments affecting the stone’s finish.
Cut Impacts Stone Surfaces
The way a stone is cut leaves a distinctive pattern on that stone’s surface. The pattern might be visual and then be treated afterward, or it may be textured with the cut itself. Three cuts we’ll look at are:
- Split Face
- Fleuri Cut (A.K.A. Cross Cut)
- Vein Cut
Let’s visit these 3 briefly.
Stone Finishes – Split Face
The split face finish is a really rustic look and it has texture. It is often produced by hand or by way of a machine, but in any case, it features a simple rough face and appears primitive, yet appealing. The split face finish seems like it merely came out of the quarry. This finish is commonly useful for cladding.
Stone Finishing – Cross Cut or Fleuri Cut
The Fleuri Cut is really noticeable and easily identifiable once you understand what it really is like. This kind of cut makes markings on the face of your stone which follow a ringed pattern rather than a linear pattern. This cut can be used for travertine as well as other limestone to highlight color variations within a pattern that is less uniform compared to others.
Vein Cut Displays Banding
The Vein Cut makes a much different pattern from the Fleuri Cut and offers a particular feel and look. It is the opposite of cross cutting the stone and entails cutting the stone in a way that the resulting patternis more linear much less wavy in character.
Stone Treatments Modify the Finish
We took a look at how the method used to cut a stone plays a part in its finish. Let me continue the discussion of stone finishes by reviewing stone treatments and why they play a role in the overall finish of a stone counter tops.
Stone Treatments Which Affect the Stone’s Finish
There are a variety of treatments that may well affect how the stone looks whenever it’s completed. I am going to briefly summarize the following treatments:
- Polished
- Honed
- Flamed
- Sandblasted
- Leather
- Honed
Marble With Honed Treatment
A honed finish lacks the reflective shininess that would be the result of a polished stone. However, attaining the result is accomplished with grinding and sanding – the same process as polishing. Therefore, the feel of honed marble is satin-like and it has more of a velvety feel to the touch. As a result, this specific finish is fantastic for high traffic area and is relatively low maintenance. Honed finishes are rather scratch resistant.
Sandblasted Stone Treatment
A sandblasted stone has a rough finish. The stone is blasted with sand by using a high pressure tool until the process produces this finish. Though the finish is rough, you’ll find it looks tidy.
Polished Stone Treatments
To get a polished finish, stone polishing tools are utilized to grind, buff, and sand the surface of the stone. The stone professional continues the treatment up until the desired look is achieved. Hence, the stone can be treated until it reaches a higher gloss. The treatment might be performed to varying degrees. If enough patience is exercised, the professional will even end up having a mirror-like finish.
Stone Treatments – Flaming
A flamed surface is one which has been in contact with a flame. The flaming process burns much of the carbon content inside the stone. Additionally, the flame also gently discolors textured quartzites. Hence, the result is a very distinct look on the surface of the stone.