Comfort, Convenience, and Individuality Created by Stone Finishing

Comfort, convenience and individuality can be created by different stone surface finishing. The surface of natural stone may be finished in a wide variety of ways. It is important to choose natural stone finishes suitable for an intended use.

Highlighting the Color and Characteristics

Each finish is used to highlight the color and characteristics of the stone. Using different techniques and mechanical processes, natural stone can be adapted to interior and exterior applications. These are the most popular natural stone finishes.

Grinding

For different stones there are different instructions before and during the process; and depending on the kind of stone, one must take special precautions in order not to damage the stone. One of these is filling of the pores and cracks of the stone with resin, cement, etc.

Resin Work

Often before the grinding phase, in order to increase the strength of stone and create a uniform-looking surface, a resin such as Epoxy, polyester or the new UV resin is used. The last resin, after being filled-in the stone, the stone must be put in a UV oven or before sunlight.

Honed Finishing

Honed finishes unlike polished finishes are not reflective. The honed finish is a satin smooth surface with little light reflection. This finish is often used on walking surfaces and other areas where heavy traffic would wear off a polished finish. Honed finishes are used in interior wall covering. It can also used on the exterior in warm environments, table tops, very light duty residential flooring, etc. A smooth matt to light shine surface finish. Created using different grades of abrasives under factory conditions, honed stone is the most commonly used and recommended internal floor finish.

Polishing

Polishing can be done only on crystallized stones. Polished finish doesn’t affect the porosity of the stone. The polished surface finish is quite popular as it enhances the color and markings of the material. A stone with a polished finish is very smooth and reflective. This type of finish is used in reception areas, where marble, granite and some harder limestones are laid.

The polishing of natural stone follows the same process as honing using finer abrasives. The degree of polish of the natural stone is determined by its mineral elements and texture and not all natural stones can be polished. Usually recommended for wall covering, polished stones are not usually recommended as stone flooring due to their low slip resistance value.

Leathering

In this process there is no limitation on the type of stone and all kinds of stones can be leathered. However, Travertine and marble stones are most often used, during which process the weaker parts are broken off and a surface of ups and downs is created.

Hammering

From the ancient times, the stones used in road-building were hammered by a tool looking like a mason’s hammer having metal nail-line protrusions and a wooden handle. By this method, the degree of slipperiness of the stone surface and the danger of sliding on the stone was thus reduced.

Weathering

The weathering or wind-erosion process in done after mining. The mined stone is hit by a hand-held sledgehammer so some thick layers get broken off the stone’s surface.

Serration

To serrate the stone is done by sandblasting, shot-blasting and flaming methods.

Tumbling

The aim of antiquing is to make the stone look old and antique. This process is used mostly on travertine stones, and the process is done by either of a chemical or mechanical method.

Comfort, Convenience, and Individuality

Ultimately, natural stone is the material taken from quarried mountains, from the Earth. There are many different types of natural stone: Sandstone, Limestone, Travertine, Marble Granite, and Basalt. Different types of natural stone and marble finishes contribute to the beauty of each project but also to the demands of comfort, convenience, and individuality.

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Sources

marble-e-market.com/stone-proces

cupastone.com/4-tips-glossary-natural-stone

globalstonepaving.co.uk/natural-stone-process/

www.ansiindia.com/stone-finishes