Product Knowledge
We supply various different Natural Stones: Marble, Limestone, Travertine, Slate, Quartzite, Sandstone, Onyx, etc. Natural Stones are products of Mother Nature. They are quarried from the earth’s crust. They are not man-made, so each piece is unique in its own way. They cannot be manufactured. They can, however, be processed and shaped into various forms, sizes, and finishes.All descriptions, images (in both print and on the internet), and samples of our Goods are only for the purpose of giving an approximate representation of the Goods.
FINISHES TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING NATURAL STONE:
You must acknowledge that the Goods are natural, and geological variations will occur in terms of color, marking, texture, and size between consignments, which are beyond our control. We advise you to view as many of the Goods as possible before purchasing. You should be aware that all of the Goods are porous to some degree and should be sealed. Some may be easily scratched and/or be subject to natural pitting/chipping.
Polished – made smooth and glossy with a high degree of shine. Polished is the smoothest finish on stone and typically used only on harder, denser stones. The fullest character and color comes through on polished products. Normally used in interiors, as it can be slippery when wet, polished has more of a dramatic elegant or contemporary look, with a feeling of cleanliness because of the high shine.
It is residentially used in all areas of the house . Commercial applications include main areas such as hotel and condo lobbies, entrances to high-end buildings like casinos, banks, auditoriums, museums, cathedrals, churches, temples, courthouses, and other government buildings. It’s also used on vertical surfaces inside or outdoors. Polished stone requires more upkeep and maintenance to maintain its shine. Not recommended on pedestrian walkways as an exterior product.
Honed/Hone – very smooth satin finish but not shiny. Has a flat, smooth look and does not reflect light like polished marble. Requires less care than polished stones as it will not show as much scratching of the surface. It is also less slippery. Applications are the same as polished stone but with better wear ability and can sometimes be used exteriorly depending on the stone itself.
Sandblasted – a machine is used to apply a high pressure “blast” of sand to the stone, etching its surface. The texture is very similar to that of a concrete sidewalk. Sandblasted stone can be used anywhere. It is highly slip resistant and very durable, making it ideal in wet areas such as pool decks, steps, and common areas.
Saw Cut – stone that is cut with a diamond blade. A semi-smooth finish that is slightly rougher than honed, yet smoother than sandblasted. Depending on the stone type, the blade will leave slightly to highly visible saw marks on the stone, sometimes requiring the stone be sanded to make it smoother. Can be used normally in all applications.
Acid Washed – liquid acidic rinsing to the surface of the stone. This will slightly to moderately etch the stone according to the acid percentages in the rinse, typically a mixture of muriatic acid and water, and the type of stone. This is done to take the shine of polished stones down to a honed finish.
It also can sometimes make the stone more slip resistant. Acid washing tends to enhance the stone’s color and character. Can be used for interior and exterior use, depending on the stone and the type of acid washing.
Tumbled – this is a very popular process of rounding and chipping the edges of the stone in an irregular format once it has been cut down to its desired size. This is done in a mixer or other container while the stones themselves rub, knock, and beat against each other. This process gives the appearance of a classical, ancient, old world look. Tumbled stone is widely used indoors and outdoors.
Cobbled Stone – chiseled edges and brushed finish. The edges of the stone are either hand or machine chipped, splintered, or slightly fractured. Then the stone is brushed with a coarse wire brush, smoothing out the rough spots on the surface and the edges, enhancing the color of the stone.
Chiseled Edge – the edges of the stone are either hand or machine chipped, splintered, or slightly fractured. The stone is similar to tumbled, but the edges are not as rounded. Sometimes the stones are brushed or acid washed after the chiseling.
Antiqued – chiseled edge, sandblasted, then acid washed. This finish is an old world, reclaimed stone look. The stone resembles stone that has been reclaimed from the roads, walkways, and courtyards of Europe, Jerusalem, and ancient cities.
Bush Hammered – a mechanical process that dimples the surface of the stone, making it very non-slip. The finish is one step rougher than sandblasting. This treatment can be use anywhere from exterior to interior.
Brushed – brushing of the stone with a coarse wire brush. This technique smoothes out the rough spots on the surface and also enhances the color and character. It can put a slightly shiny finish to the stone. Depending on the brushing and the type of stone, it can also be used outdoors.
Fine Chiseled – small, irregular chips are put onto the surface of the stone. This is one step rougher than bush hammered. It can be used vertically or in flat walking areas, but it is typically not used in interiors except on walls.
Heavy Chiseled – called heavy chiseled because it’s the most pronounced, roughest surface finish. It has larger, deeper chips to the surface, similar to those that are dug out of the stone. Mostly used on interior or exterior vertical walls or buildings.
Flamed – a process of applying very high temperatures to the surface of the stone using a commercial blow torch. Although a similar finish to bush hammering, which puts dimples on the surface, flaming takes chips or scales out of the surface. The high heat makes the stone surface scales pop away from the stone. This finish is very durable and very non-slip. Its applications are anywhere vertical or flat.
