When designing a building, structural design aesthetics are crucial. Using multiple types of stone finish for an application can be purposeful in various scenarios. You can change the mood, harmonise themes and motifs, and even induce practicality into different scenarios. This blog will go over the many types of stone finishes available and how to incorporate natural stones into your projects.
Natural stone's surface can be treated in a variety of ways. It is critical to select natural stone finishes appropriate for the intended application. Finishing of stones can be done for indoor and exterior purposes using various methods and mechanical processes. The following are the most common stone finishes:
9 Types of Stone Finish That You Should Know About
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Natural
The absence of treatment is essentially the natural finish. Once cut into the desired format, the stone is sold as it was extracted from the quarry. The final appearance is determined by the quality of the rock and its intended use. You can generally find a natural finish on cladding and cobblestones.
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Polished
Abrasive treatments are used to polish stones repeatedly. This method creates a gleaming surface with nearly no porosity while increasing resistance. Polishing highlights the natural stone's colour and qualities. Polished stones can be used on interior floors, as wall coverings and could also serve as benchtops and kitchen counters. Because it reduces slide resistance, it is not recommended for outdoor paving.
Bush Hammered
The appearance of stone that has been bush-hammered is exceedingly textured, imitating a naturally rough texture. To achieve a bush hammered finish, the stone's surface is beaten with a masonry tool until it breaks up sufficiently to create deep pockets and ridges. This kind of finish is ideal for stones that are intended to be used outdoors.
Brushed
You can use a brushed finish to achieve a distinct textured look. The stone's texture is soft to the touch, giving it a casual, worn appearance. In some cases, you can mix a brushed finish with other surface textures for stones. It will smooth out the nooks and crevices within the stone when paired with a sandblasted or flamed finish. The stone will feel softer underfoot and appear more antique, as if it has been walked on for centuries.
Tumbled
This is a similar ageing procedure to that used to obtain an antique finish. Natural stone is put in a vibrating drum-like machine with smaller, more durable finishing stones that wear the tile. A tumbled finish creates soft surfaces and edges while simulating ageing. These stones are perfect for indoor as well as outdoor use.
Sandblasted
This finish is akin to bush-hammered. An air gun is used to repeatedly blast silica sand against the material to obtain the desired result. The sandblasted treatment creates tiny craters that accentuate the stone's colour. This finish is often done on reclaimed rocks as it removes the dirt and other undesired particles from the surface.
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Honed
A honed surface finish is commonly done on Limestone and other sedimentary rocks. It creates a level of finish that is less than polished, resulting in a smooth but muted surface. You can achieve a honed finish by using an abrasive to bring out the reflection of the stone, creating a
stunning smooth surface.
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Flamed
Surface texture is created by exposing the stone's surface to a high-temperature flame. Heat causes the crystals to burst when they are exposed to thermal shock. It is especially evident in materials made of minerals with different expansion coefficients. The resulting surface is hard, non-slip, and faded in hue, effectively concealing flaws and tone variances.
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Chiseled
The stone is carefully struck with a hammer and chisel to achieve this finish. This can result in a very rough surface or a somewhat irregular finish. The final outcome will depend on the type of chisel used and the skill level of the person using it.
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How to Choose the Right Stone Finish for Your Application?
When choosing a natural stone finish, it is crucial to keep practicality in mind. If you want to accentuate a natural stone's brilliant colour or unique veining, a polished finish is a good choice because it will highlight the stone's best attributes. For example, if the client desires polished marble in a children's bathroom, you can suggest they reconsider and opt for something with a non-slip, more texturised surface. You may have the classic marble aesthetic while keeping the bathroom safe, kid-friendly, and slip-resistant by choosing a honed or brushed finish.
You can add essential design aspects to a brushed stone finish to change the look and feel of the stone. Natural cleft, flamed, or sandblasted finishes are typically utilised for flooring and are best used in areas with a lot of foot traffic, such as a pool patio or deck area.
When it comes to choosing a finish and stone type for countertops, there is more leeway. A polished or honed stone finish is easy to clean and can be effectively utilised for countertops. Because of the rough texture, You should avoid a strictly flamed finish on counters. This might make cleaning difficult and may rip a sponge apart.
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Conclusion
When choosing the best stone finishes, it is important to know the advantages and disadvantages of each finish style. You should strike a balance between what is practical and what will make the design spectacular. The design will speak for itself once you have found that sweet spot.
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