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Once upon a time, the words natural stone conjured up exlusive images of polished marble and granite. But thi is no longer true. The desire for a more relaxed and authentically aged appearance within the home has enticed the market to produce the variety of finished we see today. Thanks to the advent of these unique surface treatments, design possibilities have grown exponentially and finding that right look is as simple as can be. If you long to recreate the romance of a centuries old French chateaux, you can purchase a random patterned stone in a rustic finish, or if you prefer the contemporary flair of a soft, smooth limestone in your big city loft, you can purchase large square tiles at our online store.
The aesthetic perception of a given granite can
be significantly influenced by the type of surface treatment on
the finished product. In addition to altering the main aesthetic
characteristics such as color and pattern, the different surface
treatments alter the physical and mechanic properties of the stone
and its performance and functional characteristics. The most common
treatments used to finish the surface of granite are described below.
Image demonstrates how the look and texture of Emperador Brown marble with each new finish.
Tumbled
A tumbled finish is achieved by placing limestone, travertine, slate, or marble in a special "tumbling drum", along with aggregate, chemicals, or pebbles. These aggregates labor to create a wonderfully warn weathered effect by battering th eface of the tile as well as rounding and softening its edges.
Chiseled Edge
A chiseled edge is normally found on aged marble, travertine, and limestone. By the use of a chain braker or special drill bit, the edge of the tile is given a highly distressed appearance, while the surface remains honed and smooth.
Pillowed
This type of finish features a rounded tile edge, which gives it a cushioned or pillowed appearance. The effect can be subtle, reflecting a modest radius curve, or dramatic, featuring a deep radius depression.
Brushed
A coarse-wire rotary brush is passed over the face of a stone resulting in a texture that reflects a worn, satin-smooth finish.
Undulated/Wavy
An undulated finish re-creates the look of tile that has survived extreme elemental exposure and endured a thousand years of foot traffic.
Bush Hammered
A process by which a tile is battered by machine, leaving behing a rough dimpled surface.
Reclaimed
Original stone flooring that has been carefully removed from the existing homes, sreets, and shops of Old World countries.
Acid Washed
The prpocess of treating stone surface with acidic substances to give the tile an aged texture and appearance.
Polished
Polished granite surface is created by using abrasives and then polishing substances. This is a typical finish that is given togranite slabs which are to be used for fabrication of kitchen countertopsand other granite fabrications for interior decoration. Polishing
gives granite brightness and a mirror-like effect that intensifies granite colors and enhances the pattern. Polishing also reduces the porosity of the granite which increases granite's resistance to humidity and chemical substances commonly found in the kitchens. This is why polishing is the preferred surface treatment for kitchen countertops.
Honing
Honed surface is achieved by the use of abrasives
as well, but unlike polished granite honed granite has a smooth,
non-reflective surface. Honed granite is more porous than polished
granite and therefore it is not recommended for use on kitchen
countertops in heavily use kitchens. Honed granite may be used in
areas with less exposure to chemicals such as vanity tops or table
tops.
Flaming
Flaming consists of passing a nozzle emitting high-temperatures
and a high-speed flame over the granite surface. The surface of the
flamed granite becomes rugged and irregular with no sharp edges.
The colors of the flamed granite are usually less intense, more
toned down than the colors of polished granite. In veined granites
with a lot of movement and pattern, flaming reduces the perception
of veining as opposed to polishing, which intensifies the movement
in veined granite.
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