The finish is the treatment given to the surface of the stone. The same marble or granite can look glossy, matt or rough depending on its finish, and the finish decides how slippery, how easy to clean and how hard-wearing the surface will be.
| Finish | Look and feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Polished | Glossy, mirror-like shine | Indoor floors, walls, worktops |
| Honed | Smooth, matt or satin | Bathrooms, kitchens, busy floors |
| Brushed | Soft texture, slightly worn | Floors with a natural look |
| Tumbled | Rounded edges, aged look | Patios, rustic floors |
| Flamed | Rough, non-slip texture | Outdoor paving and stairs |
| Sandblasted | Matt, finely rough | Outdoor floors and stairs |
| Bush-hammered | Dimpled texture | Paving, stairs, facades |
| Split face | Natural, rough-split face | Wall cladding, feature walls |
| Acid-washed | Aged, matt surface | Floors and walls with an antique look |
Polished
The surface is ground and buffed to a high gloss that brings out the colour and veining of the stone. It is the classic finish for indoor floors, walls and worktops, but it is slippery when wet, so it is not the right choice for outdoor floors or wet areas.
Honed
Ground smooth but left without shine, for a matt or satin surface. Honed stone shows fewer scratches and is less slippery than polished stone, which makes it practical for bathrooms, kitchens and busy floors.
Brushed
The surface is worked with abrasive brushes, giving a soft, slightly textured, worn-in look. It suits floors where a natural feel matters more than shine.
Tumbled
Pieces are tumbled with abrasives until edges round and the surface looks aged. It is popular for patios, pool surrounds and rustic floors.
Flamed
A high-temperature flame makes the surface crystals burst, leaving a rough, non-slip texture. It is most often used on granite, for outdoor paving, steps and pool surrounds.
Sandblasted
Sand blasted at high pressure gives a matt, finely rough surface with good grip, for outdoor floors and stairs.
Bush-hammered
The surface is struck with a toothed hammer, leaving a dimpled texture that is slip-resistant and hides wear well, for paving, stairs and facades.
Split face
The stone is split rather than cut, leaving its natural rough face. It is used for wall cladding and feature walls, where light and shadow play across the surface.
Acid-washed
The surface is treated with acid to give an aged, matt look. It suits floors and walls that should look antique.
Finishes we offer
Our Egyptian marble is available polished, unpolished, brushed, flamed, split face, honed, tumbled, bush-hammered and acid-washed. Our Egyptian granite is available polished, sandblasted and flamed. Ask us which finish suits your project.