Heavy Textures
- Split face - Rough surface texture, very rustic.
- Saw-out - rough saw finish, saw marks visible.
- Flamed - damp stone intentionally spalled with acetylene torch.
- Sandblasted - Pitted, roughness depends upon grit used.
Heavy textures are most utilized for rustic design needs and for slip resistance. Most will benefit from treatment with repellents.
Smooth Textures
- Honed - Smooth to the touch but not reflective
- Polished - Mirror finish, achieved in the same manner as polishing lenses (abrasive process).
Honed flooring surfaces do not show wear damage as dramatically as polished surfaces do, and therefore, are more economically maintained than polished surfaces. Polished surfaces are ideally suited to low-abrasive areas and, historically, are best utilized as vertical surfaces. If polished surfaces are used as flooring, restoration-type processes become a normal part of regular maintenance.
Kitchen Areas
Kitchen areas are hostile environments. Stone used in the kitchen should be as impervious as possible. Hardness, low absorption and easy wipe-ability are primary physical characteristics necessary for long life and utility. Granite fits this requirement perfectly. Cleaning granite counters is simple. We recommend hot water, "Soft Scrub" and if needed, a "Scotch-bright" cleaning pad. Additional applications of sealant are recommended every other year, or, when water fails to bead on contact with the stone.
The use of honed marble or limestone is suggested for a European look and a consummate use of stone in your kitchen. Honed stone is a natural finish (no shine). It is not impervious to the elements of such a hostile environment as your kitchen. It is however, user friendly. With no finish to damage, honed surfaces may be scrubbed with abrasives, scouring pads, cleanser, bleach and all soaps. Harsh scrubbing adds to a natural wear of the stone. To an extent, fine grit sandpaper (220 or above) may be used in extreme situations such as removing extended staining caused by oils, wine and acidic fruit and vegetable staining.
Bath Areas
Stone inside showers and around tub areas should be smooth. Polished surfaces require special care in wet areas. Think of stone installations in the bath area as you would a plumbing fixture - you want a smooth, easily wiped surface that is easy to sanitize and requires no special effort.
Hard water deposits can be very damaging to natural stone, especially one with a polished surface. Chemical cleaners should be carefully evaluated prior to using for compatibility with the stone.
Exterior Areas
Exterior stone will weather sooner or later so expect some cosmetic changes over time. Polished surfaces show cosmetic changes rapidly in most exterior applications. Acid rain and pollution will attack natural stones - some more readily than others. Carbonate based stones are most sensitive; siliceous stone less sensitive as a rule.
The most economical stone surface to maintain is the one that does not show cosmetic changes during normal use. On stone floors this means a honed surface since foot traffic tends to abrade a grit approximating 120-220 grit. Polished stone surfaces are very stable cosmetically if they are not subjected to abrasion and chemical attack. Non-polished surfaces are more practical in areas that are expected to be abraded, especially in high-traffic areas. Match the stone finish to the intended
function and abrasion level if you desire low maintenance costs.
There are situations where the design considerations will outweigh the need for low maintenance costs. And in these situations, the cost of restoration processes in addition to normal cleaning need to be evaluated .
