Brushed finishes are created by gently brushing the granite’s surface which develops a worn-in look throughout the stone. Stones can be sawn and brushed, bush hammered and brushed & flamed and brushed. This finish can give your countertops a more dramatic look when compared to the other finishes.
Pineapple finish is achieved by hammering the stone surface with bush hammer (a small stone chisel) with uneven spacings. This results in a rugged surface, like a pineapple skin.
Fine picked surface is achieved by hammering the stone surface with a bush hammer (a small stone chisel) at very close spacings. The pointy ends of the hammer leave the surface of the stone fairly smooth with small indentations. This finish also lightens the colour and dulls any patterning found in a stone's natural state.
A Flamed finish is produced when an intense flame is fired at the stone, causing the surface to burst and become rough. This finish is used primarily for exteriors applications where slip-resistance is extremely important.
A honed finish is smooth and shows the full color of the stone without reflection. This is the same procedure used to polish, but the honing process ends before the buffing stage.
"Leathering" is the process of texturing stone to appear less glossy. This process amplifies the natural characteristics of granite or marble, resulting in an exquisite surface. It is easy to clean and maintain, as well as, pleasing to the touch.
Medium picked surface is achieved by hammering the stone surface with a bush hammer (a small stone chisel) at fairly even spacings. The result is a rough surface with small indentations. This finish is usually used for exteriors.
Simply as it states, Natural Finish is done by hand by spiltting the stone using a chisel and hammer. This is the most rustic finish and is best for feature cladding and setts and cobblestones. The surface is uneven and much preferred for paving due to it being non-slippery.
Polished granite is highly reflective and all of the color, depth, and crystal structure is brought out. By polishing granite, the surface pores become sealed, making the stone nearly impervious to weather and chemical wear.
In sandblasting, a high-pressure jet of siliceous sand or steel shots is applied to the area to be treated. This treatment produces a smooth abrasion, leaving the material with a slightly scratched (but not rugged) surface. The colour tones and the veins are slightly dulled.
A finish is not applied to the stone; the appearance of the surface is a result of blade or wire used to cut it. A sawn finish will produce a flat but raw stone. Sawn stones are primarily used on curbing.
Tumbled finish is characterized by a smooth or slightly pitted surface, broken rounded edges and corners. There are several methods used to achieve the tumbled look. 20mm thick tiles can be tumbled in a machine, or 3cm tiles can be tumbled and then split, creating two tiles that are tumbled on one side.