Terms
Terminology, terminology
There are many different ways of dressing the surface of natural stone and the different effects are known as finishes. We've explained what the terms mean in this section and talked about a couple of different ways of laying stone floor tiles, that you may hear mentioned.
Antiqued
Sometimes also called tumbled or aged, this is a popular finish applied to travertine, limestone, Jerusalem Stone and marble flooring to give it the worn and lived in look. At home with both traditional and contemporary design it is a very practical finish to specify.
Brushed
A brushed finish is coarser than the Satinato finish and is achieved by first 'bursting' the surface of the stone using intense heat and then brushing the surface with abrasive brushes. Used to create a more rustic look it can also help to improve the slip resistance of stone used in flooring.
Filled
Used extensively with travertine to fill the holes that occur naturally in the stone. The filler can be either clear or coloured resin to match the colour of the stone.
Free Lengths
This is a way of laying stone floor tiles where the tiles are the same width but cut into random lengths to give a less regimented feel to the floor. The lay out resembles traditional floor boards.
Honed
To achieve a honed finish the stone is polished using abrasives in the same way as for a polished finish, but the last few fine abrasives are not used and the stone is left with a smooth matt finish. This is ideal for stones that cannot take a full polish or where a high gloss look is not desired.
Opus Romana
This term describes a way of laying floor tiles where four different sizes of tile are laid on the same floor in an interlocking pattern.
Polished
A polished finish is achieved using finer and finer abrasives until the stone has a deep gloss and the surface is reflective. Not all stones will take a high polish and some mineral inclusions in the stone will not polish as deeply as the surrounding stone. Polished stone is usually the easiest to keep clean.
Riven
Slate is most commonly riven as it is formed in layers and splits easily along the layers to give a very natural textured finish.
Satinato
A satinato or leather finish is applied with abrasive brushes and imparts a soft textured finish to the stone. It has the added benefit of making the stone look aged.
Tumbled
Tumbling is a process used to give an aged look to the stone. Tumbled stones possess a rustic and time worn look. The unique patterns of these stones add an extra touch of beauty and elegance to any interior. They can also be used for exterior applications. Tumbled stones are durable and make beautiful and elegant non slip floors.
Unfilled
Many travertine floors are supplied unfilled so that the holes are filled with grout at the same time as the joints when the tiles are laid. A grout colour matched to the stone will provide the most pleasing result.
