This is the most common kind of finishing. The surface is smoothed with the use of fine-grained abrasive substances that rub the material until all pores are closed and the surface becomes reflective. Although all materials can be polished, the final effect of this process can vary and some stones, such as sandstone (Arcobaleno) and limestone, do not become perfectly polished. In these cases the honing working is more appropriate.
The honed face is a partially polished face. The surface is perfectly smooth but less reflective than a polished one.
Brushed (or patinated)
The surface is first calibrated, then rubbed by differently graduated abrasive brushes to reach the desired degree of consumption on the surface and on the edges. The results give the surface an appearance of age, smoothed by stamping and by the passing of time. Different material typically reacts in different ways : look at the two pictures, Giallo Atlantide above, Rosso Verona below.
This process is suitable for marbles and other stones (excepting granite) in any format (slabs, cut-to size, tiles ...).
Questa tecnica si applica ai marmi e, più raramente, sui graniti.
Si possono spazzolare le lastre, i lavorati su misura, i pavimenti, le
marmette.
I prodotti spazzolati possono essere impregnati con protettivo
specifico.
The surface is first smoothed, then sandblasted and cleaned by acid substances. Finally it is impregnated with specific water/oil-repellent and color-brightening products. The finished surface is pretty rough, appears aged, and its colors are brighter. Different materials typically react in different ways : look at the two pictures, Giallo Atlantide above, Rosso Verona below.
Like the brushing process, the antiqued finishing is reserved to marble and can be made on slabs, tiles, floorings and cut-to-size items.
The material is corroded by a continuous jet of iron or sand grains. As a result the surface becomes rough, opaque and without sharp edges. The sandblasted finishing is suitable for outdoor coverings as well as indoor decorations wherever non-slipping surfaces must be guaranteed (swimming pools, shower trays). Sandblasted technique is also appropriate when the natural look of marble must be enhanced: although colours of sandblasted surfaces are pale, they quickly brighten up once they become wet.
Sandblasted and brushed
The brushing highlight the structure of the material because it reacts in different way if it hits veins or background. Some materials are particularly hard or have small veins, therefore, after the brushing, the result is not remarkable.
In such cases, we can first sand the face, then brush it.
The background takes a orange peel effect, while the soft aereas become lower.
Tumbled
The tumbling process is inspired by the erosive influence of water on natural stone. To reach the effect of a consumed surface we use the tumbler ("buratto"), a machine in which small pieces of marble are eroded by rolling or by mechanical vibration. The surface of tumbled marble is smooth, the edges rounded and irregular. The process is quite aggressive and for this reason tumbled pieces are normally not larger than 40x40 cm.
Each material breaks and splits in its own way and the results, as you can see, are different. Split Palissandro (picture above) differs from other stones in its very compact surface and in the sparkling effect of mica and quartz particles while the Pietra di Prun (picture below) is opaque and jagged.
The light and shade effect is quite interesting and perfect for outdoor and indoor coverings - especially with appropriate lights.
Quarry-split surface is also suitable for non stamping horizontal coverings such as wall tops or decorative parts within cut-to-size works.
The hammering machine works with a large set of little hammers hitting randomly and strongly on the stone. At the end of the process the surface is quite rough but homogeneous. Hammered parts, such as non-slipping strife on steps, are normally laid close to polished surfaces in order to reach a nice polished/rough and bright/pale effect.
The Pietra di Prun (or Pietra della Lessinia) differs from other stones in its stratified structure that makes it perfectly suitable for splitting (see picture in section "Materials"). In order to prevent flaking problems and make the surface more uniform, we can either groove the split surface to remove the chipped parts (surface grooved quarry-split), or we can first smooth the surface and then scratch it, as shown in the picture.
Mosaic
All the materials can be supplied in mosaic formats. The thickness is 1 cm; format of the tesseras is 1,5x1,5cm or 2,3x2,3cm. The tesseras are glued on a squared piece of net 30x30cm.
Mosaic can be polished (picture above) or tumbled (picture below).
Unlike marble tiles, upon which working drills can sometimes be visible on the back side, the rough side of granite tiles is relatively uniform and scratch-free.
For this reason, the sawed surface can be used for outdoor coverings with edges that, depending on the material, can be more or less accurate if not perfect.
For non-slipping surfaces, functional and resistant to climatic effects, flamed granite is the preferred choice. The surface is processed by using a oxyhydrogen flame that attacks the material, corrodes and flakes it. The flamed working is quite common for granite, but experiments have also been done with varying results.
