Glossary

Finishes

• Aged :The stone is tumbled and then distressed.
• Antiqued :The stone is honed to mimic an aged look and then tumbled.
• Bevelled :The surface of the stone is honed with the bevelling applied to the edges.
• Brushed :After honing the stone is wire brushed, giving a consistent textured finish.
• Bush Hammered :The surface of the stone is texturised with hammers to create a finish that resembles naturally weathered rock.
• Calibrated :Stones that are processed to an even thickness with precision edges for quick and accurate laying.
• Chipped :The edges of the stone are chipped, the stone is then softened by light brushing.
• Distressed :The stone has a lightly pillowed effect with a smooth finish and worn aged edges.
• Filled :Naturally occurring holes in the stone are filled and the surface then honed.
• Free Length :A laying format tiles, where the width of the tile is fixed and the length of the tiles can vary in size.
• Hammered :The stone is bush hammered and brushed, achieving an anti-slip surface.
• Honed :Abrasives are applied to the surface of the stone giving an even, smooth, and generally matt surface.
• Natural Cleft :A natural riven finish achieved by splitting the stone.
• Pillowed Edge :The stone is honed and then its edges are gently and evenly rounded across the length and breadth of the stone.
• Pre-Sealed :The stone during processing,is coated with a sealant giving a slight sheen to the surface.
• Part-Honed :Abrasives are applied to the surface of the stone giving an even, smooth surface,this is usually carried out on stones with multiple texturing techniques, giving variation in textures to the stone.
• Riven :An uneven surface to mimic that of a natural cleft stone.
• Tumbled :The stones are placed in large tumbling machines whose action gives an aged finish to surface and edges.
• Un-Filled :Naturally occurring holes in the stones that are not filled.
• Water Worn :The stone is honed and lightly bush hammered to create a slightly undulating finish to mimic the passage of water over the stone for many years.

Note: many stones use a variety of the texturing methods noted above to achieve the desired aesthetic effect.

Usage

• Domestic :Low wear resistance, suitable only for light domestic use after sealing.
• Light Commercial :Medium wear resistance, suitable for domestic and light commercial use.
• Commercial :Good wear resistance, suitable for domestic and commercial use.
• Swimming Pool Use :Product suited for swimming pool surrounds can be used adjacent to and surrounding swimming pools. They are not however suitable for constant immersion in water.
• Wet Room Use :Product suited for the use in shower rooms, wet rooms or areas that can expect to be in regular contact with water.

Stone Types

• Limestone :Formed by layers of marine organisms, deposited on the sea floor and compressed over millions of years to create a stone of intriguing texture and character.
• Travertines :Formed by water travelling through limestone and emerging as hot springs, then cooling rapidly. The minerals it collects on its journey are captured as rich and creamy colours, frequently complemented by tiny shell patterns.
• Slates & Quartzite :These are fine grained rocks formed from layers of shale and clay deposits, quartzite being subject to particular high temperatures. These layers can be detected in the delicate tracery of its texture and its enhancing palette of colours. Far more than several shades of grey, slate often has hints of green, russet, hazel and plum.
• Marble :Marble is the result of extreme heat and pressure applied to limestone, capturing many beautiful colours that range from classically cool to rich and warm. It can be highly polished, creating the lustrous illusion of depth.
• Sandstone :Sandstone is a sedimentary rock formation of coarse sand quartz and cementing materials such as clay. Sandstone is often distinguishable by region and colour variations including grey, yellow, red and white.
• Basalt :Basalt is a dense rock formed from volcanic lava, it is extremely hard wearing properties and richness of its appearance. Its texture can vary from granular to glass like, while its dark organic colours truthfully convey its tremendous strength.