Thanks to the finishes we can make on marbles and natural stones, it’s possible to exalt the characteristics of the materials and intensify their natural beauty and make a lot of possible combinations. Fantasy is the only limit.
Finishes
SMOOTH AS MARBLE
Using abrasive grinding wheels with different types of fineness it is possible to reach the smoothness and the level of brilliance or opacity most suitable for any project.
In order to obtain a bright, specular effect, the stone can be polished, in this way the material’s pores are closed and it highlights its veins and natural colour. Through the honed finish it is possible to obtain a matt and porous surface, but also smooth with different kind of shine.
A particular type of honed is the leather finish, which exalts the material’s structure, giving it a warmer effect and making it soft to the touch.
Thanks to these finishes it is possible to obtain a simple but at the same time a high-impact effect, perfect for indoor uses.
A TIMELESS STONE
Some finishes can be used to give natural stones an aged look, as if they had been worn out over the years, giving them a timeless charm.
There are different techniques in order to obtain a such effect. One of these is acid-etching finish: immersing the stone in the acid and after the porosity reaction, we obtain a rough and aged effect. Through brushing the surface with abrasive brushes it is possible to obtain an “orange peel” effect, but smooth and soft to the touch.
To obtain a more rustic and aged effect, it’s possible to apply the bush-hammering finish, which consists in hitting the stone with percussion hammers.
Finally, another alternative is sandblasting, with which we can obtain a rough and matt surface by using a high pressure sand-jet.
In addition to giving the stone a special appearance, these finishes impart specific properties such as non-slip or resistance to accidental scratches and bumps.
NATURAL BEAUTY
In some applications it is the natural look of the stone that guarantees an extraordinary visual impact. For this reason, some finishes have been developed to exalt the original rough beauty of natural stones.
The most authentic effect is obtained by the natural split finish, which consists in putting pressure along the breaking lines of the stone block, so it separates naturally. This kind of finish can be obtained only if the characteristics of the material allows it, as for slate and other stones.
Another rough effect is obtained with the raw cut finish which consists in cutting the block with a diamond saw.
Through flaming the surface takes on a rough and vitrified effect, very natural, given by the detachment of small parts due to thermal shock. The same effect can also be obtained by high pressure water jets, in this case we talk about hydro-finish.
These finishes highlight the inner structure and the natural colour of the materials, but also increase the adhesion of the surface and the resistance to weather effects. For this reason, they are particularly suitable for outdoor use.
ENDLESS CHANCES
In addition to the classic finishes, at Marmo Elite we can also offer special finishes designed to enhance and give an external texture to the stones, especially to the flat ones with few veins.
Unique and modern finishes create unique vertical coverings and home accessories, thanks to the play of light and thickness that transforms even the most classic materials into something interesting and innovative. By playing with the material, extruding shapes and hollowing out the surface, we obtain elegant and avant-garde textures made up of flowing lines or geometric designs that make any environment special, whether it is a bathroom, living room or wellness area. This is the case with bamboo, cane, 20/5 columns, fluted, diamond and grid finishes.
Other finishes play with the regularity and varying depths of the engravings of certain geometric patterns on the surface of stones. They embellish poorly veined materials and enhance the nuances of those materials that appear less uniform. These are fashionable textures that also fit into the functional part of the design, so that they can be used to change the perception of the space according to the client’s needs. These include 2/3 stripes, steps, 5+5 stripes, soft stripes and light stripes.
Finally, it is possible to apply light and superficial finishes, from the more classic textures with a woven effect to the more modern ones in concentric and random circles. These delicate finishes are the perfect way to make each material unique, without altering the background color or the characteristic shading and grain of the material. They are fabrics, cortex, cortex plus, scratch, veneer, tranche, circle, sand waterjet and wen finish.
Through the choice of different finishes, the same natural stone can be used to create completely new effects, making each creation even more unique, special and customized.
Feel free to contact us for a consultation or a quote.