In this article we will analyze the characteristics of each marble finish, focusing on the most important ones. What we would like to convey is the incredible versatility offered by natural stone: just think that, in addition to the numerous varieties and colors, simply thanks to a particular stone finish, the same stone can be perfectly integrated into very different contexts. Natural stone, in fact, undoubtedly has a charm that cannot be equated with other construction materials. The enormous advantage linked to the use of marble is that you can take advantage of certain marble finish and accurate processing so as to accentuate its own intrinsic beauty and unique characteristics.
The marble finish offered by the stone industry experts are many and each of these has the task of enhancing some characteristics of the stone or making it suitable for certain contexts: for example, thanks to a specific stone finish, the marble surface can be made less slippery if be installed in humid areas or outdoors.
It is important to know that the same marble finish or processing may not be suitable for a particular stone: depending on the material, the type of slab and the use to be made, there are more suitable marble treatment techniques and thanks to which it is possible to obtain the best results. It is the task of Dedalo Stone and its staff, who know exactly how marble is worked, to direct the customer towards the ideal stone finish and to suggest the one that best suits the project in particular.
We now come to marble polishing, often confused with honed marble. In reality, honed marble finish has the sole objective of creating a smooth and homogeneous surface, while marble polishing is a longer process aimed at obtaining the maximum shine of the stone.
Even if the brightness of the marble depends mainly on its chemical composition, a correct marble polishing is able to clearly enhance the color, the veins and the natural characteristics of the stone.
Honed marble finish is a treatment that makes the stone homogeneous and smooth to the touch. The final result is a surface with an opaque appearance and more resistant to atmospheric agents: this is the reason why, although honed marble is suitable for both interiors and exteriors, a honed marble floor is particularly convenient in case of outdoor installation. Finally, honed marble finish creates an opaque marble surface with a more tenuous color: not with a “mirror” effect and, depending on the degree of abrasion, honed marble processing allows to obtain different degrees of intensity.
Stone bush hammered finish is a marble process that enhances the texture of the stone and gives it an appearance very similar to the natural material. In the past, bush hammered marble was made by hand with a particular hammer, but nowadays thanks to special machinery with pneumatic hammers with pyramidal points. Bush hammered marble is characterized by a reduced slipperiness: for this reason, the rustic and hammered surface of bush hammered marble is non-slip and is typically used for outdoor applications.
Brushed marble is obtained by means of abrasive wheels and is characterized by a slightly irregular but shiny surface, suitable for both indoor and outdoor installations. Brushed marble has a worn look and a very pleasant effect to the touch and is a treatment that goes well with bush-hammering, a marble processing that we have already talked about previously.
Flamed marble finish is a marble processing that is carried out by investing the stone with very high temperatures by means of a blowtorch. This thermal shock created by marble flaming allows to obtain a flamed marble with a rough and irregular surface but highly resistant to any atmospheric agent.
As the word itself says, antiqued marble is characterized by a lived-in, aged, worn and rustic look. Antiquing is a marble processing that can be performed thanks to the combination of several marble treatment techniques, among which the main ones are undoubtedly polishing, brushing and sandblasting.
Sandblasted marble is made thanks to the abrasion of the surface of the stone with a jet of fine sand (usually dry). The surface of the sandblasted marble will have a lighter, more rustic and rough appearance to the touch. As with other marble processes that aim to obtain an antiqued material, sandblasted marble has an elegant character and is particularly suitable for covering outdoor areas or swimming pools.
Acid etched marble is obtained by immersing the stone in particular tanks containing acid. Acid etched marble is given by a process that is necessarily carried out in the factory and, thanks to its corrosion principle, a material with a rough and worn appearance is created.
Grooved marble is characterized by a series of regular grooves, one next to the other, more or less marked or deep. Grooving is a marble processing carried out by means of diamond discs or other suitable variable profile machinery. A grooved marble floor is convenient for outdoor applications given its non-slip quality.
Marble scratching or rolling is a stone finish characterized by the use of abrasive rollers or discs which give life to an effect of parallel and irregular grooves (similar to scratches) and a rough appearance. This type of marble processing is highly appreciated both for the coating of internal walls and for the construction of external floors (which are non-slip).
Chiseled marble is obtained by carving grooves of different thickness on the surface of the natural stone or marble, similar to how it was performed in the past with the chisels. The final result is a marble surface texture with a rough aspect commonly used for the realization of marble panels or wall cladding.
Marble inlays are real works of art which consist in carefully inserting marble elements of specific shapes, sizes and colors to obtain precise figures. Through this process, which has Middle Eastern origins, it is possible to create floors, tables, tops or furniture of undisputed prestige, capable of enhancing any environment in which they are inserted.
Luxurious furniture in lightweight marble
Dedalo is a company from Carrara that designs and produce monolithic luxurious furnishings in lightened marble, with a contemporary design. Our goal is to reaffirm the use of marble in everyday life without renouncing, for reasons of weight, to its three-dimensional vocation, proposing sculptural and extremely engaging shapes.
