The finish of a stone contributes a great deal to its beauty, its durability and its use in a variety of applications. To help you select the stone finish that’s right for your application, here’s some detailed information on finishes:

Polished – non-chemical finish that reflects light and gives the appearance of depth.

Honed – smooth, non-reflective matte or satin finish.

Flamed – blowtorch-strength heat applied to the surface to create a deeply textured surface ideal for outside use.

Tumbled – stone tumbled with sand, pebbles or steel bearings to create a weathered, aged finish.

Filled – When travertine is used for tiles and slabs, it is usually “filled”—that is, the surface holes are filled with cement or sometimes epoxy, and then polished or honed like any other stone tiles or slabs.