Finishes on Marble

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Marble's surface may be finished in a number of ways. In general , smooth finishes tend to emphasize color and veining, whereas rough finishes tend to subdue the veining or markings.

Typical finishes for marble are:

Polished:

A glossy surface that brings out the full color and character of the marble. It is not generally recommended for exterior use, or commercial floors.

Honed: 

A satin smooth surface with little or no gloss, recommended for commercial floors.

Abrasive:

 A flat non-reflective surface, usually recommended for exterior use

Sand blasted, shot ground and bush hammered are other finishes available.

Some stone finishes can affect strength and durability. Examples are brush hammered and thermal finishes which initially reduce a stone's thickness and also make's it more vulnerable to weakening from exposure to freeze and thaw cycles.

(The type of finish desired bears some relationship to final cost.)

Reference: Dimensional Stone Design Manual, Marble Institute of America

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