Finishing

For the bespoke worktops that we produce, we are able to offer you a range of profiles, so that you can choose what best matches the look and the use that you are trying to achieve. The same edge can sometimes have alternative names: for example the Bevel Edge is also known as a Chamfered Edge. The edge that you choose is very much a question of personal preference, but we are happy to advise you in making your selection. Some of the main edges that we are asked to fabricate are listed below.

Bevel is a simple, elegant and classic edge profile for natural stone or quartz. This style is equally at home on modern counters or in a vintage kitchen that needs new life.

The Half Inch Bevel edge provides a sleek angle which combines comfort and definition in one edge design. It gives shape, yet still softens the look of the edge of a counter without venturing towards a rounded look.

Quarter Inch Round is very current & popular edge that works in almost any setting. When you have gorgeous stone in a designer kitchen, or a subtle granite in a calming space, this works very well.

The Double Pencil Round edge has slightly more rounded edges than a plain Flat Polish edge but retains a sleek and current look. This edge is often chosen for its smooth, comfortable feel, particularly for people leaning against the counter edge or sitting at a breakfast bar.

Half Bullnose is another favoured edge for those wanting a little curve, but not the traditional look of the full Bullnose edge. This granite edge is also known as a waterfall edge. It gives the countertop a sleek, smooth look and also provides a comfortable feel.

Full Bullnose has a soft edge style which lets other design elements in the space take centre stage. It is often popular in traditional settings, and in fact is widely used in both residential and commercial settings.

Ogee is an elegant, curvy edge often requested to cut for counter tops in more traditional homes. This edge features a sophisticated S-shaped curve that provides a classic look.

The Shark Nose edge is perfect for producing a floating counter effect. Available on all surfaces 20mm thick or more.

In addition to the many different patterns, colours and tints available across the range of natural stones, there are also several finishes that can further enhance the overall look and feel. While worktops will tend to be either polished or matte, stone used as floor tiling is available in a wider variety of finshes.

A good finish can also improve durability and reduce porosity of your stone product, so why not have a look at some of the options?

Sometimes also called tumbled, aged or leather, this is a popular finish with a worn and lived in look. At home with both traditional and contemporary design it is a very practical finish to specify.

A brushed finish is coarser than the Satinato finish and is achieved by first 'bursting' the surface of the stone using intense heat and then brushing the surface with abrasive brushes. Used to create a more rustic look it can also help to improve the slip resistance of stone used in flooring.

Used extensively with travertine to fill the holes that occur naturally in the stone. The filler can be either clear or coloured resin to match the colour of the stone.

To achieve a honed finish the stone is polished using abrasives in the same way as for a polished finish, but the last few fine abrasives are not used and the stone is left with a smooth matt finish. This is ideal for stones that cannot take a full polish or where a high gloss look is not desired.

A leather finish is similar to a tumbled finish except that the pieces of stone are too large to be tumbled and so are brushed and then washed in acid to achieve the desired worn smoothness.

A polished finish is achieved using finer and finer abrasives until the stone has a deep gloss and the surface is reflective. Not all stones will take a high polish and some mineral inclusions in the stone will not polish as deeply as the surrounding stone. Polished stone is usually the easiest to keep clean.

A satinato or leather finish is applied with abrasive brushes and imparts a soft textured finish to the stone. It has the added benefit of making the stone look aged.

Many travertine floors are supplied unfilled so that the holes are filled with grout at the same time as the joints when the tiles are laid. A grout colour matched to the stone will provide the most pleasing result.

Tumbling is a process used to give an aged look to the stone. Tumbled stones possess a rustic and time worn look.

Slate is most commonly riven as it is formed in layers and splits easily along the layers to give a very natural textured finish.

It is only natural that you will want to keep your stone worktops and other stone surfaces looking like new. To help you do this, we would recommend to you, our customers, to follow our care and maintenance guidelines below.

• Although Granite and Quartz are regarded as the most practical and durable work surface available for household kitchens they are not indestructible. Care must be taken when using sharp or heavy objects not to scratch or chip the surface.
• Don’t cut or chop directly onto the surface; it is better always to use a chopping board. This applies equally to marble surfaces. Don’t put hot objects directly onto the surface, always use a trivet or similar protective buffer to protect your worktop
 
• If spills onto the surface take place, then it is best to wipe them up quickly 
 
• Do not use highly acidic cleaners as these can damage the surface layer

All natural stone surfaces have had two coats of stain stop applied by our staff. The stain stop sealer acts as a protective coating, which reduces the porosity of the natural surface. Quartz is not porous and therefore does not require sealing.

Sealer for granite and marble would need to be applied approximately every twelve months or sooner if any surface undergoes heavy use.

You can test your natural stone worktops by applying a drop of water on the surface. If it starts to disappear it is no longer protected and will require sealing, if it remains on the surface like a water ball it is still protected. 



Some sealers on the market today can protect for up to two to three years before requiring resealing. Use leading brand names: Lithofin, Dry Treat, LTP and Nu Life.

Quartz is a high performance material with a very low absorbency rate. Due to its structure, it is resistant to staining (although not stain proof) and odours. Quartz can withstand exposure to heat from normal cooking temperatures on a limited basis. However, the use of a trivet or wooden board is strongly advised, because extreme heat risks damaging any quartz kitchen work surface.

Quartz is fairly easy to clean and maintain. However you should avoid spilling strong chemical solvents such as paint, varnish strippers, permanent inks, nail polish removers and also high alkaline/pH level products such as oven cleaners and bleach onto your worktop.

Granite and marble worktops constitute an investment that will give you many years of beautiful service. They require simple care and maintenance in order to preserve their appearance.

Granite is a robust material, resistant to scratching, suitable for tough environments. Following the tips below will help you keep it in pristine condition:

• Don’t allow spills to sit on the surface for too long. Granite is porous and foods such as lemon juice, beetroot, wine and oil can be absorbed and cause staining.
• Use either clean warm water or a pH neutral detergent to clean the worktop.
• Don’t use abrasive materials or scouring detergents.
• Don’t place hot saucepans directly on the surface; instead use a heat resistant mat.
• Use coasters for drinks, especially hot or alcoholic drinks.
• Do not place excessive weight on the worktop edges.

Marble is a natural stone that looks stunningly beautiful but can be damaged over time through wear and tear. How do you keep your marble worktops, fireplaces and vanities in good condition? In addition to the maintenance tips above, the following tips specifically apply:

• Clean marble stains as soon as possible. Marble is prone to marking because it has a calcium carbonate makeup, which reacts with any acids. Spills from wine, fruit juice, tomatoes and some soft drinks are harmful to marble. You can use a commercial marble stain remover if the stain persists.
• For daily cleaning, less is definitely more. Simply use a small cloth, microfiber, with warm, distilled water to clean marble countertops. This is mostly after contact with food and other day to day dirt.