Surface and character
Five finishes, one set of trade-offs
A finish is not a look. It is a process, an appearance and a set of correct and incorrect uses. We cut natural, honed, polished and brushed faces — and other finishes to order — at our own polishing yard in Karnataka.
Full comparison
All finishes, side by side
| Finish | Process | Appearance | Correct use | Caution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural | The natural face of the bed, as split. No mechanical surfacing. | Natural cleft texture, slight variation in level between pieces from the same batch. | External paving and terraces | Level variation between pieces is inherent to the process — approve on a sample from the batch, not a single piece. |
| Honed | Progressive abrasive heads to an even matte surface, produced at our own yard. | Flat matte finish, no reflection, colour reads slightly deeper than natural. | Internal floors, wall linings, stair treads | Suitable for internal wet areas such as bathrooms when sealed; not recommended unsealed in continuously wet conditions. |
| Polished | Honing continued with a final buffing pass to a reflective surface, produced at our own yard. | Reflective, deepest colour saturation of the finishes offered. | Internal floors and feature wall panels | Limestone is calcite and will etch from acidic spillage. Not recommended for external or wet-area use. |
| Brushed | Abrasive brushes worked across a honed face to soften the surface texture, produced at our own yard. | Textured, tactile surface, colour reads close to a honed face. | Feature flooring, wall linings, stair nosings | Confirm the depth of texture against a sample before ordering at scale. |
| Other finishes | Produced to order at our own yard. | Discussed and agreed against your specification. | Discussed against your project | Confirm feasibility and lead-in with us before specifying. |
Finish 01
Natural
The natural face of the bed, as split. No mechanical surfacing.
Natural cleft texture, slight variation in level between pieces from the same batch.
- Use
- External paving and terraces
Level variation between pieces is inherent to the process — approve on a sample from the batch, not a single piece.
Finish 02
Honed
Progressive abrasive heads to an even matte surface, produced at our own yard.
Flat matte finish, no reflection, colour reads slightly deeper than natural.
- Use
- Internal floors, wall linings, stair treads
Suitable for internal wet areas such as bathrooms when sealed; not recommended unsealed in continuously wet conditions.
Finish 03
Polished
Honing continued with a final buffing pass to a reflective surface, produced at our own yard.
Reflective, deepest colour saturation of the finishes offered.
- Use
- Internal floors and feature wall panels
Limestone is calcite and will etch from acidic spillage. Not recommended for external or wet-area use.
Finish 04
Brushed
Abrasive brushes worked across a honed face to soften the surface texture, produced at our own yard.
Textured, tactile surface, colour reads close to a honed face.
- Use
- Feature flooring, wall linings, stair nosings
Confirm the depth of texture against a sample before ordering at scale.
Finish 05
Other finishes
Produced to order at our own yard.
Discussed and agreed against your specification.
- Use
- Discussed against your project
Confirm feasibility and lead-in with us before specifying.
Questions
Finish questions we get most often
Which finish is right for external paving?
Natural is our standard finish for external paving — it is the natural cleft face the stone splits to along its own bedding. Honed is offered where a flatter, more formal lay is wanted.
Does polished limestone work outdoors?
We do not recommend polished limestone for external or wet use. Limestone is calcite and a polished face etches from acidic spillage and rain. Polished is offered for internal floors and feature panels only.
Can a finish be matched on a repeat order?
We aim to match finish as closely as the bed allows. Natural pieces vary in level from the same batch — approve a sample from the batch, not a single piece, before ordering.
See the surface, not the swatch
Order a finish sample before you specify
Photographs do not carry texture or surface depth. Request a physical sample box of the finishes you are deciding between, or send us the application and we will quote.