Aged – lightly fettered edges with a smooth surface
Ancient – lightly fettered edges and smooth grain
Antiqued – fettered edges with a smooth, undulating surface
Bed – a natural layer of sedimentary rock defined by a change in geological structure
Blooming – often a result of either poor sealant trapping moisture beneath or minerals from the substrate leaking through the stone
Bookmatched – two adjoining pieces of stone which mirror each other giving the impression of an open book, most impressive with heavily veined marbles
Bullnose – semi-circle rounded edge step profile
Bush Hammered – Texture is consistent and uniformly distributed across the surface. This finish is well suited to low slip areas. Available with either square or chipped edges
Calcite Vein – natural veining in the stone created by recrystallized calcium carbonate. They are an inherent part of a stone’s natural beauty and do not represent any structural weakness
Calibrated – tiles produced to a uniform thickness
Cappings – weather protective stone wall capping which can either be overhanging or flush to the wall
Cavetto – concave quarter round moulding
Chamfer – 45° bevel applied to an edge, size of bevel can vary
Cobble – a small unit with cropped/cleft faces at uniform thickness, 50+mm thick
Copings – weather protective overhanging stone wall covering with drip grooves
Corten – flamed and brushed to highlight natural markings
Country Cobble – a small unit with cropped/cleft faces at variable thickness, cropped 40 - 75+mm thick
Cross Overs – large cobble-like slabs used in entrances likely to receive heavier traffic
Decoupling membrane – matting which absorbs tension between substrate and floor tiles preventing cracking. Also helps to evenly spread heat from underfloor heating systems
Distressed – rounded and fettered edges with a smooth, flat surface finish which is hand-applied to recreate the appearance of old flagstones
Downstand – deeper section at the front of a worktop
Dot and Dab – where adhesive/mortar is only applied to sections of the tile surface area instead of completely covering the tile with an even layer which is the traditional method. Results in poor adhesion and areas without adhesive will be weaker and more likely to crack under pressure and can result in blooming on the surface of the stone
Drip Groove – a groove on the underside of a coping or sill to prevent water running along the underside of the stone
Fine Grosgrain - a bespoke finish, please contact us for details
Flamed – stone is subjected to high temperature flame and then quickly cooled producing a rough but consistent texture
Flamed Plus - a bespoke finish, please contact us for details
Flat Matt - a bespoke finish, please contact us for details
Flush Flamed - a bespoke finish, please contact us for details
Flexible Bedded – tiles and slabs laid onto loose grit or sand without any adhesive/mortar
Free Stone – stone which can be cut in any direction as it has no natural bed
Gauged – grinding/cutting process to make all pieces of stone the same width or thickness
Haunched – bedding material is raised up the sides of the tile or slab
Honed – square, clean edges with a very smooth, flat surface
Jamb – side post of a fireplace, door or window frame
Leather – square edges with a smooth pitted surface
Matt Honed – square, clean edges with a very smooth, flat surface
Matt Leather – square edges with a smooth matt pitted surface which has been created with a special high pressure mechanical action
Mellowed – rounded edges with a flat and smooth surface aging
Ogee – concave step edge profile
Patera – square edges with a coarse honed surface finish, sometimes referred to as fine rubbed. This finish is well suited to low slip areas
Pavers – sawn either 5 or 6 sides up to 50mm thick
Paviors – honed generally 2cm, smaller units for a brick effect format internally
Pedestals – used for dry installation of paving where flexibility or open space for pipes and drainage is required underneath
Pencil Round – a small even round applied to an edge
Pitchers – random size narrow strips 5cm thick
Picture framing - occurs when the tile surface hasn’t been sealed correctly prior to grouting or fully wash grouted. Grout seeps into the tile creating a dark border around the edges
Pre-grout sealer – applied to flooring before grouting to avoid staining or marking of tiles
Random length – courses of even widths and random lengths
Regency – a unique blend of processes creating edges that are lightly fettered and a surface that is smooth and predominantly flat with slight undulations to create an aged appearance
Riven – a rough, natural and uneven finish created when stones are skilfully cleft by hand along the natural bed layer
Rustic – chipped edges with a combination of smooth and textured surfaces
Satino - a bespoke finish, please contact us for details
Sawn – sharp clean cut edge
Setts – sawn 6 sides 60+mm thick
Silk Honed - a bespoke finish, please contact us for details
Solid Bedded – tiles and slabs fixed directly to a concrete or screeded substrate
Stooled – raised flat sections at either end of a cill or step to support fenestration
Substrate – underlying surface which another material is bonded to
Threshold – strip of floor between door jambs
Throated – see Drip Groove
Travertine – hardwearing, sedimentary limestone with natural pits and voids
Tumbled – stone is tumbled in a drum with small particles which wear the stone to create a naturally aged look and soft edges
Upstand – placed at the back of a worktop where it meets the wall to cover the gap and create a seamless look
Verona – small bullnose with concave ogee shaping beneath
Vintage – chipped edges with a heavily textured, yet smooth, surface. The overall look is worn and soft with an open grain
Wash Grouting – the correct grouting process of covering the entire tile with grout as opposed to the incorrect practice of just filling the joints
Weathering – process which replicates natural wear or exposure to the elements
Worn – hand-finished fettered edges with an uneven, smooth surface finish
